In what has become a bible for the business world, the successful CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., explores how executives and managers can learn the leadership skills that build a better, more profitable organization.
Leadership Is an Art
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Rather than offering a how-to manual on running a business, DePree, CEO of Herman Miller Inc., a manufacturer of office furniture, details, in deceptively simple but imaginative language, a humanitarian approach to leadership. The artful leader, he argues, should recognize human diversity and make full use of his or her employees' gifts. Further, he believes, a leader is responsible not just for the health of a company's financial assets, but for its ethics. Advocating management through persuasion, and the exercise of democratic participation rather than concentrated power, he favors covenantal relationships with employees that rest on shared purpose, dignity and choice. The author stresses the need for communication, but his only direct guidance concerns the need for job performance reviews and self-evaluation.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"This book is thoughtful, personal, human, persuasive. Give to a daughter, son, or Fortune 500 chairman. They should bless you for years to come."
--Tom Peters
"Max DePree has written two books: Leadership Is an Art and Leadership Jazz. I highly commend them to al of you. They are very well done and very much worth the cost of the books. They're astonishing."
--Bill Clinton
--Tom Peters
"Max DePree has written two books: Leadership Is an Art and Leadership Jazz. I highly commend them to al of you. They are very well done and very much worth the cost of the books. They're astonishing."
--Bill Clinton
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
On page one of Leadership Is an Art Max Depree writes, "The book is about the art of leadership: liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible". This is a theme that runs throughout this very wise and in every way excellent work. The following quotes provide some of the flavor of Depree's enlightened and inspiring thinking:
* The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor.
* In addition to all of the ratios and goals and parameters and bottom lines, it is fundamental that leaders endorse a concept of persons. This begins with an understanding of the diversity of people's gifts and talents and skills.
* Understanding and accepting diversity enables us to see that each of us is needed. It also enables us to begin to think about being abandoned to the strengths of others, of admitting that we cannot know or do everything.
* Leaders don't inflict pain; they bear pain.
* First, as a Christian I believe that each person is made in the image of God. For those of us who have received the gift of leadership from the people we lead, this belief has enormous implications.
* Leaders owe people space, space in the sense of freedom. Freedom in the sense of enabling our gifts to be exercised.
* Participative management is not democratic. Having a say differs from having a vote.
* Interestingly, though in organizations like ours we need a lot of freedom, there is no room for license. Discipline is what it takes to do the job.
* One of the important things leaders need to learn is to recognize the signals of impending deterioration.
* Without forgiveness, there can be no real freedom to act...
Depree has given us an abiding philosophy of leadership. Actually operating in alignment with these principles demands a very high level of integrity - one that few leaders ever do attain. Those that do so unleash forces of transformation resulting in high performance high involvement organizations.
This book characterizes a commercial arena filled with vocational potential. I give it the highest recommendation.
* The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor.
* In addition to all of the ratios and goals and parameters and bottom lines, it is fundamental that leaders endorse a concept of persons. This begins with an understanding of the diversity of people's gifts and talents and skills.
* Understanding and accepting diversity enables us to see that each of us is needed. It also enables us to begin to think about being abandoned to the strengths of others, of admitting that we cannot know or do everything.
* Leaders don't inflict pain; they bear pain.
* First, as a Christian I believe that each person is made in the image of God. For those of us who have received the gift of leadership from the people we lead, this belief has enormous implications.
* Leaders owe people space, space in the sense of freedom. Freedom in the sense of enabling our gifts to be exercised.
* Participative management is not democratic. Having a say differs from having a vote.
* Interestingly, though in organizations like ours we need a lot of freedom, there is no room for license. Discipline is what it takes to do the job.
* One of the important things leaders need to learn is to recognize the signals of impending deterioration.
* Without forgiveness, there can be no real freedom to act...
Depree has given us an abiding philosophy of leadership. Actually operating in alignment with these principles demands a very high level of integrity - one that few leaders ever do attain. Those that do so unleash forces of transformation resulting in high performance high involvement organizations.
This book characterizes a commercial arena filled with vocational potential. I give it the highest recommendation.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Matthew Dodd
Format:Paperback
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, Max DePree's easy-to-read classic, "Leadership is an Art," was one of the best leadership books I have read. I recommend it to brand-new leaders to help lay a solid leadership foundation upon which to build, and to seasoned leaders and managers interested in sharpening their leadership skills and refining their approach to leadership.
This book is a series of interdependent philosophical essays that are part of a holistic view of effective leadership. DePree defines the art of leadership as "liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible," and that definition is a theme that runs throughout the book. Another closely related common theme in these non-sequential yet complementary essays is that leaders must abandon themselves to the strengths of others in order to serve them and allow them to realize their full potential.
DePree put a lot of emphasis on people and fostering leadership environments in which trusting, respectful, and effective relationships flourish. His ideas and beliefs about leadership, some that I have never really read anywhere else, were refreshing and stimulating. One largely ignored insight that particularly stood out to me was that "much of a leader's performance cannot be reviewed until `after' the fact." In today's common short-term focus/instant gratification world, such insights deserve our uncommon attention.
Although originally published in 1989, DePree's thoughts, ideas, and approach to leadership are timeless. While some people may argue that DePree's writings are idealistic, I found them to be realistic given the nature of people and the frenetic pace of our hyper-competitive professional environments. Every leader owes it to him- or herself, and to those who allow themselves to be led, to read and reflect on the leadership wisdom contained in this small and powerful book.
This book is a series of interdependent philosophical essays that are part of a holistic view of effective leadership. DePree defines the art of leadership as "liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible," and that definition is a theme that runs throughout the book. Another closely related common theme in these non-sequential yet complementary essays is that leaders must abandon themselves to the strengths of others in order to serve them and allow them to realize their full potential.
DePree put a lot of emphasis on people and fostering leadership environments in which trusting, respectful, and effective relationships flourish. His ideas and beliefs about leadership, some that I have never really read anywhere else, were refreshing and stimulating. One largely ignored insight that particularly stood out to me was that "much of a leader's performance cannot be reviewed until `after' the fact." In today's common short-term focus/instant gratification world, such insights deserve our uncommon attention.
Although originally published in 1989, DePree's thoughts, ideas, and approach to leadership are timeless. While some people may argue that DePree's writings are idealistic, I found them to be realistic given the nature of people and the frenetic pace of our hyper-competitive professional environments. Every leader owes it to him- or herself, and to those who allow themselves to be led, to read and reflect on the leadership wisdom contained in this small and powerful book.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
For anyone looking to go beyond the status quo of leadership, Leadership Is An Art is required reading. Going beyond the mechanics of leading and into the ethics and philosopy of leadership, the book puts a human face on what can be a very harsh position, corporate leadership. With probing questions, the author pulls out of the reader many insights, and forces you to think through things yourself, allowing you to own the conclusions you come to. If you are in any type of leadership at all, from parents to CEO's, read this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Leadership is an Art
This book is very good and I enjoyed it very much. I can relate to the chapters in this book.
Published 18 days ago by Dana Floyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless advice
The guidance in this book never seems dated. You can start at the back, middle, front -- always rewarded by hope and inspiration.
Published 1 month ago by Manzanita
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
This is such an insightful book. It is well written and meaningful! I've since purchased 'Leading Without Power' and will probably purchase 'Leadership Jazz'!
Published 3 months ago by Kimberly Moran
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Really good book. I bought this when I had a wench of a boss and it really made me be a better supervisor
Published 4 months ago by CG, Arizona
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I bought this book for my leadership college class. This book makes you see things in a different perspective. Its a really quick read and very informative. Read more
Published 5 months ago by pedrodogg69
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Insights
I was turned on to Max DePree from a colleague and I am sure glad I read this book. The ideas and concepts discussed in this short book are very relevant to software teams and the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Carlton E. Nettleton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book. Highly recommended.
Real good book. Enjoyed reading it. Easy read and only took about a day to read. Author had a lot of good insight. Company he ran was an excellent company. Read more
Published 9 months ago by mike_d
5.0 out of 5 stars
Personal Philosophy, Covenenatal Rwlationships and Leadership
So many books have been written about leadership that it is natural to feel bewildered.Some books have long staying power, and have influenced the thought and literature on... Read more
Published 11 months ago by vidyanand
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST read for all who want to lead!
This is a MUST read for all who aspire to become great leaders. The content is extremely valuable and the format is perfect for the busy leader. Read more
Published 13 months ago by John Curry
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for Leadership Professionals
Excellent book! quick and easy read, very informative, and very detailed. This is a must have for leadership professionals or people wanting to become better leaders.
Published 13 months ago by Ricardo
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