Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices: People of Yesterday Speak to Leaders of Today [Hardcover]

Dave Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2004 | Series: emergentYS

For leaders who've read every leadership book (or just feel like they have) Most leaders feel like they've read all there is to read about leadership but are still frustrated when the tools of 'professionals' fail to work. Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices takes leaders off the frustrating path of doing leadership and into the more meaningful place of being a leader. Rather than focusing on new tools or techniques, author Dave Fleming draws on the 'voices' of contemplative thinkers and their views on issues that affect leaders today. Nouwen, Augustine, Underhill, Benedict, and others offer readers insight from outside the world of leadership on how to regain the humanity of being a leader. Each chapter includes interactive exercises that allow readers to reflect on what they're learning, evaluate ideas, and then implement those ideas that resonate most.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Just when you thought that nothing more could possibly be wrriten about leadership, Fleming delivers a refreshing and insightful look at how the words of Mother Theresa, St. Augustine, and others can guide us... Not to be missed.' '... it stretched me in a way few books do. Worth reading devotionally, even if you're not a leader.' -- YouthWorker Journal <br><br> (YouthWorker Journal )

From the Back Cover

For leaders who’ve read every leadership book (or just feel like they have)

Most leaders feel like they’ve read all there is to read about leadership but are still frustrated when the tools of "professionals" fail to work.

Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices takes leaders off the frustrating path of doing leadership and into the more meaningful place of being a leader. Rather than focusing on new tools or techniques, author Dave Fleming draws on the "voices" of contemplative thinkers and their views on issues that affect leaders today. Nouwen, Augustine, Underhill, Benedict, and others offer readers insight from outside the world of leadership on how to regain the humanity of being a leader.

Each chapter includes interactive exercises that allow readers to reflect on what they’re learning, evaluate ideas, and then implement those ideas that resonate most.

The emergentYS line was created in response to the rising interest of church leaders and growing numbers of Christians regarding the emerging church and culture—and the profound changes the church is now facing. The emergentYS line will address the complex issues of our world’s ongoing cultural shifts and the impact this will have on the local church and ministry.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties (August 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310258006
• ISBN-13: 978-0310258001
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,480,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Fleming (DM, University of Phoenix, MA, Denver Seminary) is an author, gifted speaker, consultant, and sought-after leadership coach. After twenty years in pastoral work, Dave now assists businesses and churches with leadership formation and organizational evolution through the portal of creative conversation. Dave earned a Doctor of Management in organizational leadership degree from the University of Phoenix and a Masters in counseling/education from Denver Seminary. His website is www.davefleming.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unlike Yours, April 25, 2006

By 

Bonnie K. Davis (Plymouth, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices: People of Yesterday Speak to Leaders of Today (Hardcover)

The read is brisk and sensible. Fleming does well to qualify himself as an established follower of unlikely voices. Analogies by way of jail cells, salad bars and dog poop (not metaphorically speaking) invite the reader to ease into reality of the past and the humor and hope of today. Fleming's work and reflective technique are such that the inspired leader takes up his pen and renders poetically the lessons gleaned, accessible, now owned, and the worth therein, steadily approaching the forte of a new unlikely voice...one's own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK Content But Style is Distracting, April 18, 2006

By 

Josh Moffit (Philippines) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices: People of Yesterday Speak to Leaders of Today (Hardcover)

The introduction to this book criticizes the bulk of leadership books accusing them of predictability and staleness. This introduction promised new and important ideas that narrow, popular leadership books miss. The author does not really deliver on his promise, writing a leadership book that is in many ways hard to understand and in other ways doing the very thing he ridiculed- writing predictably.

The author is clearly writing to a postmodern audience, a characteristic of the book which is truly original. The book is littered with negative references to `modernism' and traditional 20th century thinking. In the author's effort to avoid modernism and logic, he writes in a lot of code. In one sense this can be refreshing, but in another sense it can be frustrating, I found myself thinking, "Stop the verbal vomit and just say it!:" Here is a sentence which reflects this `code', "For the story of creation continues to this day as the invitation from the Divine Mystery, calling us forth as creators to enter his dream." Some of the chapters lacked any kind of coherence, which I consider a fault, but which was probably done purposefully.

Having said this, there are parts of the book that are truly insightful and understandable. Chapters 3,8 and 9 all have good insight into leadership, the topics of these chapters being; maintaining proper focus as a leader, the importance of a leader's authentic relationships, and the value of a leader's education (not necessarily formal). While excellent, two of these chapters are not really original (8 and 9), these are rehashed leadership insights that this book puts into postmodern garb. However, I found chapter 3 regarding `proper focus' very helpful. The author suggests that the leader should step back from the details and daily schedule of his life and take a look at his overall `big picture'. Visualizing our lives and ministries as a narrative can really help us see our lives in focus of eternity.

I would not recommend this leadership book unless the reader thinks through a heavily postmodern framework. While there are some great truths in this book, it is not worth the frustration trying to read through it all.

2.0 out of 5 stars Odd Leadership Voices, January 12, 2012

By 

Rex M. Rogers (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leadership Wisdom from Unlikely Voices: People of Yesterday Speak to Leaders of Today (Emergentys) (Hardcover)

This is an odd book, one that I frankly did not enjoy. Fleming can write, and I'm sure he knows his subject. But his "unlikely voices" are indeed that, coming from obscure places and people throughout history and offering what I thought was some pretty off the wall, and consequently, unhelpful advice. If it's your cup of tea, OK, but I would not recommend this book as a great source of leadership advice.