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Leading With a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness

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Dan Allender's _Leading with a Limp_makes for a frustrating review because it packs some excellent insights into a book that leaves out far too much to be helpful. Think of this as the classic that might have been.

How does one lead with a limp?

1. Communicate well
2. Acknowledge your leadership limitations (to yourself and others)
3. Be vulnerable, but do so wisely

Those three ideas comprise the majority of the book.

Many have deemed this a profound work. But as someone who has read similar books (John Powell's books from the '70s immediately spring to mind), I wasn't as taken. If you're the more logical, linear type of person, _Leading with a Limp_ might come as a revelation. But if you're already predisposed to valuing feelings over stark rationality, this book won't break any new ground. You're probably already leading with a limp, and this book may only help you acquire a slightly larger cane.

While _Limp_ has some strong spots expounding on the three core ideas mentioned above, it fails miserably in helping those who have adopted limping leadership but got tarred and feathered for it. Sadly, many in ministry practice much of what Allender advocates, but have been run out of town on a rail for doing so. Allender's examples of how to lead the way he envisions never informs readers how to pick up the pieces should such an experiment in a limping leadership style fail miserably with the led. Trust me; as someone with many years in ministry, Allender's ideas can fail spectacularly. It would have been nice to know how to get back on one's feet after being body-slammed for leading with a limp. That lack hurts this book immeasurably.

Yes, read the book. Meditate on the parts you need to improve, but keep expectations low to middling. In fact, expect an angry, confused, or hostile reaction to this leadership style rather than miracles.

If you're a leader, you are in for the battle of your life, says Mars Hill Graduate School founder Dan Allender in LEADING WITH A LIMP. The author of numerous books, including THE INTIMATE MYSTERY and TO BE TOLD, Allender warns that leadership is costly and likely will never bring you riches, fame or praise. Rather, Allender likens leadership to a "long march through a dark valley." Is it worth the cost? The costs of leadership include crisis, complexity, betrayal, loneliness, weariness, and interestingly enough, glory --- not particularly what most of us associate with leadership. That's not all. A good leader, Allender writes, will in time disappoint everyone.

So why would anyone aspire to leadership? Allender looks at what a leader is (anyone with someone following him or her). The fact is, God calls all of us to lead, he says, no matter how humble the context. And it is in extremity or your failures that you meet not only yourself but, more importantly, the God who has written your life.

Allender builds the core assumption of his book on this: "to the degree you face and name and deal with your failures as a leader, to that same extent you will create an environment conducive to growing and retaining productive and committed colleagues." Acknowledging your screw-ups transforms your own character and earns you more respect and power, he writes. And these shortcomings must be more than just acknowledged; they must also be dismantled in front of those you lead.

But, Allender warns, most leaders are afraid to name their failures; they have too much pride to admit their faults, and they may be addicted to various substances or behaviors.

The best leaders, he says, are not necessarily those who seek leadership. Rather, the best leaders are plagued with doubts or flee leadership. Sound odd? Reluctant leaders, he says, give power away. They use their own power to make sure power is used fairly. True leaders, he shows, eschew pride and ambition and take joy in helping others achieve their goals and dreams.

He makes other good points. Weakness, he says, is strength. Brokenness is a gift. Chaos can open the doors to opportunity. Leadership involves gratitude and awe. A leader has a hunger for the truth. Busy-ness is moral laziness (an intriguing section is devoted to this idea). It's important to know your story and the stories of those you work with, and understand how they shape you as a leader. There's an excellent section on the need for Christian organizations to realize that firing can be an act of redemption (if handled well) rather than keeping a worker who is ill-suited for a position. All Christian organizations should read this section!

Allender offers tales of leadership failures and fractured relationships from his own life and that of biblical characters. He uses scripture well; it tends to inform the points he makes rather than feel like an afterthought. Allender is also careful to make his book gender friendly. Women, as well as men, will feel included.

However, he sometimes rambles and tends to repeat himself. Occasionally, his examples lack clarity. (Managers, he writes, want to keep the plane in the air; a leader wants to put a new engine on the plane in midair. I was confused!) But if the reader sticks with him through the closing pages, Allender will make his points about leadership, and make them well.

"Every one of your weaknesses is the doorway not only to better character but to leadership dividends so enormous that avoiding the necessary risk is utter foolishness," writes Allender. Leaders who question whether they are suited for the role will find encouragement in Allender's call for recognition that leadership does not mean perfection. A LEADING WITH A LIMP workbook will further aid those exploring their own leadership challenges. Those in leadership positions, or who aspire to be, will find this good advice for the journey.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby (phrelanzer@aol.com)

As always, Allender is provocative. Rarely do you find a writer with the boldness to write with such counter-cultural truthfulness, especially in Evangelical Christian circles where "vanilla" is the publishing flavor of choice.

Everyone knows that the character of the leader is central to leadership. However, everyone else seems to highlight the leader's strengths. It's like the job interview candidate's reply when asked, "What are your weaknesses?" Inevitably the candidate shares some "minor flaw" which is then spun into a "real strength." Allender will not stand for such banality.

Instead, he speaks of deep wounds, lifelong limps, and inner weaknesses. Like Jacob after his encounter with God, the leadership limp never dissipates. Rather, it becomes a sign, to the leader and the follower. A sign of God-dependence. Of God-sufficiency.

Another strength of "Leading with a Limp" is Allender's avoidance of yet another tendency in Christian mythology: a hyper-extreme focus on naval gazing negativity. Yes, Allender limps down the path of leadership. However, he also recognizes the resurrection power of Christ. He leaves readers/leaders with hope. Hope that they can cultivate the healing power of Christ. For what purpose? To lead for God's glory and the good of the organization--not to be recognized as the "resilient leader" as if Christian leadership is about self.

"Leading with a Limp" is not your father's (or your mother's) leadership manual. It boldly goes where no leadership book has gone before--inside the limp.

Read it to be humbled and to regain hope.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."

I ordered this book along with the workbook and found both very helpful.

Even though I have been told I am a good leader in my church I have been avoiding leading because I have felt I am not one because I am so flawed. I always thought you only become a great leader when you overcome all of your limitations and mistakes. Was I ever wrong. This book tells you how to take your deep wounds, lifelong limps, flaws, and weaknesses to accomplish some of the most amazing things.

Your limp becomes a sign, to the leader and the follower.

Just as in the Bible, God chooses those with flaws and makes effective leaders out of them. And He will do the the same with you.

The oddest thing in the whole book is that the best leaders are the ones who do not seek leadership. The writer says the best leaders are consumed with doubts so they flee leadership and they give away their power. And leadership comes back to them.

This book humbles you. And leaves you with hope. You will see God's power in your brokenness.

A limping leader is the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.

Allender's book challenges our hearts and minds to get us to consider the darker, less "fun" side of leading - pain. I found his analysis exceptionally helpful in reflecting back to see where I have let hurts impact the way I lead others. His insight and candor intrigued me and provoked me to change the way I lead and the way I live. I couldn't put it down! It's the best leadership book in recent years for the church, but also for leaders in industry.

This book is good, but not great. I've read a couple of Allender's books that are much better so i expected great things from this one. The title and sunject matter is intriguing and i wanted so much to read about "leading with a limp" from someone who has been through the brokenness process. I sensed instead a tendency towards judgmentalism and arrogance. Maybe my expectations were too high.

I had heard excellent reviews of Dan Allender's book, so went to Amazon to order. The book came in good time, in great shape, and I am very pleased with the service rendered me. Thank you.

I was impressed with the guts that Allender has to address some really tough leadership issues. This is not your typical leadership book. In fact, I haven't read another leadership book like it. I would recommend it to anyone who desires to explore all aspects of leadership, not just the good or flashy ones.

So many leadership books paint the leader as a step above everyone else. And, in some senses, they do need to be. But the effect is a false image of the leader as perfect. Perfectionism is a trap for both the leader and those in his or her care.
Dan Allender successfully navigates this trap by putting his faults in view and showing us appropriate ways to do the same. He leaves perfection in the hands of God and calls us to humbly lead under God's care. He adeptly uses the OT roles of prophet, priest and king to illustrate the different parameters of a leadership role. This book is an important part of a leadership library!

This is for weak leaders who want to pretend they are actually doing others good by leading with all their weaknesses. Try "Called to Lead." instead or even better yet, "The Way of the Shepherd" by K. Leman. Leading with a Limp is a waste of time and money and gives false hope to those in leadership who don't belong there in the first place.