Leading from the Second Chair: Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams (J-B Leadership Network Series) (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: second chair role, first chair role, second chair position, West University, Glenn Smith, Greg Hawkins (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In Leading From the Second Chair, Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson take a fresh and rare approach to leadership by unleashing some invaluable principles and guidelines specific to healing to the second tier leader. Wherever you are in your organization, this book is sure to help you appreciate the unique challenges and valuable contributions of all those who lead from the second chair."
-- Ed Young, senior pastor, Fellowship Church

"Bonem and Paterson tell the truth about leading from the second chair. Leaders will be set free to lead to their true potential because of the practical and profound insights in this book."
-- Dan Reiland, executive pastor, Crossroads Community Church

Find Out How to Lead Effectively—Even When You're Not in Charge

"Somebody said the hardest instrument to play is second fiddle. But since Jesus had one or two things to say about serving and submitting, this is a rich field. Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson have addressed a key need with wisdom and clarity."
—John Ortberg, author, If You Want to Walk on Water, Get Out of the Boat; teaching pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

"The mission of an organization either hangs together or falls apart at the critical interface between first and second chairs. This helpful volume from seasoned practitioners identifies and addresses the character, competencies, and chemistry that make for effective second chair leadership. It's a book for you, no matter which seat you're in."
—Reggie McNeal, author, The Present Future; director, Leadership Development, South Carolina Baptist Convention

"The Bible is full of strategic leadership partnerships: Moses and Aaron, Mordecai and Esther, Paul and Silas, and even the Trinity. Each one demonstrates individual gifts being cojoined for maximum ministry effect. Leading from the Second Chair articulates and celebrates the necessity of God's strategic partnerships."
—Mike Slaughter and Kim Miller, lead pastor and creative director, Ginghamsburg Church

"If you are a second chair leader, are considering a second chair role, or work with a second chair leader, this book is a must-read! Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson have done a superb job of defining the living paradoxes a second chair leader deals with day in and day out. Don't consider a second chair role without reading this book first."
—Warren Schuh, executive pastor, Calvary Community Church

"Leading from the Second Chair targets the misunderstood and often unrecognized paradoxes of empowered second chair influence. Leaders in the twenty-first century church can avoid tragic pitfalls while leveraging the powerful contribution of second chair leaders by understanding and engaging the experience-forged insights in this important book."
—Jared Roth, vice president, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

 

Product Description

LEADING FROM THE SECOND CHAIR will raise awareness of the need for strong leaders in secondary positions. It will describe the value they can bring to their organization and to primary leaders when they are serving at their full potential. It will reshape the way they view their role, with an emphasis on their own responsibility as leaders. It recognizes the unique challenges and frustrations of serving in a subordinate position and equips these leaders with the attitudes and skills that they will need to survive and thrive in this new paradigm.

Because of the scarcity of resources for second chair leaders, particularly those in the church, this book will offer a practical way to improve the performance of any organization. Leading Congregational Change discussed the importance of a "vision community"--a diverse group of key members who discern and implement the vision for a congregation--to guide the transformation of a church. This work will extend the theme of an empowered leadership team as we explore how individual clergy and laity can lead effectively.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078797739X
• ISBN-13: 978-0787977399
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,403 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read, September 12, 2005

By	R. H. Fairbanks - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Leading from the Second Chair" is a very well-written book that flows easily, packed with applicable advice and illustrations. When I decided to read this book, I was expecting it to focus solely on leadership issues within the church. However, as I read through it, I kept applying the sound leadership lessons to my secular job! Very simply, I could not put down "Leading from the Second Chair." As all of us answer to an ultimate "first chair," most of us also answer to or work for someone else. Good, practical tips on how to blossom and be content as an effective leader in a subordinate role is what this book is all about. I think anyone who decides to read "Leading from the Second Chair" will be glad they did!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars executive pastors take note, April 19, 2006

By	Philip Taylor "[e-mail]" (Troy, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm someone who recently transitioned from first chair to second chair by choice due to a recognition of my strenghths and weaknesses. This book helped in that transition as I felt my way around this new role. It also helped confirm for me that I had made the right choice. I found especially helpful the section on the "deep/wide paradox" in seeing the need for balance between minutia and grand vision. Also helpful (and humbling for a former first chair) was the section on the "subordinate leader paradox". This book will be extremely helpful to the second chair leader who feels trapped in a bad situation with a bad first chair (not me) but is still full of great wisdom for the person in a great situation with a great first chair leader(like my church). I recomended this book to a church planter in Hawaii and he read it along with his potential second chair guy, which I thought was a great use of this book. Every second chair leader should read this, especially young guys like myself.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Resource For the Entire Pastoral Staff to Read Together, August 30, 2006

By	R. Kirkham "jrkirkham" (Rushville, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

IF . . .

Staff communication and Egos are healthy enough to take it.

This book elevates the role of second chair pastoral staff. As the lead pastor of a church I appreciate the public acknowledgment of the immense value of second chair leadership. Any senior pastor who feels a need to micromanage or minimize the role of others is guilty of leading the church to mediocrity, sort of like an engine only running on one cylinder. I always want my second chair leaders to be LEADERS in every sense of the word.

This book also cautions second chair leaders to check their personal egos at the door when they enter. Subordination is a great American weakness that does great damage to the church. Often second chair leaders excell in vision, energy, and drive, but too often are weak in areas of savy and experience. If the first chair leader feels threatened, things quickly go from bad to worse. This book builds savy.

This book is timely, important, and could potentially prevent many ministry wrecks. I suggest that every multiple staff church use it as a study guide for a series of staff meetings. I wish it had come along earlier in my ministry.