Leveraging Your Leadership Style: Maximize Your Influence by Discovering the Leader Within [Paperback]

John Jackson (Author), Lorraine Bosse-Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2007

Jackson and Bosse-Smith provide anyone in a position of leadership, whether an entrepreneur, business owner, supervisor, manager or pastor, insight into themselves and their team members so that they may lead and guide themselves and others more effectively. Leveraging Your Leadership Style takes the guess work out of the equation and offers concrete solutions to obtain greater results and success.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Jackson is the senior pastor of Carson Valley Christian Center in Minden, Nevada. He is also the president of VisionQuest Ministries, a non-profit leadership development company.

Lorraine Bosse-Smith runs Concept One, Inc., her coaching and training company, out of southern California. Lorraine speaks across the country on health, wellness, stress and time management, communication, and other topics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 123 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687645166
• ISBN-13: 978-0687645169
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,986,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars do you want affirmation & great discussion?, July 21, 2007

By 

S. Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leveraging Your Leadership Style: Maximize Your Influence by Discovering the Leader Within (Paperback)

I thought the book did a great job affirming various temperaments and how those strengths can show up in leadership. I also appreciated the warnings for different personality styles. I think this book would be a huge asset to teams of leaders who can read through it and discuss it while on a retreat or at an extended meeting.

Why you should read this book:
* You will be affirmed. The book affirms leaders of various personality types and affirms leaders who do not currently hold an official leadership position.
* You will be encouraged. This field of teaching is plagued with leadership principles taught by leaders who essentially communicate that in order to lead better, "Just be more like me." This book counteracts this pandemic.
* You will talk. You will have a frame of reference to talk with other leaders on your team about the strengths and weaknesses that you all bring to the table.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Motivation than Insightful Help, May 11, 2009

By 

Matthew Morine (Castle Rock, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Leveraging Your Leadership Style (Paperback)

Main Idea of the Text:
The intention of the book is to help a leader to understand his nature leadership style by knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each natural inclination.

The Three Top Ideas of Greatest Benefit:

1. The book states, "Good leadership is about learning to tap into your strengths, which we all have, and either enhancing those areas you are weaker in or surrounding yourself with others who have what you lack." This is the key to leadership and to this book. The book deals with knowing your positive characteristics and your negative weaknesses so that you can improve or develop a team around you. This helps a minister in hiring and working with people to improve the congregation.

2. Another top benefit of the book was learning that I am a natural commander. This is one part of the leadership style that I use. I am also strong in being a coach. Sometimes this is the most natural way for me to lead. There is also a counseling aspect, but this is more in times of conflict than in positive opportunities to expand the kingdom of God. Counseling is more of a self-defense tactic.

3. The final top idea or helper is the sections on dealing with the other styles of leadership in communication and in mentoring. By changing the approach this will only benefit all parties involved. Not everyone speaks the same language.

The Three Ideas of Major disagreement:

1. So far, this book seemed a little swallow compared to the rest of the books. The book seemed too much little John Maxwell's leadership material which is too much story and feel good material, but really no more than inspirational leadership suggestions.

2. Another suggestion for the book would be to attach this to a common personality test. The four major styles of leadership are expressions of the "DISC" personality test. It would be nice for a combination of the two tests so that people could understand better the difference between the personalities.

3. The conclusion was weak as well. It was just some feel good stories and notes taken from other books.

The Recommendation of the Book:
I would recommend this book because of the understanding of the four natural styles of leadership and how these styles affect a leader's interaction with others.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As a Commander, August 19, 2007

By 

Jeremy Dunlap "Jer" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leveraging Your Leadership Style: Maximize Your Influence by Discovering the Leader Within (Paperback)

As a Commander (one of the leadership styles in the book) I'm telling everyone to get this book! Since I have a little Coach (another one of the leadership styles in the book) I'll stop ordering and convince you of your need. :)

I have one copy. I plan to buy many more copies. As I grow my team here in Nashville I plan to use the book with my Key leadership as a quick testing/training tool. This book offers you the ability to take the teams you manage/lead on a journey of self discovery. In addition, it allows you to scope out your team and assure that they are in the right positions...based upon how they are wired.

This quick read is perfect for leaders...who are mostly always on the go. John and Lorraine write a book that seems very conversational...and comfortable. In addition, John's authenticity comes through loud and clear.

Not your traditional..."do it this way or you really are not a leader"...leadership book. Buy one...and then buy all of your team members one.