Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

In "Leveraging Your Leadership Style" John Jackson and Lorraine Bossee-Smith provide the model for relationship driven leadership. The book is based on the premise that leadership is about positive and proactive influence in the context of healthy relationships.

An important personality assessment guide helps the reader discover their behavior individuality traits (BIT) and leadership style. Whether commander, coach, counselor, or conductor, no BIT is better or worse than another. The first key to effective leadership is to identify and understand your leadership style.

The nine chapters of this compact book also include profiles for each leadership style, suggestions for leveraging your style, and cautions for things to avoid. I found the chapter on mentoring especially important and meaningful.

The authors provide insight into developing strategies to maximize your leadership style through defining your purpose, setting goals, living life to the full, and putting others first.

This is a book that is motivational, instructional, and inspirational, brilliant in simplicity, profound in insight.