The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders [Hardcover]

Dr. Roger Parrott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

 

 

About the Author

At age thirty-four, Roger Parrott became one of America's youngest college presidents. Parrott is currently the president of Belhaven College, an innovative institution recognized as a leading evangelical college in the arts. He has a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Maryland. In addition to advising a wide variety of ministries in the United States and internationally, Parrott serves in leadership roles for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Mission America Coalition, and Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

 

At age thirty-four, Roger Parrott became one of America's youngest college presidents. Parrott is currently the president of Belhaven College, an innovative institution recognized as a leading evangelical college in the arts. He has a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Maryland. In addition to advising a wide variety of ministries in the United States and internationally, Parrott serves in leadership roles for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Mission America Coalition, and Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

 

 

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434767493
• ISBN-13: 978-1434767493
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

At age thirty-four, Roger Parrott became one of America's youngest college presidents. He is currently the president of Belhaven College, an innovative institution recognized as a leading evangelical college in the arts. Roger has a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Maryland. In addition to advising a wide variety of ministries in the United States and internationally, Dr. Parrott serves in leadership roles for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Mission America Coalition, and Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ego-Driven Leaders: Exhausting vs. Equipping, October 23, 2009

By 

John W. Pearson "John Pearson Associates" (San Clemente, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders (Hardcover)

"Ego is a megaphone that is always obnoxious," warns Roger Parrott. His book is filled with poignant insights like that one. His second chapter, "Deflate Your Ego to Expand Your Influence," is remarkably fresh and convicting.

When is the last time (or the first time), you've voluntarily read a chapter about keeping your ego in check? Parrott, the president of Belhaven College, Jackson, Miss., since 1995, must struggle--like all college presidents, mega-church pastors, CEOs and senior leaders--to downplay his own role and showcase the roles of others.

The author offers "a portrait of the showmen" with the compilation of 14 traits, along with brief commentaries, he's observed in ego-driven leaders. They include:
1. Live Flamboyantly
2. Inflate Vision
3. Act Invincible
4. Ignore Critics
5. Crave Adrenaline
6. Exaggerate Actions
7. Become Sensitive
8. Attract Groupies
9. Demand Appreciation
10. Require Empathy
11. Listen Poorly
12. Enjoy Competition
13. Control Obsessively
14. Ignore Boundaries

Commenting on the trait of leaders who exaggerate actions, he notes: "These leaders move in wide, sweeping motions that take up space wherever they might be. They don't do anything simply, but every action is so exaggerated that the staff around them is exhausted, rather that equipped, by their leadership."

After reading these 14 traits to my wife, Joanne, I gave her my brilliant idea: create an online "Ego Assessment for Leaders" and encourage my clients and other CEOs to do a 360 survey with their board members, their direct reports and their own self-assessments. Joanne's response: "Yeah, John. After you are willing to do that!"

Parrott has 13 more chapters including: "Planning Will Drain the Life From Your Ministry" and "Preempting the Stickiest Challenge of Long-Term Leadership." The latter focuses on conflicts of interest--a rare and practical look at this leadership stumbling block. This college president's style reminds me a bit of USC President Steven Sample's book, The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership (J-B Warren Bennis Series).

You'll get your money's worth from this book in savvy corner office wisdom. Like this from chapter three, "Applause Lasts for a Moment, but Leadership is for a Lifetime." He writes, "...bad news must be announced, or the gossip and speculation will run far ahead of the facts." Instead of letting bad news leak out, Parrott is pro-active. "I don't bring my entire employee base together lightly, because I figure it costs us about $10,000 an hour in wages when we gather, but the cost of not meeting during a time of bad news is much higher. Without the full story, coworkers become fearful, assumptions run rampant, and energy is drained by the uncertainty. Leaders may have learned to live comfortably with a high level of ambiguity, but others have not."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a refreshing perspective on leadership!, September 30, 2009

By 

Brian - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders (Hardcover)

This is one of the best leadership books I've ever read - and I've read lots of them. The author provides insights into a whole different way of thinking about leadership, and it gives the practical tools for getting it implemented. The idea of the first chapter on making decisions as if I'll be in this job for the next 25 years changed three of my decisions in the first few days after I read the book.

Finally, someone is calling us to break this cycle that makes so much of leadership seem meaningless, and is redirecting my thinking toward what matters most. I love that it is a big idea of longview leadership rather then being focused on the immediate, but doesn't leave me with a theoretical idea but gives the how-to framework for making that shift.

This book is clearly for Christian people because it has a strong biblical base, as well as lots of business research and real-life illustrations. But I'd recommend it not just to those in a ministry organization like I am, but my Christian friends who are in the business world need to read this too.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It Could Be So Much More, October 19, 2009

By 

K. Martinez "Kim Martinez" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders (Hardcover)

I love to read leadership books. So I was excited to start this book.

However, I was disappointed because I thought it fell short.

The first chapter would make a terrific article. Chapters 8 and 9 are worth the cost of the book.

For a book that talks about taking the long view of leadership, Roger Parrott has completely missed the point. He has an incredible opportunity to take the long view of developing leaders through his writing. Several of his chapters read more like an outline for a great book.

So my point isn't that this is a bad book - what is here is good - but there isn't enough of it. I think there are a couple of types of people who will find it valuable. If you:

* read a book a month on leadership OR
* are a new leader looking for a quick overview

you will find this book helpful.

If you are ready to take your leadership to the next level and are looking for a mentor to get you there, this book offers tidbits - I learned some - chapter 1 was terrific, chapters 2-7 you could find anywhere, 8 & 9 were terrific, and chapters 10-13 left me wanting more because they read more like an outline of something greater.

I hope that Roger will continue writing because I really appreciate his approach and insight. I think he has a lot to offer in the development of leaders and will enjoy watching him unfold as a writer.