Making a Difference: Twelve Qualities That Make You a Leader [Paperback]

Sheila Murray Bethel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1990

Step-by-step instructions provide proven methods for motivating and influencing others, and stories from world leaders and ordinary citizens reveal secrets of leadership.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

What qualities or characteristics are essential to make a leader? Bethel, owner of Getting Control Inc., a marketing and training corporation based in San Francisco, has identified 12 qualities that she believes a leader must possess. A leader must have a mission, have high ethics, be a team builder, be a big thinker, master change, be sensitive, communicate effectively, be a risk taker, be a decision maker, use power wisely, have courage, and be committed. Each of the 12 characteristics or aptitudes is discussed in a separate chapter. Other recent books that offer similar discussion of leadership include Jay A. Conger's The Charismatic Leader (Jossey-Bassey, 1989) and William A. Cohen's The Art of the Leader ( LJ 11/1/89). This book should find a wide audience and is recommended for public and academic libraries.
- Richard Paustenbaugh, Indiana Univ. Lib., Bloomington
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Books (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042512309X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425123096
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on leadership principles, May 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Making a Difference: Twelve Qualities That Make You a Leader (Paperback)

"Making a Difference" covers many essential areas of leadership such as finding a mission, thinking big, ethics and maturity, mastering change, sensitivity, risk taking and decision making, using power, communication, team building, courage, and committment. Although these topics are covered in many other leadership and personal development books, Bethel does a fantastic job of explaining and supporting them with excellent examples and also showing how to apply them effectively. I found the book very informative, inspiring, and straightforward. Anyone seeking advice on becoming a "true" leader should get this book. It's a good starter book. This book has recieved praise from people such as Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, etc.

I would also recommend reading "Leadership from the Inside Out" by Kevin Cashman and "The Book of Leadership Wisdom" and almost any book by Ken Blanchard (like Gung Ho)or John C. Maxwell.

Making a Difference is a leadership classic! Get it now!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Leadership Handbook, October 1, 2001

By 

Carmen Matthews "The Serene Samurai" (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making a Difference: Twelve Qualities That Make You a Leader (Paperback)

I first read this book in 1994, and have just read it a second time this week. As I read this book, I had the opportunity to look back at how I have been profoundly influenced by her wisdom, humor, humility and strength.

Reading it this second time around, I chose to do so with for 3 purposes: Develop my ability to attract an excellent board of directors; create wonderful sales literatures that attract people to my seminars. And find more quotes to use, as opening to my seminar presentations.

Wow! I found what I was looking for. And I am sure that when I read it again, in the very near future, I will grow in my life's journey.

Another interesting point that I discovered during this second read is that years ago, when I finished my military career, I had often asked corporate civilians what the difference is between leadership and management -- Sheila Murray-Bethel definitely answers this in this book.

Read this book to get more out of your life.