Customer Reviews

Ordinary Greatness: It's Where You Least Expect It ... Everywhere

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I loved the simple but profound lessons on leadership and the stories the authors included made the content come alive. I was particularly drawn to the personal blinders and how they limit my ability to lead. You can believe that I will take the lessons learned to heart - starting today!

I was feeling very cynical when I started this book. By the end, I had decided I needed to share this with my entire staff. It totally re-engaged my feelings about why I like my job and how I, as a leader, need to help inspire my staff. It helped me find when I am ordinarily great, as well as seeing it in my staff. Excellent book for everyone, not just those who are in supervisory or management roles.

This is an inspiring book that I will keep within arm's reach in my office - and I hope other leaders have the good sense to read it and take it to heart as well. It is full of fresh advice, good examples, and practical tips that remind leaders to open their eyes to the talent that surrounds them and how they can better engage and nurture the talents of their workforce.

Bilbrey and Jones have done a great job reminding leaders that we are surrounded by great talent but need to spot it, nurture it and leverage that talent in order to bring our organizations to a new level. I found the information to be enlightening and practical at the same time. It's very well done. I highly recommend it for anyone who leads others.

Reading Ordinary Greatness is like spending time talking with a good friend. The conversational tone makes the book tough to put down. The concepts are realistic and actionable.

This gave me a lot of fresh ideas of how to better utilize and identify the skills, giftings, and passions of those who are already a part of my organization. I will be keeping it in my library to refer back to in the years to come!

and read this book. It is a refreshing reminder that amazing things often don't come in amazing packages. This introspective message is powerful and insightful for our times. Thank you to the authors for sharing their broad horizons with us all.

I have a unique work environment which requires me to live overseas and work with native people. I have to look for potential in people then train them and place them into teaching/leadership positions. It takes years and alot of hard work and sweat. Someone sent me a copy of this book, and it has impacted not only my work, but my whole way of viewing the world now.
One may think that a book like Ordinary Greatness would be only be useful in a big corporate setting, however, this book has completely changed my whole outlook on life and work, even here in a 3rd world country. It has broadened my mind and helped me to look past the outward shell of people which may be rough around the corners and see the diamond in the rough that lies within each one of us.
In chapter 5, the authors even touch on the importance of knowing the culture and the people with whom you work with. I can not go into a situation wanting to change everyone to fit my idea of greatness. Chapter 9 opened a whole new world for me.. that I must make myself more flexible so that I can notice other's own individual greatness . This book has equipped me with the power of communication which can build people up on the inside so that outwardly our work together can reach it's fullest potential.

I finished Ordinary Greatness a few weeks ago and I am still thinking about the example of Joshua Bell and then looking around all the people I see. Pam Bilbrey and Brian Jones do a great job of telling us to consider those around us and their greatness. Getting our ego out of the way and not judging others by our viewpoints but for the contribution these unique individuals offer is something I think about every day since reading this book. Developing and uncovering then celebrating greatness in those we lead, manage, live with, and work with will be a lifelong effort for me. Thanks, Pam and Brian!

Ordinary Greatness is an inspiring book that reminds each of us to open our eyes and recognize the everyday hero's in our life. This book is a great read for employees, leaders and individuals who want to foster ordinary greatness in others. Anyone who manages others will gain great insight on retaining employees through involvement and taking the time to value their contribution!