Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) [Hardcover]

Reggie McNeal (Author), Ken Blanchard (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787977535 | ISBN-13: 978-0787977535 | Publication Date: April 21, 2006 | Edition: 1

Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

 

The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important body of information a leader possesses

 

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

 

The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

 

The discipline of mission—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

 

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

 

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

 

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a compelling and practical book that will help develop great spiritual leaders to meet the challenges of leadership as the church seeks to bring the gospel to a changed world."
–Insights magazine (Sept. 2008)

Review

"Practicing Greatness is a hard-hitting leadership book, not just a collection of inspirational thoughts."
—from the Foreword by Ken Blanchard, author of The One-Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time

"The depth and breadth of wisdom in this book is just short of unbelievable. Good leaders aspiring to be great leaders will do well to read this book and allow it to probe and shape their lives."
—Bill Easum, Easum, Bandy & Associates

"I have always been challenged by Reggie McNeal’s ‘right on’ insights. And this book is packed with ‘right on’ insights for any leader wanting to move from good to great."
—Robert Lewis, pastor and men’s fraternity founder, Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, Arkansas

"Someone once taught me a powerful lesson: ‘If you are without discipline, you are without power.’ In this revitalizing work, Reggie has tapped into a power source for all leaders—disciplines. Grab hold of this book and begin a newly charged life today!"
—Wayne Cordeiro, New Hope Christian Fellowship O’ahu, Honolulu, Hawaii; author of Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out

"We owe Greatness to God. Reggie McNeal challenges us to this standard and gives us some practical ‘how-tos’ in this clear and compelling new book. I recommend this book for all who aspire to a meaningful Halftime and Life II."
—Bob Buford, author, Halftime and Finishing Well; founder and chairman, Leadership Network

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (April 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787977535
• ISBN-13: 978-0787977535
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Reggie enjoys helping people, leaders, and Christian organizations pursue more intentional lives. He currently serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, TX. Reggie's past experience involves over a decade as a denominational executive and leadership development coach. He also served in local congregational leadership for over twenty years, including being the founding pastor of a new church. Reggie has lectured or taught as adjunct faculty for multiple seminaries, including Fuller Theological (Pasadena, CA), Southwestern Baptist (Ft. Worth, TX), Golden Gate Baptist (San Francisco, CA), Trinity Divinity School (Deerfield, IL), and Columbia International (Columbia, SC). In addition, he has served as a consultant to local church, denomination, and para-church leadership teams, as well as seminar developer and presenter for thousands of church leaders across North America. He has also resourced the United States Army Chief of Chaplains Office, Air Force chaplains, and the Air Force Education and Training Command. Reggie's work also extends to the business sector, including The Gallup Organization.

Reggie has contributed to numerous denominational publications and church leadership journals, including Leadership and Net Results. His books include Revolution in Leadership (Abingdon Press, 1998), A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass, 2000), The Present Future (Jossey-Bass, 2003), Practicing Greatness (Jossey-Bass, 2006), Get A Life! (Broadman & Holman, 2007). His latest book, Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church (Jossey-Bass, 2009) details the three shifts that church leaders must make to engage the missional movement and offers suggestions for a different scorecard to reflect missional ministry.

Reggie's education includes a B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina and the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees both from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Reggie and his wife Cathy, have two daughters, Jessica and Susanna, and make their home in Columbia, South Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An ESSENTIAL Contribution to Authentic Leadership, October 2, 2006

By 

Keith M. Abolnik "Teacher/Pastor/Musician" (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) (Hardcover)

If the intention of Dr. McNeal was to cause the reader of this book to reflect and evaluate his/her life inwardly and to feel compelled to advance in the disciplines elaborated in this book, then, he succeeded in my case.

I feel that the author has written with wisdom and maturity on a critically important facet of leadership, especially "spiritual" leadership. The disciplines of "self" outlined in this book have been overlooked for too long, making this work much needed and timely for those who realize that today's leadership is in need of reformation. McNeal makes his case with both positive and negative examples in each chapter, writing from his vast experience, and with a sense of having developed these disciplines in his own life.

If you are a leader, or an aspiring leader, please make this book a priority to read. It will certainly make a great contribution to your thinking, and to the formation of "great" leadership in your life. In my opinion, these disciplines are not optional, they are ESSENTIAL.

This is definitely an excellent treatment of the greatest leadership challenge you will ever face - leading your self! Let's face it, you will only be successful at leading others to the degree that you have learned to lead your self.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 3, 2006

By 

G Madison (Olathe, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) (Hardcover)

This book is not only for leaders, but for ALL people. Go for great -- isn't that something we can all aspire to? We get stuck in the rut of evaluating OTHERS and THEIR failures and miss the opportunity for personal growth. I had rarely wondered why another's behaviour made me feel the way it did and always thought, "They have a problem." Now that I realize that I can look at situations and make an effort to control how I deal with those people, thus bringing the focus in on ME and MY relationship with the Lord. What a concept -- it's hard enough to control our own behaviour, let alone someone elses, so why not just focus on ourself. In the end, it is between YOU and the Father, no one else.
Thank you, Mr. McNeal for allowing the Lord to work through you to bring this powerful insight to the world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Become a Better Minister, August 13, 2009

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) (Hardcover)

Reggie McNeal is an excellent author. His material is insightful and practical. This book did not disappoint, even though he his held to a high standard. He goes over seven disciplines that will help a minister practice greatness for God. In the church today, there is a great need for godly men to help with the mission of God in the local flocks. There is a culture that sometimes seeks to destroy talented men for God, but this book will help a leader to practice that which is most important. The author looks at self-awareness, self-management, self-development, the disciple of mission, of decision making, of belonging, and of aloneness. All of the chapters provide insightful advice on the role of the minister in being a man of God that is leading other people to the blessings of the Lord. Being a spiritual leader is different from being a business leader, there are some shared dynamics, but there are also some major differences. I highly recommend this book. Read it slowly, read it during some off time to recharge. You need to allow the words to sink into your heart. This book will make you a better minister.