Customer Reviews

Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The thesis of the book is that leading tends not to be linear; it tends to be exponential. The more you pull the rubber band the greater resistance. (I found the analogy particularly interesting since I have recently added using Therabands to my workout schedule. They are very lightweight, portable and can be used almost anywhere. I probably wouldn't need weights in my office if I had learned to use bands when I first starting working out.)

One of the quotes from the book that I liked was, "Great leaders know the value of doing the right things and that includes valuing the contribution of all of the players". I think one area where I have not done as well is telling people I appreciate their contribution. Fortunately I am a life-long learner so I can always change. For me it might even tie in with my own celebration. I tend not to celebrate my own wins as much as I could.

Another quote was, "Much of the frustration that leaders face comes from trying to solve what needs to be managed and trying to manage what needs to be solved. Being able to distinguish which areas need clarity and which areas will be ongoing tensions is a necessary skill." That paragraph was a real truism for me. So many of the things that we are involved in are not solved, they are simply somewhere along a continuum.

I found the book to be interesting, challenging, and thought provoking and would recommend it as a good read.

Only caveat, because Nancy has worked extensively with the church many of her examples have religious overtones that might put some people off.

I loved this book! Nancy Ortberg's new book tells truths about leadership that we don't always hear. Truths that are both encouraging and challenging. Such as:
"the core of leadership is hope" - ways to create that culture;
"stop being surprised leadership is hard" - expect it;
"the leader ought to be the most transformed person in the organization";
"great teams need spirited, unfiltered debate" - handling and even encouraging conflict; and
"leaders bear the burden so that hope has free reign".

After reading this book, I want to be a better leader, and I have stories and insights that resonate to help me on that path. Nancy Ortberg's voice is unique - this is not your typical leadership book - and her "non-linear style" so appealing. I was both encouraged by the stories she shared about her own missteps, and challenged by her high view of leadership. After reading Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands, I want to provide a culture of hope for those I lead.

This is a well written book, but this is one clearly aimed at a religious readership.

Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but the fact isn't all that clear in the book description or other reviews.

I imagine that the target audience will find it highly motivating and inciteful, but many other sectors of society will immediately be turned off by the approach. I did read or skim all the book, as the general concept interests me, but the approach means that people like me aren't really the target audience.

As a woman at the forefront of a Christian ministry, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. This is one of the best books on leadership I've read in a long time and offers practical advice and tools to better serve your team through purposed leadership.

For anyone looking to grow their leadership abilities, "Unleashing the power of rubber bands" is a book that will add tremendous value. With a style that effortlessly fuses winsome storytelling with pragmatic principles, Nancy Ortberg inspired me to become a better leader and gave me clear ideas on how to take next steps. You won't want to miss this one!

I was drawn to this book since I was familiar with text by Nancy Ortberg's husband. I am not disappointed that I added it to my amazon wishlist and received it for Christmas. The book may not offer anything earth-shatteringly new in leadership, but it's the type of book you need like you need lemonade on a hot day; it refreshes, helps you regain focus and energizes you to push forward in your leadership endeavors.

There are hundreds of books on leadership; however, Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands does a great job of presenting the leadership fundamentals (albeit with a Christian twist) that young leaders need to know, understand, and practice. If for no other reason than understanding the difference between "problems" to be solved and "tensions" to be managed, this book is worth the read and the price. Nancy does a great job discussing the linkage between reality and vision and the role of the leader. Her use of stories is super effective and indicative of the way all great leaders communicate, teach and mentor. Regardless of your position and time in the leadership saddle, this is a great read.

When you exert too much force on a rubber band, it may break or deform permanently; when you exert too little force, then rubber band is slack and does nothing. People are like rubber bands, according to Nancy Ortberg in this book. The leader's job is to exert pressure in a continuous direction over a period of time, and expect to see the people grow in skills and character.

The book is a collection of observations about the nature of leadership. The core of leadership is hope. Vision does not belong on T-shirts; it is about using stories to stir, provoke, remind and imagine. A good leader knows how to value the contribution of each team member. Too often we assume that a person is a bad person, rather than just a bad fit for their job. Leaders ought to be the most self-aware people in the room.

In the introduction, the author explained that the book is a non-linear book, and I found it too non-linear for my liking. The writing style is fine and the stories are engaging, but I cannot name any new ideas or compelling information that I gathered from the book. The book seems to be intended both for the church market and for the business market, but in my opinion it is likely to be of interest only to the church market.

This book offers a unique insight into the world of leadership. I have found chapter after chapter not only to be full of valuable insights, but also quite challenging to me in my own leadership experiences. Ortberg's work stays away from providing a step-by-step checklist that tells us how to be a better leader, but rather uses story to illustrate and inspire greatness. As I read the book, I can easily identify with the stories and people involved. I regularly find myself wrapped up in these experiences, and walk away better for having "been there." I strongly recommend this book for everyone who wants to fulfill their God-given responsibility to lead others.

Nancy Ortberg draws from her leadership experience, most significantly, her church ministry experience to deliver a book with many practical insights. However, nothing she says is new or fresh. Many things are just repeats or rephrases of Willow Creek leadership stuff including Bill Hybel's and her husband John Ortberg's content.

The title was quite an impressive and creative one, but the dated content of the book doesn't quite match the title's fresh feel. I'm not saying that these are bad content. It's just not as new or fresh as it seems to claim in its title. In the end, what she describes as "non-linear," rubber band-style leadership is just plain good ole leadership. Then what is linear leadership? It's just bad leadership. There's nothing significant about it.

With these said, I'd still say that this book is worth reading for those in leadership, especially Christian ministry or non-profit. It provides many practical tips that can be applied right away in anyone's leadership setting. It's not profound or deep or significant scholarship. You'd be disappointed if you expected it. It's an experiential monologue drawing from her leadership experience and mentoring from her own leaders which can still teach a good lesson or two on leadership for any leader in any setting.