Customer Reviews

Visionary Leadership (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership)

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

 

 

It's not often that an author keeps "topping" previous work in terms of refining intricate concepts, but that is what Nanus has done here. If you are in a leadership position, the diagram of the essential components of leadership in the first chapter is alone worth the price of admission. These are insights by someone who has studied and analyzed what it takes to be a "facilitative" leader--not a boss leader, not a manager, but a true "inspirer" of others who can harness the energies and maximize the focus of an organization--a "leader of leaders"--this book essentially lays out how to maximize BOTH alignment and empowerment----this is a great book.

I have used this book as a guide to visioning in a higher education environment, specifically, health care professional education.This book is the definitive resource for leading an organization to a new future. It clearly delineates the steps the leader should follow to bring the organization to a shared vision of its future which is inspirational yet achievable.The supporting rationale for the advantages of Visioning over conventional Strategic Planning is explained by the author.The progression from Vision to implementation of strategies is also treated in depth.I have used his book for nine years in two different institutions and consider it to be an indispensible part of my personal approach to leadership.

Burt Nanus is very humble in his writing style. The feel of this book is almost bible like. This book is designed for individual leaders to develop their own vision statement, this book guides readers through the mechanics of forming a vision, guidelines for developing the scope of the vision, and processes for implementing that vision.

You will be influenced and exposed to high quality material with the same attention to detail you found in the late Peter Drucker's work, however you will not gain an instant vision by reading this book. It is definitely a good book to keep in your collection. Visionary Leadership is an indispensable guide for leaders at all levels. It will always help you to retrace your steps.

This book was required reading for my leadership class. It gave a better understanding behind visioning as a leader.

I was very pleased with the book, Visionary Leadership, and the customer service. The book was in perfect condition, and I received it right away in the mail.

This book isn't another list of leadership principles. It's laid out as a workbook to guide you step by step through evaluating your organization's current vision and developing a new vision. I was disappointed that Nanus didn't spend more time discussing the implementation of vision, but he does point you to other works that speak to implementation. This is the kind of book you want on your shelf to refer back to every year or two.

The title says it all. The underlying premise of this book is that the vision of an organization is all-important. Everything else is commentary. Nanus begins by defining a vision as a realistic, creditable, attractive future and explaining how it works and why it is needed. He then moves to the development of that vision and finally concludes with the implementation of the vision. Prime Pet Foods is used as an example of the steps that can be taken in the process of developing and implementing such a vision.

"See the whole picture; Adjust the lens to see the stars far and deep.
Let the wide angle admit all of life's light and shadows.
See the whole picture; Focus the mind's eye like a spotlight on the center stage.
Only with eyes shut tight can there be the brilliant insight.
See the whole picture; Scan the edges, for meaning may not lie in the center,
As the sculpture is revealed in its form and the sea defined by its shore.
See the whole picture; Study the dreams of the great dreamers and sages.
Thus did Martin, through Gandhi's eyes, see freedom in Montgomery's masses.
Now -- see the whole picture." (Page 96-97).

Bookstall 99 proudly recommends this outstanding book to managers and leaders everywhere. The enlightenment to the path to a true vision for an organization is brilliantly set forth. This single text can show a way to improve your organization beyond any other program. We enjoyed this book and refer it to you as a sample of excellence.

This isn't a book on leadership at all. Rather, it would be a good sourcebook for a management or marketing division. To be honest, I couldn't read the whole book. The writing style was dry and the business of focus 'Prime Pet Foods' isn't a Forbes 500 company. In fact, I'm not sure it's an actual company at all. Maybe one day when I have nothing else to read I'll pick it back up and try to slog my way through it. No, probably not. There are just too many other, very good books on the subject to waste my time with this one.