The World's Most Powerful Leadership Principle: How to Become a Servant Leader [Hardcover]

James C. Hunter (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 29, 2004

Author and consultant James Hunter believes that–in the midst of numerous national corporate scandals–leaders must take a fresh look at leadership through the lens of some very ancient principles. Leadership that is authentic and effective is servant leadership–following the principles revealed in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ:

“Recently it struck me that if love changes people, which I know it does, it would seem to follow that God is the source of change and growth because He is love. Put another way, when people begin loving others through their efforts and behavior, God has the opportunity to work in the lives of both the giver and the receiver.”

In his new book, The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle, Hunter demonstrates that leadership and character development are one. But the work, and even the pain, of changing one’s self–breaking old, worn-out habits–is not easy. Hunter provides an uncomplicated, straightforward, three-step change process he has seen successfully employed by literally thousands of leaders to effect change in their lives and organizations and fulfill beneficial goals.

This groundbreaking book will open the eyes of frustrated, disheartened leaders at every level and foster change for good at the personal, organizational, and societal level.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers who benefited from Hunter's bestselling 2001 parable The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership will enjoy this follow-up, which fleshes out some of the principles of servant leadership discussed in the earlier book. (For that reason, it also works as a stand-alone book for those who have not read The Servant or those who find straight advice literature more helpful than allegories.) Effective leadership, Hunter states, is about relationships, not coercive power; leadership development and character development are one and the same. The book's ideas are solid and the anecdotes helpful: Hunter trots out examples ranging from Southwest Airlines and General Electric to the U.S. military and professional football. The book draws on Christian themes but in a soft, understated way. One strong element is Hunter's attention to the history of different management styles in the 20th century, assessing what worked at the time and what needs to change for our era. Since business books tend to be myopically ahistorical, Hunter's glimpses of the past are refreshing and instructive. While some readers will be put off by the book's oral-style presentation-complete with overused exclamation points and rhetorical questions-others may find that the style contributes to the book's conversational and accessible tone.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Hunter, observing our post-9/11 environment, recent corporate scandals, and the large number of managers who are not leaders, offers his thoughts on what he calls a servant leader, "a person of character who is skilled in influencing and inspiring others to enthusiastically contribute their hearts, minds and other resources toward goals identified as being for the common good." With a reference to his religious faith and prayer, the author sees leadership's spiritual underpinnings. We learn that leadership is an acquired skill and is synonymous with influence, while character is moral maturity in action: doing the right thing regardless of the cost. Hunter offers important lessons, which he has learned from successful organizations, including selecting workers very carefully, finding ways to make work more challenging, compensating people fairly, demanding excellence and accountability, training people well, and building community. The need for effective leadership has never been greater in our twenty-first-century society, and particularly in our workplaces. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1 edition (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578569753
• ISBN-13: 978-1578569755
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Teams

More About the Author

JAMES C. HUNTER is head of J. D. Hunter Associates, LLC, a leadership training and development firm. His internationally bestselling book, The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, has been translated into nine languages and has sold more than 250,000 copies to date. Jim is a sought-after public speaker whose clients include some of the world's most admired organizations, including American Express, Nestlé, ServiceMaster, Procter & Gamble, Southern Company, and the U.S. Air Force. Jim resides in Michigan with his wife and daughter and can be reached online at www.jameshunter.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting. Challenging. Solid. Profound. February 28, 2006

By Jeffrey E Ellis

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

James Hunter follows up on "The Servant" with this book: "The World's Most Powerful Leadership Principle". I am still not sure there is enough new material presented to warrant this release. It contains so much from the first book but does add additional quips, quotes, and anecdotes, and some new material.

Perhaps Hunter wrote this book to appeal more broadly to a secular readership. "The Servant" was clearly a spiritual journey; "World's Most Powerful..." is a more secular treatise and will be much more widely accepted in MBA classrooms.

But whether one approaches servant leadership from a faith or secular point of view, the truth remains the same. These basic, solid principles of leadership work.

Not all truths about human nature and leadership are self-evident: some are contained in paradox: leaders must be servants, giving of yourself releases giving to you, to get love you must give love first, and others.

All in all, this is a solid book which contains some real gems.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Liked his first book and this one is great too ... July 21, 2007

By G. E. Kugler VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Never heard of this guy until I read his first book. Then saw this a couple weeks ago and he brings it once again. He gets it, there are few leaders in this world right now today. He tells about leadership in a direct, no nonsense way but is preaching love in the workplace. He is teaching that leaders are people who hold their followers accountable, can be tough when they need to but do care and that creates more followers.

Sounds simple. Everyone says they know this stuff, a handful do it. Hunter lays this out and its good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Got personal courage? Read this! March 20, 2008

By K. Wojcik

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

After Jim wrote The Servant, he was bombarded with questions! How does a person become a servant leader? That lead to the writing of this "how to" book.
If you haven't read The Servant, don't despair, Jim provides a review of the concepts and benefits of this type of leadership. Then with both inspiration and detail, he shares how to move forward and become a real servant leader. It is not a process for the faint of heart.
For example, he asks the leader to get feedback from their associates. The book gives you the actual feedback form to distribute. Once the results are in, the leader is asked to thank their team members and tell them specifically what the leader has chosen to improve. This takes some guts!

If you are a leader in a social organization, a non-profit, at work or in a club and you are interested in leading with your heart and spirit, give this book a try. You won't be disappointed.