Customer Reviews

You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Difference

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to go against the flow of most of the other reviewers of this book. I was rather pleased with "The Fred Factor" and looked forward to YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO BE A LEADER, but found this book to be somewhat of an "unfinished" work. Though the advice here is practical and good, the structure of book and the stories it contains at times just don't seem to come to a definite conclusion. For instance, Sanborn will tell of an individuals adversities, accomplishments, etc. and might end that particular story with, "John now works for a major corporation and is doing well." Okay, you got me interested in John's story, told about the adversities he faced and how he overcame those adversities, and that's how you end his story! Many times, throughout the book, I found instances that left me empty and in want of more information.

As previously stated, there is some sound advice here, such as midway through the book where Sanborn tells of his revelation in focusing on phone calls as opportunities rather than obligations. Sadly, however, this sort of sage advice is sparse.

In the end, this was a collection of semi-success stories that were quite readable, but for me, not as inspirational as they were surely intended. I came away with the feeling that the author needed some quick cash and threw together a book that would sell based upon the author's previous name recognition.

Mark Sanborn's book defining the qualities of true leadership (with a small "l"), is a worthy effort. If it was his senior year thesis at Leadership University, he'd most likely get a straight A.

The information Sanborn packs in this little book is perhaps more valuable for a recent college grad or a junior executive somewhere; but not necessarily for a seasoned management veteran. Certainly, it helps to keep handy at all times; in preparation for a big meeting or to polish off an important memo.

However, if you're a senior executive somewhere and you don't already know this stuff; and most importantly, practice this stuff; consider yourself fortunate to have survived this long. In that case, you'd better read this book; the sooner the better.

I like reading books that have the quality of being an easy read. The power of positive outlook and attitude toward work can not be over estimated. The author does not limit the discussion to the business world, but that is the bulk of the focus. It is easy to become self absorbed in the day to day activities without really considering the impacts of our actions. This book draws attention to these details in leadership.

I was intrigued by Mark Sanborn's latest book, YOU DON'T NEED
A TITLE TO BE A LEADER, in part because of the title . . . it had
been a concept that I had thought about, but had never realized that
it could be put into practice . . . and quite easily, too.

Sanborn contends that we can each be a leader in our daily
lives . . . though the use of real examples involving both people
and companies, he actually shows how this can be done . . . such
as in the auto industry:

* At any Toyota plant, every employee on the line has the authority
and responsibility to shut down the line at any time they feel
necessary. Quality control and problem solving aren't left to the titled
managers. A woman who spots a problem is expected to lead by
calling attention to it rather than allowing it to slip through and become
an imperfection on a dealer's lot or owner's driveway.

He also gives very concrete suggestions on how to bring about
change; for example, in ourselves:

* Reading outside your area of expertise, or outside your comfort
zone, can stimulate your thinking, whether that means picking up
an interesting new book or thumbing through a new issue of
a magazine.

And I also liked his useful advice on how to choose the best person
to shine your shoes:

* As he worked, I commented on the quality of the shoe shines
I had gotten in other airports, mentioning how difficult it was
to gauge the kind of shoe shine I would get in places I hadn't been
in before. He looked up at me with astonishment. "It's easy to tell if
you're going to get a good shine," he told me. "Just look at the shoes
of the guy giving the shine. If they ain't fine, walk on by." I glanced
at his shoes; they literally shone. They were a walking billboard
proclaiming his competence.

In addition, YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO BE A LEADER contained
many insightful quotes, including this one:

* Sometimes being "good" isn't aiming high enough. As Erwin McManus,
the pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, "We spend so much time
worrying about our kids being good-not breaking the rules, getting into
trouble, and basically behaving-that we often forget to invite them to
be great."

This is a short book, but it is one that will get you thinking--long beyond
the time that you put it down.

The gift for you here is that: You will WANT to aspire to a higher standard!

"The fact is, all leadership begins with self-mastery. You can't lead others until you can first lead yourself."
"To truly lead, and make a difference in the world, you must always start with yourself." -excerpts from the book.

This small book is full of 'gems' that will make you sparkle! Besides the good advice on leadership,(aka: "The six Principals of Leadership) it's just good advice on how to live. Maybe you're not interested in being a leader, that's okay, you will improve your life by reading and applying the inspirational wisdom presented here!

This book is short (102 pages) and cuts straight to the point.
"Great leaders are not evaluated on the length at which they speak, but on the impact of the message." And- "People who act effectively as leaders boil down the details. The make the world easy for others to understand."

Great Book!

My neighbor gave me this book to read on a recent business trip. He said it was one of the most practical leadership books he'd read in the past ten years and that he'd given one to all of his senior managers.

I read it and have since ordered one for each person on my senior management team. Sanborn's follow up to Fred Factor (which I also loved) is loaded with uncommon common sense tools and ideas that, if followed, will make leaders better. It's an easy read punctuated with great stories and profound insights.

For me, You Don't Need a Title... is a game changer.

In this self-help book on the subject of leadership for your ME Inc., motivational speaker Mark Sanborn entertains with stories and one-liners for an interesting and informative read. Opening with stories to demonstrate that, "influence and inspiration come from the person, not the position", Sanborn then provides his six principles of personal leadership:
1. The Power of Self-Mastery
2. The Power of Focus
3. Power with People
4. The Power of Persuasive Communication
5. The Power of Execution
6. The Power of Giving

While most all of the information within the each principle chapter is interesting and useful advice, I was particularly taken by some of his simple statements such as: "Integrity ... is measured by the distance between your lips and your life"; or, "...confront problems, not people." And while he did not use these words exactly, the books overall advice might be summed up with this: People remember stories; in your life you are the story!

Dennis DeWilde, author of
"The Performance Connection"

I recently started a new job and was looking for a book to build a two-day leadership offsite around. I found this little gem in an airport bookstore, read it on the plane, and knew it was the one. The contents perfectly mesh with my theory of leadership and the types of behaviors I expect. It's a fast read, and is practical and inspirational without being sappy.

I bought a copy (via Amazon, of course!) for my each of my management staff and used the 6 leadership principles as the framework for the first day of the offsite. It was a huge hit. I have since bought copies for every employee in the group, as they all expressed interest. We are having a group meeting in a few months (we are in several locations) and a review and discussion session centered around this book will be a must on the agenda!

Sometimes the most powerful and effective messages are the simple ones. Mark Sanborn reminds us of this with the idea that any of us, no matter who we are or what our career path is, can have a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Thanks for the reminder Mark!

What a great job Mark Sanborn has done to not only remind us of the importance of first "leading ourselves", but also to demonstrate, in vivid detail, what strong self-leadership actually entails. When we learn to do this well, title-coveting simply becomes a non-issue. Thanks Mark, for another positively impactful book!