Book Review: The Serving Leader

Last updated on: February 2, 2016 at 4:40 am by Greg Richardson

Book Review: The Serving Leader 2016-02-02T04:40:28-08:00 Greg Richardson

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Finding a good book about service and leadership can be difficult for me. Much of what I read seems to be conceptual or theoretical. Some of what I read feels unrealistic or preachy. Leadership is not particularly soft or fluffy for me. I need some handles I can grasp to pull myself forward.

The Serving Leader by Kenneth R. Jennings and John Stahl-Wert is a refreshing gift of a book. It gives tangible, real-world wisdom in an engaging story that connects with people.

The Serving Leader is written around the story of Mike Wilson. I enjoyed getting to know Mike. Mike asks the questions I would like to ask. Mike is open to new ideas, but not easy to convince. Mike’s personal story and exploration of leadership come together to form the framework of the book.

Mike’s analysis and insights discover a series of steps serving leaders take to be effective. Each step strengthens leadership and service, and the story provides context to understand the steps. Rather than a checklist of tasks to perform, Mike describes a journey forward.

The Serving Leader educates and enlightens leaders to help them move in a clear direction. Mike works to map the journey, and to understand the community of support needed to take it. Mike’s story includes personal challenges, ways to work with other people, and spiritual lessons. His story reshapes the ways he experiences his family, his career, and himself.

The Serving Leader is a book I look forward to reading again, and sharing with others. I enjoyed reading it, and hope it will continue to shape my understanding in the days to come.

Where do you find the connections between your service and your leadership?

What are the most important lessons you have learned about leadership in the last 10 years?

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