A Word to Fellow Pastors and Other Christian Leaders (1875) by Horatius Bonar, Book Review

 

A Word to Fellow Pastors and Other Christian Leaders:

Things Every Minister of the Gospel Must Consider (1875, 2019)

by Horatius Bonar

Every Sunday I will have my Social Media Sabbath and one of the things I love to do is house cleaning. As Jordan Peterson said forcefully, “If you can't even clean up your own room, who the hell are you to advise the world?” As I’m battling with dirt and spider webs, I listened to this audiobook. I’ve read this book many years ago and I’m glad to discover it again in audio format. Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) is a missionary, a preacher, and best-known as a hymn writer. He wrote this book out of his concern for the Christian leaders to be faithful to the gospel of Christ, to win souls for Christ, and to edify the body of Christ. “This is a book for winners of souls, not for loiterers on the highway or for slothful servants of our Master,” reminds Samuel M. Zwemer on the preface, “It is a heart-searching book but also one that gives new courage to continue the daily task.”

I love to learn, read, and listen to Christian classic books. They are so much depth, devotion, and meatiness. Mr. Bonar’s book is included. It is very convincing and challenging. For my 21st century ears, the standard for a leader or minister of the gospel as outline here is very high (if I pause every time a sentence hit me, I would never finish this book. Repentance, in the end, is necessary!) and it should be so. As of this writing, the Hillsong Church is in turmoil due to many controversies, scandals, and misconducts among the leaders. I’m glad that the truth is exposed and yet, I’m sad that it brings shame to the church. I’m guilty of my own shortcoming but the Scripture is clear that we have to hold ourselves to a higher Biblical standard. Paul advises Timothy and every Christian leader: “Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). James gave this solemn warning, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). The high standard is uncomfortable nowadays, but in the digital era, it is urgent and all-time Biblical.

’Tis not for us to trifle! Life is brief,
And sin is here.
Our age is but the falling of a leaf,
A dropping tear.
We have no time to sport away the hours,
All must be earnest in a world like ours.
Not many lives, but only one have we —
One; only one; —
How sacred should that one life ever be —
That narrow span!
Day after day, filled up with blessed toil;
Hour after hour, still bringing in the new spoil.
(Poet by Horatius Bonar)

This book contains five (5) powerful chapters: Ch. 1: The Importance of Being Hot for Christ; Ch. 2: The Importance of Being Right with God Ourselves; Ch. 3: The Danger of Unfruitful Ministry; Ch. 4: The Importance of Eliminating Our Faults; and Ch. 5: The Need of Revival in Ministry. If I were a senior pastor in the local church or team leader in a Christian organization, I would make this book required reading for every minister before entering the high standard calling of ministry! (Be glad, I’m not )

#ServeToLead #GrowingLeaders #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my previous #1Book1Week book reviews, CLICK HERE  

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Daniel, Man of God: Being a Man of Character in a Babylon World (Audiobook, 2018) by Dwight L. Moody

 

Daniel, Man of God: Being a Man of Character in a Babylon World (retitled, revised, republished 2018) by Dwight L. Moody. Narrated by Mark Christensen

If you study and read biographies of heroes of faith outside Biblical characters, one of the names that will most probably appear is D. L. Moody (1837-1899). Men of God like Moody, R. A. Torrey, Andrew Murray, A. W. Tozer, John Bunyan, J. I. Packer, etc. are treasures to Christendom. While most Christian leaders (celebrities?) nowadays are light without heat and their books are average; these faithful men through their writings, especially, are used by God to expound and explained the Word of God with deep knowledge and mind on fire. Try reading contemporary Joyce Meyer's God Is Not Mad at You and the classic Jonathan Edward's Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, you'll see the vast difference of view of the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Scripture.

Now, let's come back to this book... D. L. Moody wrote with clear and context, simple and Scriptural, powerfully and pleasurable to listen to through audiobook. It wasn't too technical and easy to understand if you're already familiar with the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. The character and example of Daniel's (and his friends') faith are ever relevant in the modern world. In fact, we need more Daniels in our homes, churches, workplaces and government today. What kind of man he was? Integrity before God and men, uncompromised amid temptation, favor by kings without corruption or duit kopi, God-fearing rather than men-fearing, faultless but not perfect, led by convictions rather than power, spiritual leadership, and more. I feel so small standing on the shoulder of Daniel. I knew my downfalls, inadequacies, and iniquities. This is good, right? As Mr. Moody says, “The voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.” Thank God for Christ, the Forgiver. Only by the grace of God, I can imitate - to some extend - Daniel.

To listen/watch this audiobook and more Christian classics, go to Aneko Press YouTube. CLICK HERE 👉 https://youtube.com/c/Anekopress 😊📖⚡ Enjoy!

P.s: I listened to lots of audiobooks and expository preaching. I choose to share a short review of this book so that you can also explore classic Christian books or audiobooks 🔥

#1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeader #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #DLMoody #BookOfDaniel #Audiobook #ClassicBook #ManOfGod

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Being A Christian In Malaysia Is... by Mark Raj

To you, what does it mean by being a Christian in Malaysia? Are you a Christian first or a Malaysian first or a [insert your race here] first? Which one do you serve: the Kingdom of God or our county Malaysia? I know, these are very tricky questions (and the conjunction word "or" assume that you have to choose). What do you think?

To watch LEGASI.tv Interview (S.1 E.9) with Mark Raj on the topic of Saya Bangsa Malaysia: Menurut Perspektif Seorang Kristian di Malaysia, CLICK HERE > https://youtu.be/ITZXneMMtFo 

#SayaBangsaMalaysia #KristianDiMalaysia #AgenPerdamaianPerubahan #LEGASIInterview #PrinsipPrinsipAlkitab #HidupHarmoni #KatakanTidakKepadaPrejudis #JagaSensetivitiKaumDanAgama

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Five (5) Trusting Leadership Behaviors

Reading three articles from Forbes, SUCCESS, and Inc. Magazine websites on leadership and trust yesterday. Here are five (5) trusting leadership behaviors great companies are known for. These can also be applied to any organization, group, and team ✅ #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader #LeadershipAndTrust

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Leadership Attracts Opposition

Leadership attracts opposition. When you are unknown nobody really cares about you. However, when you occupy a leadership position everybody wants to pick on you. All eyes on you.

Why? Because leadership initiates change and change threatens the survival of those who have thrived on existing structures. This naturally breeds opposition. My advice: Expect opposition but plan to overcome it with persuasion and the right attitude. Opposition can fuel a leader’s performance when received positively but could bring distraction when handled inappropriately.

Learn from the apostle Paul. When he faced opposition (read 2 Corinthians 11:23-27), he stands firm in his faith, attitude, and integrity - and so God sustained and made him an example for all leaders #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader

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Angelus' Quote: Without Integrity, You Will Never Be a Leader

Without integrity, it is impossible to respect a leader. You can’t expect others to respect you and be honest when you lack integrity yourself. An honest leader succeeds when they stick to their word, live by their core values, led by example, and follow-through (I've broken most of these in the past). Respect is earned but integrity is learned. Integrity is the cornerstone of all other leadership qualities 🤜🤛 #ServeToLead #GrowingLeader

Here are some ways leaders show integrity:

> Apologizing for mistakes

> Be a model for your team and ethical behavior

> Be a risk-taker and stand up for what you believe in

> Communicating honestly

> Keeping your word

> Give credit where its due

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Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership (2009) by Timothy Irwin, Book Review

Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership (2009)

by Timothy Irwin, PhD

Derailment means "off the rails." To be a derailed leader means to fall short of inner character that result in outer disaster. Maybe it's better to say that a derailed leader is not a ‘leader' after all. In the second section of this book, Irwin, a consultant on leadership development, shares about six famous leaders who greatly derailed, namely: Robert Nardelli, Carly Fiorina, Durk Jager, Steven Heyer, Frank Raines & Dick Fuld. Irwin doesn't shame these six high profile leaders because their derailments are known to the public and were reported from respected media. In their cases, fraud was not the reason. "What ultimately caused the derailment of the individuals profiled in upcoming chapters was a failure of character!" write the author. "The big lesson is that no matter how brilliant, charming, strategic or commanding in the presence a leader is, the consequences of a failed character are extraordinary disabling and will bring down even the strongest among us."

But ultimately, this book is not about them… it's about us – you and me, especially we who are in a leadership position and/or authority. It's about how we can avoid derailment and recognize the early warnings of it. As Patrick Lencioni, the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, warned, "No one is immune from the derailment." I take the message of this book seriously and I thank Irwin for making it clear, urgent and essential for aspiring leaders like me. I've been to the dark valley of my character flaw. I went to prison because of it. A minor crime, I assure you, but a serious lack of character issue. If Irwin knew me (and if I'm famous), I can have a long profile chapter in this book! How did derailment happen? First, we must understand that it's a process. A slow but sure progression. Stage 1: A Failure of Self/Other-Awareness > Stage 2: Hubris, Pride Before the Fall > Stage 3: Missed Early Warning Signals > Stage 4: Rationalizing > and then, of course, Stage 5: Derailment.

Why did derailment happen? As Tim Irwin already says: a failure of character. Most good leaders have high IQ but most fallen leaders have low CQ (Character Quotient). "Character is the foundation of great leadership. We have to get this right to stay on track." There are three (3) tests of character: 1) Does the leader have a strong moral/ethical guidance system that functions well in ambiguous situations? 2) Does the leader make decisions just for expediency? And 3) Does the leader handle adversity with grace? To "stay on track" is an exercise of character. Tim Irwin outlines four character-based qualities that can help leaders to do just that:

#1 Authenticity (My strength that can be my weakness too)

#2 Self-Management (Very essential. Leader leads him/herself first)

#3 Humility (remind me of Lencioni's values: Smart, Hungry and Humble)

#4 Courage (I love the story of his father, Jim Irwin)

In the last section of this book, Irwin shares some practical suggestions, tips and axioms. He lists Five Critical Lessons In Leadership and Five Critical Habits of the Heart. To know about it, you have to read this book. It's worth the price and your time (by the way, I bought it during the sale for only RM10!). I fully recommend it. Although for me it comes in a bit late – remember I shared with you about my derailment incident – I'm glad that I learned from it quickly. I resolve by God's grace and guidance that I want to improve my character personally and as a leader. As Tim Irwin closes this book: "We must keep intense light on our character as well as continue to become more and more competent at what we do."

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

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BOOK REVIEW Managing by Accountability: What Every Leader Needs to Know about Responsibility, Integrity - and Results (2007)

LESS THAN 10 MINUTES BOOK REVIEW on M. David Dealy with Andrew Thomas's Managing by Accountability: What Every Leader Needs to Know about Responsibility, Integrity - and Results (2007)

At its core, accountability is the responsibility to act. It is the commitment to do the right thing and stand by your decisions. And it is something that must come from within 😊. In this video, I would like to share 5 Key Lessons that I Learned from this book. Enjoy!

#LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Angelus' Quote: Fourth Quality of a Leader

I read, at the University of Santa Clare, California, a researcher conducted a study of 15,000 business managers to determine, among other things, what workers value most in a boss.

The survey revealed that employees respect a LEADER who shows competence, has the ability to inspire workers, and is skillful in providing direction.

But there was a fourth quality they admire even more - INTEGRITY. Above all else, workers wanted a manager whose word is good, a manager who is known for his/her honesty, a manager whom they could trust 🐝

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Angelus' Quote: Leader and Accountability

Being accountable means that you accept responsibility for the outcomes expected of you, both good and bad. You don’t blame others. And you don’t blame things that were out of your control.

Until you take responsibility, you are a victim. And being a victim is the exact opposite of being a leader. Great leaders take the initiative to influence the outcome and take responsibility for the results.

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Timothy, Don't Let Anyone Think Less of You! (1 Timothy 4:12, No Inferiority Complex Please)

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity"

(1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)

"[Don't] let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity."

(The Message)

Today I preached the Word of God on manhood at the church. Although I've preached many times before to the youth and students, I never failed to feel nervous as if I'm going to do it the first time. Today particularly, I feel an extra boost of nervousness. I'm nervous not because I'm not prepared or because I fear the crowd, but because I'm going to preach on manhood to men who are older than me that were in the church just now. Nervous is good because it leads me to rely on God and be prayerful; fear is not because fear assumes that the Message is yours and not God's. So what did I do? I preached to myself this verse, God's assurance: "Richard, don't let anyone think less of you because you are young!" I repeated it many times and prayed to God with all my heart until God's Word become a reality to me. When the nervousness and the fear were gone, I preached the Word of God as it is – challenged the men (including the fathers), warned them, and plead for their needs for God to become their Father. I was bold and straight to the point! After I'm done, I became nervous again but with a sigh of relief. An older man came to me afterward and asked, "Can you come again next month?"

Timothy was a young man. Perhaps by this time, he may have been about 40 years old. A man of 40 was comparatively young compared with the Apostle Paul who perhaps at this time was close to 70. Kenneth S. Wuest, a Bible teacher, points out that "many of the elders at Ephesus may have been older than Timothy." Look at it this way: 40 years-old is considered old for an athlete (Lee Chong Wei, now 36, thought that he should be retired), young for minister (Syed Saddiq Syed, Youth and Sport Minister, turn 26 on 6th December 2018), and very young for Prime Minister (Mahathir Mohamad, now 93, the oldest PM in the history of Malaysia. The real Optimus Prime!).

When Paul told Timothy to "don't let anyone put you down because you're young," what he meant was: Do not develop an inferiority complex because you are younger than some of those to whom you minister. Do not be concerned if they do not understand that God has called you to this leadership position as pastor or teacher or preacher. Do not worry if they seek to ignore you because of your comparative immaturity. "Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." A young man (my age is near to Timothy's) may be very immature in some respects (I admit), but if he is characterized by these things: careful as to his words, particular as to his behavior, manifesting the love of God, a man of faith and is careful as to purity of life – he will earn the respect and recognition from others, even the older ones. In short, Paul said to us to first "teach believers with your life." If these characters are in you, the people "will realize that though a young man there is something about him that marks him out as a man of God, and not one who is careless in his walk and slack in his service, or who are seeking an easy-going life as a professional cleric," said H.A. Ironside.

Don't let anyone think less of you and put you down because you are young.

Be an example to all believers and teach them with your life (too).

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: Fairness Is Overrated (2015) by Tim Stevens

Fairness Is Overrated:
And 51 Other Leadership Principles To Revolutionize Your Workplace (2015)
by Timothy Alan Stevens a.k.a. Tim Stevens

I'm instantly attracted to books that have the word ‘leadership' as its title. And the simplicity of its wordings and bright orange cover also influenced my choice to buy this book. I do judge a book by its cover and as I read this one, I'm glad I've chosen wisely. The truth is, I sometimes choose poorly (or you can say, unwise). Most leadership and personal development books that I pick up either from libraries or book fairs tend to present their ideas within the first few chapters, then basically recycle, rephrase and repeat throughout the rest of the books. Fairness Is Overrated is unlike most leadership books. It's completely practical on every page, in every situation, for every leader both in business and church settings. I praise this book together with Thom S. Rainer, "[This book] is an incredible leadership book for those in the workplace. Tim's principles are timeless; their application is life-changing. Business leaders, church leaders, all leaders: get this book and devour it immediately!" Agree, agree and amen!

Tim Stevens comes from a church leadership perspective but his 52 principles are applicable anywhere because as long as we are in the workplace – company or organization, church or business, managers or workers – we are all leaders. I love the authenticity of the stories within the book. Tim isn't afraid to share his struggles, failures, and humanity. It's one of those few great books that I read a chapter or two and have to take a small break and come back to it the next day because it's communicated so well. Each chapter has 2-3 questions to think about. So before I proceed to the next chapter, I process through the practical applications (that's why I won't lend this book to you, sorry). I haven't jotted down and highlighted a book this much since I read John C. Maxwell's books!

Tim begins the first chapter with "Live A Life With Margins" and ends with "The Five Stages of Failure." He quoted Mark Batterson that says, "You need margin to think… You need margin to have impromptu conversations. You need margin to seize unanticipated opportunities." Living a life with structured-margins is not only helps all of the other leadership principles discussed in the book but it helps leaders move through the five stages of failure (justifying, questioning, blaming, redefining, leading) faster. The first principle is a foundational principle. The other 51 principles are then organized around four categories of leadership thought: be a leader worth following, find the right people, build a healthy culture and lead confidently through a crisis.

Part One: Be A Leader Worth Following

It all starts here. Tim explains, "Nothing more can be said or should be said about leadership until we deal with the person in the mirror." It's all begins with self-leadership (that's why I have written a series of Self-Leadership in my blog); before we talk about leading the church or a business, we must talk about being a leader worth following. To look at ourselves in the mirror is not for us to look more spiritual but so that we can lead with integrity and strength in a way that is honorable. Leaders need to set appropriate boundaries so that the organization and the people that they lead will not be dragged down by needless accusations or scandals. Tim touches on why leaders need to know themselves, to be lifelong learners, to guard our families, to set boundaries in the workplace, and more.

Part Two: Find the Right People

"The success of leaders will rise and fall based on the decisions they make about the people around them." A working environment will not and cannot be positive without "solid hiring decisions." Our greatest leadership challenge is surrounding ourselves with the right people. It doesn't matter how gifted a leader is; if he doesn't have the right people around him, representing him and pulling with him, his leadership potential will eventually be capped. When Tim was asked, "What is the most important thing you did as an executive pastor?" His answer is simple, "Finding and releasing leaders." Here Tim covers how a resume is worthless, why characters can't be trained, what questions to ask, when to release staff, who should be on the team, and many more.

Part Three: Build A Healthy Culture

"Every leader is developing a culture through everyday decisions, whether intentionally or not. Culture happens. With focus and skill, any organization can have a great culture where people are standing in line to join the team, where team members are energized by the mission, and where it's not just a job – people actually do life together." There is nothing worse than working in an organization that has a bad culture. It doesn't matter how much money we make, in long-term, when we work in a toxic environment, we still come home tense and stressed at the end of each day. To me, that isn't worth it! To build a healthy culture, Tim lay downs more than a dozen principles such as having fun, always believe the best in others, how to deal with mistakes, having leadership retreats, be a good follower and more.

Part Four: Lead Confidently Through A Crisis

Every leader who stays with an organization for very long will eventually face a crisis. It might be one that impacts a small department or it might be big enough that it has a potential to take down the entire organization. It's not about will it come. But when it comes, how will you face it? We can't wait until the crisis comes to think about the essential skills we need to face it. We need to be prepared now. Don't avoid it – lead through it! "It's leading through a crisis that separates great leaders from mediocre leaders." It is leading in tough times that create the greatest leaders. John C. Maxwell said that during tough times, "Leaders stretch to the challenge, while followers shrink from the challenge." Tim equips his readers by listing out principles on how to face change, bad attitudes, character issues, communication skills, etc.

There is a lot to be considered in this book. It is well-written (a bit of a page-turner) and I'm sure to want to go back, again and again, to see how my leadership measure up. Since my copy is filled reflections, notes and answers to discussion questions at the end of every chapter, I won't lend this book to anyone. But if I see any at BookXcess bookstores again, I'll buy it and give it away. I have few new and young leaders in mind that will be greatly helped by Tim's leadership principles. Oh ya, I bought this one from BookXcess for only RM19.90. A wise investment, right?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Self-Leadership #11 Lead With Integrity

"The supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity," exclaimed Dwight D. Eisenhower. "Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man's associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must agree with each other." Integrity is the manifestation of an unshakeable set of principles – principles that you will not violate under any circumstances.

Currently, I'm reading Coach Wooden's Leadership Game Plan for Success. One reason late Wooden was able to extract an extraordinary effort from his players was that they understand that he was making an even greater effort for them. True, he wasn't experiencing the bruises and muscle strains that the players were experiencing daily on the practice field but he pushed himself to the limit just as he pushed them. He came early, left late and almost never took a day off. All nights he thinks of game strategies and how to improve the team and individuals personally. He was leading with integrity – demonstrating the same commitment he demanded from his players.

Leaders have to impress who and what they are – on the people around them. This means you do what is right. You do what you say. You conform to the values that you expect of others. William D. Lawrence puts it like this: "Integrity is the integration of one's life around his core values." In some sense, your behavior is predictable because you are consistent in your decisions and your actions.

Integrity has a cost. I've learned from my lack of integrity in the past that: You must weigh the depth of your commitment before you undertake to lead with integrity. You will be tested – by cynics, by critics, by those interested more in style and image than in meaning and substance, and even by your own past failures and mistakes. So you need to make sure that you have deep enough reserves to act – consistently – as a person of integrity. People will be watching what you do more than listening to what you say. To be a leader is to lead others. And how should a leader lead? With integrity.

Consider the following tactics to help you lead with integrity:

Live What You Teach: Great leaders win the hearts of their followers. They do so by being involved with the team and making that commitment clear. The more they see integrity in their leaders, the more their trust in them.

Let Them See You Sweat: Why should other people kill themselves for the organization or team if you, the leader, not the first one to jump?

Build Accountability: Act your integrity. Take responsibility when you screw up and take credit when you meet with success. And make sure this applies to everyone else.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Self-Leadership #2 Look the Truth Straight On

“Just be honest with yourself. That opens the door”

(Vernon Howard)

A key building block in the process of self-discovery is your willingness to look at the truth straight on. If you answer one or more of the tough questions mentioned in the first lesson without being fully honest, you gain nothing. Goals built on half-truths are almost certain to fail when push comes to shove. If you can’t act on your convictions in a crunch, then success is out of the question.

A person who is grounded in truth doesn’t have to look very far to find the right thing to do. When you are guided by the truth, you are the same person in private as you are in public. Looked at from the other end of the telescope, you know that what you do in private matters. Any talk of being able to “compartmentalize” your life, so that what you do in private has no bearing on your public life, is a friction. Even madness. Your principles only count if you live them on and off your field.

If you’re still not persuaded, consider this. As a leader, you can’t build a team, organization, or company that’s a whole lot different from yourself – well, who are you? Do you want your organization to have shaky foundations built on dishonest goals? If the answer is no, then make sure these things aren’t part of you, either. The researcher can’t help but influence what he’s observing, and the inventor can’t take himself out of his creation.

Honesty also plays an important role in the interactions between a leader and his organization. Without complete honesty, there can be no trust, and if your people don’t trust you, you can’t lead them. Trust is earned through patient investment and a consistent track record, and it can be destroyed in an instant. As a leader, you will be closely watched, and everything you say will have meaning for your people. Actions that contradict your message – or dishonest messages – will destroy trust and be used as an excuse not to take you seriously.

Here are three (3) things to consider in your search for truth:

Don’t Try to Fake It: People have an unerring nose for dishonesty, fraud, and pretense. To be successful, you must be honest with yourself and others.

Expect to Be Observed: As a leader, you’re being watched 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can’t build a team that’s different from yourself. So be honest with yourself and with your team.

Don’t Compartmentalize: Your conduct matters at all times. If you compromise your principles in your private life, it may well affect your public life as well.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Secret: What Great Leaders Know And Do (2009) Book Review

The Secret: What Great Leaders Know And Do (2nd Edition 2004, 2009)

by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller

Am I a serving leader or a self-serving leader? For Ken and Mark, to lead is to serve. The Secret is a well-known international bestseller for a leadership book, and I'm excited to read and review it. Why? The format of this book is easy to read. They presenting major leadership topics in a way that is enjoyable, easy to understand, and applicable. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone – especially young people – who aspire to be a great leader. Bottom line: If you want to be a great leader, get this book, read it, and apply it!

Both authors are great teachers and story-tellers. In their fictional character, Debbie Brewster, a young executive, they tell about her journey to become a more effective leader – servant leader. When asked about "What is a leader?" Debbie came out with at least three answers: first, "a leader is the person in charge"; secondly, "a leader is the person in the position that others report to"; third, "a leader is a person who makes things happen." Finally, she settled with this definition: "A leader is a person in a position of authority who is responsible for the results of those under his or her direction." When she met her mentor, Jeff Brown, he explained to her that actually "true leadership has nothing to do with one's level in the organization… great leaders SERVE." A person can serve without leading, but a true leader can't lead well without serving. Throughout many months of mentoring, Jeff explains to Debbie how leader SERVE:

SEE THE FUTURE. "Leadership is about taking people from one place to another. One of the leader's top priorities must be to assure that the team knows where you are headed. Seeing the future is all about creating a compelling vision and is one of the privileges and most serious demands of leaders. It may sometimes be difficult to determine where the enterprise should be heading. But heading somewhere is a must. Envisioning and communicating a future-oriented vision is a huge part of leadership." Keyword is Vision. Vision must be constantly communicated or it will faded in people's minds. What do I want my organization or team or group to accomplish? What would that look like? How would we measure our success? What is our benchmark?

ENGAGE AND DEVELOP OTHERS. "Engage has two distinct components. The first has to do with selection… Getting the right people in the right jobs… [and the second] has to do with the level of buy-in people have for a cause, their work, and a leader. You want to do more than enlist their hands – you want to engage their heads and hearts also… with every pair of hands you hire, you get a free brain." Developing others, on the other hand, is about investing in the development of the people. It involves "creating the expectation for learning and growing; creating training and development opportunities; providing education resources… even mentoring." The keyword is people. What do my people need to be more engaged? How can I help my people grow – as a group and individually?

REINVENT CONTINUOUSLY. "First, great leaders Reinvent Continuously on a personal level. They are always interested in ways to enhance their own knowledge and skills. The very best leaders are learners. They like to read and are always open to training that will help them perform better… if you stop learning, you stop leading"; "The second part of Reinvent Continuously applies with systems and processes. Great leaders are always seeking answers to questions like these: How can we do the work better? How can we do it with fewer errors? How can we do it faster? How can we do it for less?" The keyword is Improvement. Progress is impossible without change.

VALUE RESULTS AND RELATIONSHIPS. Ultimate success always includes both people and performance. "The way to maximize your results as a leader is to have high expectations for both results and relationships. If we can take care of our customers and create a motivating working environment for our people, profits and financial strength are the applause we get for a job well done. You see, success is both results and relationships. It's a proven formula." The keyword is Success. What happens if I overvalue results? What happens if I overvalue relationships? What will be the consequences if I don't broaden my definition of success?

EMBODY THE VALUES. "You must gain the trust of your people. If you don't have their trust, you'll never be a great leader." But what does trust have to do with embodying the values? "All genuine leadership is built on trust. There are many ways to build trust. One way is to live consistently with the values you profess. If I say customers are important, my actions had better support that statement. If I choose to live as if customers are not important, people will have reason to question my trustworthiness. And in the final analysis, if I am deemed untrustworthy by my people, I will not be trusted – or followed as a leader." The keyword is Credibility. What values do I want to drive the behavior of my organization? How can I communicate these values? Which of these values do I need to work on?

Leader SERVE: SEE THE FUTURE, ENGAGE AND DEVELOP OTHERS, REINVENT CONTINUOUSLY, VALUE RESULTS AND RELATIONSHIPS, & EMBODY THE VALUES. As I finished reading this awesome book, I need to ask myself these few reflection questions: What have I learned about leadership from this book? Why does it matter? What do I do with all that I've learned? What am I willing to do today to improve my leadership? What one thing can I put into practice this week? Who can I ask for help? (Mean, who I can ask to mentor me in leadership and personal development?). Last month I've read The Heart of Leadership by Mark Miller, then this book and currently Great Leaders Grow by Ken and Mark. I've learned tremendously from this series. I've use lessons I learned from The Heart of Leadership to trained young leaders, and I wish to use The Secret for the next leadership training. Buy this book!

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION:

AM I A SERVING LEADER OR A SELF-SERVING LEADER?