From Publishers Weekly
More than two decades ago, authors Kouzes and Posner (The Leadership Challenge; Leadership Practices Inventory) first presented what they call the five "exemplary leadership" practices: "Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart." Here they join forces with contributors John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, Patrick Lencioni (The Five Temptations of a CEO), Wesley Theological Seminary president David McAllister-Wilson and pastor Nancy Ortberg to reveal how Christian leaders in secular and faith-based organizations can learn to apply those five practices and, in the words of Maxwell, "rise to that ‘Jesus pattern’ of leadership." Each section opens with Old and New Testament scriptures that capture Christian leadership philosophy in a tidy, biblical sound bite: "Where there is no vision, the people perish," warns Proverbs 29:18, while Matthew 23:11 advises, "The greatest among you will be your servant." As these leaders examine being living models for their employees or congregations by inspiring, challenging, enabling and encouraging their work, they arrive at the "Jesus pattern," in which one serves others and guides through parables and model behavior. In the chapter "Enable Others to Act," Ortberg reminds readers that, "Jesus did not talk about leadership very often, and every time he did, he talked about serving." The motivational how-to mantra sometimes sits awkwardly with the spiritual lessons it aspires to engender; however, preaching service and respect as a business tactic is refreshing amid the "how to get ahead" messages of other business manuals, and Christian leaders may certainly glean wisdom from this approach.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Review
"...facilitates a positive guidance role." (Publishers Weekly, February 9, 2004)


Review
"...facilitates a positive guidance role." (Publishers Weekly, February 9, 2004)


Book Description
Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge is a faith-based companion to the best-selling leadership book of all time¾The Leadership Challenge.  Grounded in Jim and Barry’s time-tested research, Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge describes their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership ® ¾Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart—and offers practical guidance and inspiring examples about how Christian leaders can have a powerful impact in their workplaces, communities, and congregations by bringing their faith into their leadership.

In addition to Jim and Barry’s foundational wisdom, the book brings together five leaders who reflect on the Five Practices from a Christian perspective.  John C. Maxwell, David McAllister-Wilson, Patrick Lencioni, Nancy Ortberg, and Ken Blanchard share insights and stories culled from personal experience and the lives of other Christian leaders who have accomplished extraordinary things in churches, communities, classrooms, and corporations.  Their thoughtful reflections on the role of faith in leadership will propel leaders and aspiring leaders


From the Inside Flap
Whether you lead in a secular or religious setting, the leadership legacy you leave is the life you lead. It’s what leaders do that matters most–and leadership is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and developed. This is one of the most important lessons Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have learned in their more than twenty years of award-winning leadership research. Now, in this timely book, they apply these lessons to the vital work of Christian leaders. Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge is a faith-based companion to the best-selling leadership book of all time–The Leadership Challenge. Grounded in Jim and Barry’s time-tested research, Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge describes their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®–Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart–and offers practical guidance and inspiring examples about how Christian leaders can have a powerful impact in their workplaces, communities, and congregations by bringing their faith into their leadership. In addition to Jim and Barry’s foundational wisdom, the book brings together five leaders who reflect on The Five Practices from a Christian perspective. John C. Maxwell, David McAllister-Wilson, Patrick Lencioni, Nancy Ortberg, and Ken Blanchard share insights and stories culled from personal experience and the lives of other Christian leaders who have accomplished extraordinary things in churches, communities, classrooms, and corporations. Their thoughtful reflections on the role of faith in leadership will propel leaders and aspiring leaders toward performing at their personal best.


From the Back Cover
Your Number One Guide to Exemplary Christian Leadership Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge gathers together in one place a remarkable collection of leaders who share insights on faith and leadership. Well-grounded in research, this reflective and practical book shows how Christian leaders–no matter the setting–put into place The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®–Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. Includes Insights on Faith and Leadership From: Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner are the award-winning authors of the best-selling The Leadership Challenge and developers of the highly acclaimed Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a 360-degree questionnaire assessing leadership behavior. The LPI is one of the most widely used leadership assessment instruments in the world. John C. Maxwell is the founder of several organizations, including Maximum Impact, dedicated to helping people reach their leadership potential. He is the author of more than thirty books, including Thinking for a Change, There’s No Such Thing as Business Ethics, and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. David McAllister-Wilson is the president of Wesley Theological Seminary. He has focused his preaching and speaking in an effort to help revitalize the mainline Protestant church, encouraging men and women to consider God’s call to ministry, and preparing them for leadership. Patrick Lencioni is president of The Table Group, a San Francisco Bay Area management consulting firm, and author of the best-selling books The Five Temptations of a CEO, The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Nancy Ortberg is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. She currently serves as the director of the Axis Ministry, for the "18-20 something" generation. Nancy speaks to churches all over the world on issues of leadership, community, and the next generation. Ken Blanchard is the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, a global leader in workplace learning, employee productivity, and leadership effectiveness. He is the coauthor of The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, Gung Ho!, and Whale Done!


About the Author
The Editors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner are the award-winning coauthors of several best-selling books, including The Leadership Challenge, Credibility, and Encouraging the Heart. Jim is also an executive fellow at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University, and chairman emeritus of the Tom Peters Company. Barry is the dean of the Leavey School of Business and Professor of Leadership at Santa Clara University.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge gathers together in one place a remarkable collection of leaders who share insights on faith and leadership. Well-grounded in research, this reflective and practical book shows how Christian leaders - no matter the setting - put into place The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership - Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

SYNOPSIS

Your Number One Guide to Exemplary Christian Leadership

Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge gathers together in one place a remarkable collection of leaders who share insights on faith and leadership. Well-grounded in research, this reflective and practical book shows how Christian leaders–no matter the setting–put into place The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®–Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

Includes Insights on Faith and Leadership From:

Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner are the award-winning authors of the best-selling The Leadership Challenge and developers of the highly acclaimed Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a 360-degree questionnaire assessing leadership behavior. The LPI is one of the most widely used leadership assessment instruments in the world.

John C. Maxwell is the founder of several organizations, including Maximum Impact, dedicated to helping people reach their leadership potential. He is the author of more than thirty books, including Thinking for a Change, There’s No Such Thing as Business Ethics, and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

David McAllister-Wilson is the president of Wesley Theological Seminary. He has focused his preaching and speaking in an effort to help revitalize the mainline Protestant church, encouraging men and women to consider God’s call to ministry, and preparing them for leadership.

Patrick Lencioni is president of The Table Group, a San Francisco Bay Area management

consulting firm, and author of the best-selling books The Five Temptations of a CEO, The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

Nancy Ortberg is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church. She currently serves as the director of the Axis Ministry, for the "18-20 something" generation. Nancy speaks to churches all over the world on issues of leadership, community, and the next generation.

Ken Blanchard is the cofounder and chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, a global leader in workplace learning, employee productivity, and leadership effectiveness. He is the coauthor of The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, Gung Ho!, and Whale Done!

Whether you lead in a secular or religious setting, the leadership legacy you leave is the life you lead. It’s what leaders do that matters most–and leadership is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and developed. This is one of the most important lessons Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have learned in their more than twenty years of award-winning leadership research. Now, in this timely book, they apply these lessons to the vital work of Christian leaders.

Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge is a faith-based companion to the best-selling leadership book of all time–The Leadership Challenge. Grounded in Jim and Barry’s time-tested research, Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge describes their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®–Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart–and offers practical guidance and inspiring examples about how Christian leaders can have a powerful impact in their workplaces, communities, and congregations by bringing their faith into their leadership.