Leadership By The Book.

Book Review.

Blanchard, Ken. Hybels, Bill. Hodges, Phil. Leadership By The Book. Tools to transform the workplace. Waterbrook Press. 1999.

Comment. Henry.
The team of authors represents very distinct and contrasting areas of leadership. For that reason the leadership concepts and principles they subscribe to are quite ‘generic’. The endorsements come primarily from leaders in the market place. The focus is very much ‘servant leadership’ which is a biblical concept but usually thought of as a practical market place principle. This resource should be in every leader’s ‘tool box’.

Leadership that is motivated by people who are leaders first will be different from leadership by those who are servants first. A “situational approach to affective leadership is preferred to, a participative leadership style” (49) in certain cases. When servant leadership is applied to intellectual, emotional, and behavioral needs the results are very effective. Jesus serves as a good model of combining leadership theories with servant leadership.

Servant leadership is not about pleasing people but pleasing God through encouraging people in their relationship with God. The concept of “Faith Walk Leadership” (96) is introduced. It includes a “twelve steps” (104-105) guide. Such leadership is modeled by Jesus. Servant leadership is made up of “a visionary role and an implementation role”. (121) Vision and direction cannot be delegated. Implementation takes place in a bottom up pyramidal hierarchy.

The coaching concept is basic to servant leadership. Planning and evaluation are a part of such coaching. It requires that a coach be present. Specific ‘checkpoints’ are suggested to make sure that servant leadership arises out of a servant heart, a servant head, and servant hands, (character, method, and behavior).