Practical Biblical Wisdom

"Great leaders see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve without expecting anything in return," Dr. Maxwell writes. In essence that captures the theme of this well-written work. At the heart of leadership is the desire to serve other people. Practical matters such as focusing on results and living a disciplined life are included under this umbrella.

Self image is vital to giving out to others, as he reminds us, "No one can live on a level inconsistent with the way he sees himself." Therefore, it's necessary to take care of one's own needs before one can help other people.

Cultivating relationships is essential to leaders. In fact, logically speaking a leader who delegates cannot accomplish anything apart from others. So while being results oriented, Maxwell does not neglect the relational aspect of success.

Being a dreamer, I love what he expresses about turning the dream into reality in spite of the opinions of others. His advice is, "Never allow others to put obstacles in the pathway to your dreams."

This is such an inspiring book! I strongly recommend it. I've read several of this works. I've never been disappointed. He always has a valid, practical, Christian lesson to impart. The consequences of the ideas expressed in this book are the kind that make things better.

Impressive writing

I liked the author's approach. The book was insightful and it gave me a good perspective on leadership. Leadership is not easily defined, and I thought this book did an excellent job on the topic.

leadership simplified

Written to complement The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, this book will help you identify and develop the personal qualities you need to become a more effective leader.
Maxwell does an excellent job of getting to the heart of each quality in a few short pages. He starts with two relevant quotations to start you thinking. He then gives you a short real-life example of that particular quality in action.

He breaks each principle down into specific applications, gives you a brief period where you can assess your own effectiveness, offers you concrete ways to improve yourself, and wraps each chapter up with a profound thought that will stay with you long after you have closed the cover.

What you get out of this book depends on how you read it. This is a very simple read, and you may be tempted to race through it and miss some key points. Maxwell rightly suggests that you walk through each quality methodically, giving it the attention that it warrants based on your current level of competence.

While the material warrants five stars, some spelling mistakes and the author's use of his own quotes dropped it down a notch for me. Otherwise, an excellent handbook for improving your personal leadership qualities.

Larry Hehn, Author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory