cover image LIFE@WORK ON LEADERSHIP: Enduring Insights for Men and Women of Faith

LIFE@WORK ON LEADERSHIP: Enduring Insights for Men and Women of Faith

Stephen R. Graves, . . Jossey-Bass, $19.95 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-7879-6420-7

In this collection of previously published pieces, Graves and Addington (The Cornerstones for Life at Work) gather some of the leading names in the now burgeoning area of leadership studies to offer reflections on the intersections of faith and leadership. Each of the 16 studies meditates on a particular word that describes an essential element of the integration of faith and work. For example, Max De Pree (Leadership Jazz) focuses on the word "promise," and characterizes a faithful leader as someone who cultivates a moral quality among his followers by always living up to his promises. Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager) discusses a leader's flexibility by examining the four basic styles of leadership: "directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating." Each leader, he writes, must be flexible enough to know when to practice a certain style. All of the pieces end with a set of questions that guide reflection on the topic at hand. The contributors are guided by the notion that leaders are God's servants and draw their strength from God, faithfully serving their followers. Graves and Addington encourage would-be leaders to remember the great masters of the past and to imitate their faith. Pastors and church leaders might welcome this book for its brevity and simplicity, but both the insights and the essays themselves can be found elsewhere. (Oct.)