Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Times (Hardback)

This is the best book on leadership I have read in a long time! Unlike most Christian writers who simply parrot the ideas of the secular world in their books, Blanchard and Hodges have genuinely tried to derive Jesus' leadership principles from the New Testament. The book is filled with quotes from Scripture not just to illustrate a point but to actually make the point.

Several things stood out to me in the book. First, the focus was not only on organizational leadership but also on life role leadership. While those of us in professional positions need help with handling our leadership we need to take seriously our leadership role within our relationships as parents, spouses and friends. This life role leadership was not simply a passing thought in the book but a theme that carried throughout the discussion. How often have we known people who were effective leaders in business or the church but abject failures as leaders in their homes? The ideas in this book could remedy that disconnect in lives.

The second thing that stood out, which is central to the book, is the four domains of leading like Jesus-heart, head, hands, and habits. A chapter is devoted to each. The statement "Leadership is first a spiritual matter of the heart" (p. 31) confirmed that I was going to like this book. Their concept of EGO (Edging God Out/Exalting God Only) strikes at the core of the issue. Are we servant leaders or self-serving leaders? How we answer that will affect everything else. Each of the four domains is handled biblically, effectively, and practically.

Finally, they present a case in chapter 6 for "why lead like Jesus?" Their arguments are compelling and challenging. The bottom line is that following the example of Jesus in our leadership results in better service to customers and colleagues because it puts others needs ahead of the leader's needs. It also tends towards success because the leader's life is built on ethical integrity and that gives him/her the confidence to lead courageously.

This book is not intended as simply an intellectual exercise. Scattered throughout each chapter are Pause and Reflect exercises that allow the reader to immediately consider how they can apply what they have just read. The final chapter is a collection of tools to assist the leader in determining how ready he/she is and what he/she need to work on to lead like Jesus.

Many years ago I read the One Minute Manager coauthored by Ken Blanchard and gleaned some valuable insights. Over the years I have read many other books on leadership. But as a pastor and Christian leader I need to practice the skill of leadership like Jesus, not like Donald Trump! While secular sources can benefit, leadership in the church needs to be founded on Jesus not "what works." This book is very helpful in achieving that goal. I actually recommended the book to others before I had completed it and I'm sure I will be passing it along to many others in the days ahead. I thank these authors for their good work and the help it will be to me and many others.
- Pastor Tom Siefert

I have read many professional leadership management books in my career and a few of the authors used Jesus as an example, but none of them made it their complete focus. Finally, we have the authors with the credentials and the courage to introduce the business leadership market with the marvelous ways of our Savior and to make the whole book an expression of the Gospel. The four H’s of a servant leaders (heart, hands, head, and habits) are easy to remember and easy to implement in personal and interpersonal contexts. My hope would be that this book would also influence Churches and Para-Churches where selfish leadership is just as prevalent. The accountability questions and exercises in Chapter 7 would be excellent for any organization or administrative team!

Pastor Elliott J. Anderson

Placing Jesus at the center of our egos (Exalting God Only in place of Edging God Out) is more than a play on words or a memorable acrostic. It is the heartbeat of this easily read book by two well known authors, Blanchard and Hodges. Using insights from management, the "12 Step" recovery movement and the Bible, they weave a practical pattern for changing the ways we approach our roles as Christian leaders.

However, I believe they fall into the trap (like so many other writers) in their description of Jesus as a servant leader. While the model is of Jesus washing His disciples' feet is certainly beautiful, the overlooked point is that it was noteworthy precisely because Jesus did NOT normally wash their feet. It was this exceptional behavior that Jesus used to illustrate His point.

In other passages about the "inverted pyramid" of Kingdom leadership, Jesus is underscoring the key idea that we are NOT to aspire to positions of priority or greatness (like the pagans) unless we were willing to forgo the opportunity by taking the lowest posture of a slave or servant. What he wanted the disciples to understand was that to lead was to be willing to NOT lead unless called by God. As I have written elsewhere:

"Contrary to popular formulae and principles for leadership training, Jesus calls us to a completely different approach to Kingdom living. We are to be leaders who willingly serve without regard for personal consequences, and sacrifice human ambition even to the point of martyrdom."

I heartily recommend their call to partnership in leadership - the power of positive, supportive accountability - as we strive to use our head and heart, hands and habits to bring glory to God, and meaning in our quest for authentic leadership.

- Rev. Dr. Gary W. Downing

I always enjoy reading books relating to leadership with Christ as our model. First a couple of comments from a critical persepective. This book definately has the feel of the layman rather than the theologian. That is both a negative and a positive. It is filled with many practical insights and repeatable quotations. Some conclusions drawn are somewhat divorced from a full understanding of scriptural contexts as other popular works are.

It also has a therapeutic appeal which is part of today's trends. I felt at times that the authors were trying to make applications on too broad of a field. The book reminded me in some ways of a string of pearls missing the string. Saying all that, I believe the reader can gleen a lot of helpful insights. The authors show great compassion and heart for authentic readership.
- Pastor Doyle Peyton

Thank you so much for making books available to pastors. I have finally finished the book, "Lead Like Jesus". It has been so helpful to me. I want to go through it again.

Because it is my heart's desire to be like Jesus, leading like Him is is part of the whole of my life. I used an example from the book in a sermon; I will use some of it in teaching I'll do in women's ministry; and in going back through it very slowly this time, I will begin using the principles to teach to the leaders I work with in different area on ministry.

The book was easy to read, easy to follow. That's what I need!! I am looking forward to going through is much more slowly, so I can walk out what Jesus is teaching me through the teaching in this book.
- Dorothea Coleman