I was asked to write and submit a 4-6 page book summary of the text “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership” by Gary L. McIntosh and Samuel D. Rima. This book report should summarize the basic purpose of the book, the most important leadership principles contained, and the student’s evaluation of the book’s strengths and weaknesses. The goals of this book are to guide the reader in understanding what the dark side is, assist the reader in identifying your own dark side, and give the reader some specific steps for overcoming the dark side lurking on your success before you unexpectedly get blindsided by it. Upon reading the book, “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership,” it first defines for us was the dark side is. The “dark side” is …show more content…
Many leaders fail in leadership because of unresolved issues in their past that have not been dealt with. These unresolved issues will resort in leadership flaws and failures and will bankrupt ones ministry. I found this too be true because I have personally left some past issues unresolved in my life and they have reared their ugly head in numerous areas of my live; especially in leadership. Much of what determines how a leader’s dark side will develop, stems from the family the person grew up in and his/her childhood years through adolescence. The book does an excellent job to show that unsettled issues can create a certain feeling subservience and uncertainty. If the leader is willing to be transparent and realize their own shortcomings and struggles, it will enable the leader to lead from a place of more passion, emotion, and persuasiveness. This type of honesty can attract many hurting, sad, and brokenhearted people to our churches from dysfunctional backgrounds that will sit under compassionate and relevant leadership. The book further explains that the leader should careful not to let selfishness, self-deception, and wrong motives come alive in leadership as product of the dark side. The fall of many leaders are directly attributable to these components. If this dark side arises, the leader is admonished to open and honestly deal with it before God. This will empower the leader for greater effectiveness. Some leaders may be
First published in 1987, The Leadership Challenge is a guide for becoming leader. The book received many awards and its above two million copies are internationally sold. The book teaches principles of leadership that apply whether the leader is running a sports team or a fortune 500 organization. The book includes stories and examples of many leaders from micro to macro level (Founders and Authors, 2013). The basic leadership principles can be adopted by anyone to challenge status quo and increase leader productivity multifold. The book tells about the flow and hierarchy of values too (Machedo, 2013). One can use the guide without an instructor to develop leadership traits.
The concept of effective leadership is a topic that has been widely debated by individuals and professional leaders in many societies. In Kevin Cashman’s book, Leadership from the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for life, the author reveals that leadership is defined through a person’s understanding of their internal nature, rather than the values, beliefs, and morals a society claims that a leader should possess. Even though Cashman does acknowledge the importance of the societal view of leadership, he argues that true leadership is defined by an individual’s understanding of their internal essence. In each chapter Cashman strongly debates that leaders lead by virtue of who they are. He defines this outlook on leadership as the Inside-Out Leadership Method. This is a method that allows an authoritative figure to develop a strong understanding of their physical, mental, and spiritual essence to lead others towards a mutual goal.
The book begins by diving into myths that must leaders believe to be true. The author goes in depth to outline the steps in order to be an effective 360 degree leader, by giving the reader a solid understanding of myths that have been formed. Obviously, these myths need to be dispelled in order to have a leader at any level can break out of their shell and live the 360 model. Each myth builds on the next one.
Leadership. Why is proper leadership important? Is there a model out there that makes a good leader? There are some who think that change is bad or there is fear when change is merely mentioned. Why is there so much apprehension about change, what is there to fear. “There is nothing to fear but fear itself” (FDR). We fear change because we fear that our world or our comfort zone being infringed upon. Apple Inc. has said “Here 's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They 're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.
Leaders bring their own vulnerabilities, blind spots and misapprehension into the group; they are human (Cole, 2013). Leadership is present to provide support and connectiveness in order to explore feelings (Cole, 2013). The leader needs to recognize their own vulnerabilities, and that these vulnerabilities are okay and accept these as part of the leadership of a group (Cole, 2013). The leader should try to work on deeper skills for the benefit of the group, but recognize they cannot be perfect and that their own vulnerabilities can add value to the overall
as two basic types of leadership and examines the concept of moral leadership by investigating
Authors Bennis and Thomas argue in the article “Crucibles of Leadership” that the ability that an individual has in finding meaning and responding to negative events is a factor of leadership that is the most reliable and predictable. Several examples depict situations that people faced trying circumstances and negative events and were able to show their leadership skills. Bennis & Thomas (2002) refer to these moments as moments as being the crucibles. I have personally gone through a rough time when I was volunteering and being a leader on my group. However, the person that I refer to had gave me an attitude then a comment in front of my group which made my group shocked and that had changed me, due to the embarrassment.
Mc Neal expounds on leadership and those who will seek to carry it out. the work is not overtly religious, yet it is balanced in the biblical references included. The illustrations of real people in real situations and with real leadership styles are instrumental in bringing clarity and focus to an exhaustive subject.
Leadership. We all know great leaders when we see them. They are the one who inspire us, they are committed and honest. Winston Churchill, General Patton both exemplify the qualities of a great leader. But how often do we think about the qualities that make a leader substandard. We all know from the leaders who did bad things. Adolph Hitler always comes to mind but was he a bad leader or just a bad man. In this week’s class paper, we read about the pitfalls of a bad leader. In her article” The Value of Valuing Employees Six ways leaders inadvertently curb innovation, motivation” author Christine Comaford explores the six factors that are detrimental to a leader and their leadership abilities. In my following paper, I am taking a look at those six pitfalls and the different strategies an organization can initiate to correct those drawbacks.
This writer decided to read the first three chapters of the book Leaders Without Titles by Steve Sampson. The first chapter was called “Intellectual Dimension” which was mainly an introduction to the book as a whole and introduced some of the main topics to be discussed throughout the rest of the book. What was interesting about this chapter and caused this writer to pause and seriously rethink the idea of leadership was the statement retold by Sampson (2011) which was originally spoken to him by one of his mentors (Kindle Location 224). The mentor stated that “to influence without authority was the key to leadership” (Sampson, 2011, Kindle Location 224).
Kevin never liked leading. Maybe it was the automatic expectation that leaders had to have a charismatic character, inspire others to commit to the cause without a thought otherwise, and forthright with gaining what they wanted no matter what. He fits neither of those standards—so why was Satan following so close behind him, not bothering to speak one word of polite conversation. They will be working on a mission pretty soon together and they haven’t formulated how they were going to go about that.
Leader’s Observance: Outward struggles are often a sign that something is internally wrong. To misdiagnose this is to attempt to treat the symptom of the problem instead of the root cause of the problem. Leaders who can identify faults and discrepancies displayed in the external realm as being shaped and form internally can then seek to destroy them there. At this place troubles, problems and concerns can all be handled rather easily or at least a lot easier than when a problem becomes fully grown. Leaders who do not understand this concept will continue to struggle with two forms of problems: internal and external ones.
James MacGregor Burns said it best, “Leadership is leaders inducing followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivations-the wants and needs, the aspirations and expectations-of both leaders and followers. And the genius of leadership lies in the manner in which leaders see and act on their own and their fellow 's values and motivations”. As one reads this statement, one naturally reflects on personal leader experiences or ones learned through academic or professional studies. Abraham Lincoln, especially during his presidency, exemplified Burns definition of a leader.
Effective leadership approaches from a biblical perspective consist of God’s nature in his manifested character. Christian leaders are willing to pay the price to lead in Christ’s affliction. Paul said there is a price to pay in order to lead and Jesus reminded us, “Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master. ' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also” (John 15:20, New International Version). Christian leaders need core attributes of God’s styles and approaches, support and linkage from scriptures, and knowledge of his leadership models of truth for effective leadership. However, these perspectives will gave me a better appreciation and insight of who God is and who I can be with his guidance.
Conger, Jay A. (1990). The Dark Side of Leadership, Elsiever Science Publishing Company Inc., New York, USA.