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Though the examples are specifically geared towards youth ministry, Mark Yaconelli lays out a model for a "business meeting" in church leadership that focuses on contemplative prayer and seeking God's direction rather than following the typical business model of church leadership.

I've used an adaptation of this model and found it to be helpful in focusing the "business meetings" as well as bringing the leadership team together in spiritual practice and vision.

Mike Krzyzewksi is a consistent winner. "Coach K" has led (as of the end of the season 2010) the Duke men's basketball team to four national championships, ten Final Fours, and a host of other achievements. He has also led the U.S. Men's Olympic team to a gold medal. Though Leading with the Heart follows Coach K's leadership through a basketball season, it focuses on leadership principles that have been the hallmark of his "compassionate, focused, highly flexible leadership" and on the five fundamental qualities that Coach K has used to form consistently successful teams on and off the court.

The Servant Leader shows how to put "Jesus at the heart of The One Minute Manager". (Both books written by Ken Blanchard.) How is business and our faith compatible? This book talks about Christ as the ultimate leader (business leader as well) and presents guiding principles to follow as we bring our faith into our work.

Anthony Robinson offers us leadership strategies to benefit a church. "Functional strategies" to lead and information to develop as a leader, especially a spiritual leader. Robinson's work draws upon the expertise of other leaders as he develops "seven strategies for pastoral leadership".

This is an example of how to do part one of the Book Recommendation and Review assignment.  In this "description" space, I would be including my impressions of this book, including who I think might find it useful.  Remember that we're aiming for 25 word minimum and 100 word maximum.  This note is 55 words.

For those that want to lead without having to stand up and shout. Stephen Covey offers 7 ways that one should look at their knowledge, skills, and desires and the most effective way to utilize/serve them.

"The wisdom of the Bees" by Michael O'Malley, Penguin Group 2010 "What the hive can teach buisness about leadership effeciency and growth" is where the author takes the reader through a 25 step process utilizing the skills of bees and bee colonies to inform and guide organizations in identifying their strengths and weaknesses to create purposeful, effective and successful group norms and outcomes. It's fascinating and my choice for a review along with my second one

Hi folks....somehow this did not make it into the group blog on books to read but instead sat in my own Diigo library. It is worth taking a gander at and I am loving reading it. Galen

I loved the wisdom of bees too! This is a very good book and is inviting to a wide variety of folks. I liked that when I used it for a leadership class that I had positive feedback from both young and old, male and female and it has great insights regardless of where you are in life or business.

Dudley, Carl S. Effective Small Churches in the 21st Century. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 2003. ISBN: 0687090903 ISBN-13: 9780687090907 In the Louisiana Conference of United Methodists, only 89 churches have Sunday morning worship attendance greater than 100. Of course, there are a few who have over 1,000 in worship each Sunday, but over 400 churches in the conference are small (very small) and this seems to be the same trend in every Conference and Jurisdiction. The truth is, most United Methodist pastors will never serve a large church; therefore, it is important to have a resource that is written specifically for small churches, rather than trying to apply "mega-church" answer to small church problems. Effective Small Churches is that resource. Using their congregational experiences as case studies, readers will examine, with Carl Dudley's help, how their unique qualities can be mobilized to encourage local leaders, strengthen commitments, organize resources, and focus their energies to experience to meet new challenges. The primary goal of the book is to lead ministers who have begun a new appointment through a series of specific exercises, questionnaires, and guided dialogue with church members to jump start their appointment. So many good ideas. The Cabinet should make every pastor go through the exercises and report on their findings to their District Superintendent during the first six months at their new church.

Ferriss, Timothy. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. New York: Crown Archetype. 2007. ISBN-10: 0307353133 ISBN-13: 978-0307353139 If you view church work as a career, rather than a calling, it is easy to see the move from working 40 hours a week as the Associate Pastor at a church to working 80 hours a week as the Senior Minister at a church as a "promotion". If you have spent your life attending and serving small churches, it is easy to see the role of Pastor as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. Tim Ferriss' book was not written for those who serve God in a church setting, but there is so much to be gleaned from this book. If for no other reason, read this book because Tim Ferris gives you permission to be unreasonable and unambiguous, puts you on a Low-Information Diet, and teaches you the Art of Refusal. If nothing else, you can learn how to get a church secretary for $4.00/hour and get more work done. Some of this advice just won't work for those of us who serve God in the church, but so much of it will. Buy a highlighter. Buy some sticky notes. Buy the book.

Several pastors have recommended this book, including the one I interviewed for this class. It is not uncommon to encounter congregations (and, I would think) people serving non-profits to have experienced betrayal. This is an invaluable resource for learning how to help them work through the residual issues towards healing and wholeness.

I searche my library for Christian Leadership. I got Happy Feet! Guess I should watch it. Anyone know how that fits?

Utilizing primary source documents by Lincoln; historical examination of Lincoln, the people around Lincoln and the current events; and contemporary theories and examinations on leadership, Phillips writes an applicable text on leadership centered on Abraham Lincoln. This is not simply an examination of Lincoln's leadership "qualities," but a text written to be a resource for self-development.

Like "Who Moved My Cheese" and "The One Minute Manager," this book utilizes a succinct storyline to walk the reader through five concepts Blanchard and Miller have outlined as keys to servant leadership.

One can learn and appreciate leadership by reading the actual writings of a leader. "The Collected Writings of Samson Occom, Mohegan: Literature and Leadership in Eighteenth-Century Native America" is a compilation of twenty sermons and diary entries of transactions written by Occum, a Native American leader and Presbyterian minister in the late 1700s. Such writings provide readers with insights into the actual life of a leader instead of and in contrast to the accounts written by others who purport to know what such a leader's burdens, struggles, and motives are.

I found this book an interesting find because I have worked a lot with youth. I found this to me useful particuarly if you were trying to form a student leadership team and training your student leaders. This book boasts that it uses fun and interactive ways to promote leadership and teach students not only the importance of leadership but how to become leaders themselves.

This text was used as background in information in one of my communication classes in my undergraduate experience. We didn't read the whole book, just excerpts in class. Communication is something that we all do and as leaders we need to be keenly aware of how we communicate. I think good communication can motivate and energize people so that they can be the best people that they can be. As a pastor who speaks from the pulpit, I know that every little movement and word affects the message I am communicating. I feel this text can show us as leaders how we need to manage our communication.

This book was an interesting find because while it's about leadership it is also about membership. How we act as leaders will potentially either grow or reduce membership in a congregational setting. While this may be completely apparent, it's something to look at when you're thinking of how you present yourself as a leader to a congregation.

I am a person that focuses very much on energy and how energy can be used in your life. This text on leadership looks at how you can use energy in order to lead others and find effective leaders that help you keep the valuable energy you have in check and in focus. I think this will be useful as I am always looking for ways to energize myself and energize others in my ministry.

This young man is a visionary leader. A boy with a dream and the open-mindedness to see what could be. As we travel through all of the amzaing, rhyming ways that this fellow will change this space we are challenged as a reader with what we can see and do beyond our own walls. Although the intended audience is most likely children, adults alike can gain perspective, be challenged, and appreciate the places that we can go when we let our mind wonder.

There are a few books that Dr Seuss wrote for adults and this sounds like one of them. The other that comes to mind is the Butter Battle Book before the fall of Communism. Thanks for posting it. I will check it out.

This book is a thorough presentation of the leadership qualities that Jesus demonstrated throughout his ministry and how to apply these qualities in our lives today. The book contains three sections; "Strength of Self Mastery", "Strength of Action", and "Strength of Relationships". Each section has 25 - 30 short examples of Jesus wisdom and how it can be applied to today's world. It is written in straightforward understandable language and is a great tool for visionary leadership.

Sandy, thanks for the recommendation. I can get it through the library on audio book, so I will let you know how it sounds. --angie

It is a great book...I have used it as a bible study before, reading a few chapters (they're short) each week and then discussing the principles. You will enjoy it!