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Christianity Today, August, 2008 |

My Top 5 Books on Leadership

Sarah Sumner, Author of Leadership Above the Line (Tyndale House) | posted 8/27/2008 11:02AM

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
Stephen Covey

There's a reason this book has sold over 5 million copies—it's timeless and extremely helpful. It's spiritual in the sense that it echoes biblical wisdom that was popularized by Francis of Assisi.

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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
Jim Collins

If you want your organization to thrive long-term and rise above the level of mediocrity, this is the book to apply.

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Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
William Bridges

I can't think of a better manual—so detailed and instructional—for teaching leaders how to lead people through hard changes. It's an interactive book, easy to read, and superbly practical.

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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
Patrick Lencioni

This book illustrates how a truly honest leader can build a genuine team that functions as a high-performing unit.

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Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer
J. Oswald Sanders

There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader. This book offers guidance for leaders who want to build the Kingdom of God.

Related Elsewhere:

Leadership Above the Line is available from ChristianBook.com and other retailers.

Previous Top 5 lists have featured books by the Inklings and Friends and books on China, Presidents, World Christianity, Ancient-Future Faith, the Civil Rights Era, Social Justice, Church History, Popular Culture, the Civil War, Apologetics, Atheism, and Sex.

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August 2008, Vol. 52, No. 8

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Gary Copeland

Posted: August 27, 2008 2:37 PM


How can you leave out The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner? In my opinion it is the best.

Dwayne Cossey

Posted: August 28, 2008 9:22 PM


I totally agree that those books have their place in all of our bookshelves, but I would like to see John C. Maxwell's 21 irrefutiable laws of leadership in there as well. It's tough to pick just five, thats like picking you favorite child! lol Great list Dwayne Cossey Confessions of a leader http://dwaynecossey.blogspot.com

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: August 27, 2008 3:35 PM

As noted, Steve Covey did not originate the ideas he presents about key aspects of human behavior that lead to effectiveness, but he has validated them through research and presented them in a package that is effective in transmitting them to us. They are in fact rooted in the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the understanding of human nature and human purpose that is both explicit and implicit in the Bible. Covey is not teaching people to sell ideas or products, but rather to live principals that will produce excellence in whatever career they choose. He authored another book that more explicitly points to the "Spiritual Roots of Human Relations", in which he contrasts very explicitly the behaviors of those who are mere salesmen and of those who are teachers and exemplars. Imagine! Insights into how scriptural lessons can make us better spouses, parents, leaders and teachers--from a Mormon grandfather.