Product Description

Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important body of information a leader possesses

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

The discipline of mission—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #169527 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780787977535
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"This is a compelling and practical book that will help develop great spiritual leaders to meet the challenges of leadership as the church seeks to bring the gospel to a changed world."
–Insights magazine (Sept. 2008)

Review
"Practicing Greatness is a hard-hitting leadership book, not just a collection of inspirational thoughts."
—from the Foreword by Ken Blanchard, author of The One-Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time

"The depth and breadth of wisdom in this book is just short of unbelievable. Good leaders aspiring to be great leaders will do well to read this book and allow it to probe and shape their lives."
—Bill Easum, Easum, Bandy & Associates

"I have always been challenged by Reggie McNeal’s ‘right on’ insights. And this book is packed with ‘right on’ insights for any leader wanting to move from good to great."
—Robert Lewis, pastor and men’s fraternity founder, Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, Arkansas

"Someone once taught me a powerful lesson: ‘If you are without discipline, you are without power.’ In this revitalizing work, Reggie has tapped into a power source for all leaders—disciplines. Grab hold of this book and begin a newly charged life today!"
—Wayne Cordeiro, New Hope Christian Fellowship O’ahu, Honolulu, Hawaii; author of Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out

"We owe Greatness to God. Reggie McNeal challenges us to this standard and gives us some practical ‘how-tos’ in this clear and compelling new book. I recommend this book for all who aspire to a meaningful Halftime and Life II."
—Bob Buford, author, Halftime and Finishing Well; founder and chairman, Leadership Network

From the Inside Flap
Often spiritual leaders do not aspire to greatness for fear of seeming to lack humility. Yet greatness in spiritual leadership is just what we need—in our churches, our businesses, in education, in the social sector, in every sector of society. The question is how do good spiritual leaders become great leaders?

Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important body of information a leader possesses

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

The discipline of mission—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors,and friends

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

Practicing Greatness goes beyond mere clichés and inspirational thoughts to be a hard-hitting resource for leaders who aspire to go from being just good enough to being a great leader who blesses others.

Customer Reviews

An ESSENTIAL Contribution to Authentic Leadership
If the intention of Dr. McNeal was to cause the reader of this book to reflect and evaluate his/her life inwardly and to feel compelled to advance in the disciplines elaborated in this book, then, he succeeded in my case.

I feel that the author has written with wisdom and maturity on a critically important facet of leadership, especially "spiritual" leadership. The disciplines of "self" outlined in this book have been overlooked for too long, making this work much needed and timely for those who realize that today's leadership is in need of reformation. McNeal makes his case with both positive and negative examples in each chapter, writing from his vast experience, and with a sense of having developed these disciplines in his own life.

If you are a leader, or an aspiring leader, please make this book a priority to read. It will certainly make a great contribution to your thinking, and to the formation of "great" leadership in your life. In my opinion, these disciplines are not optional, they are ESSENTIAL.

This is definitely an excellent treatment of the greatest leadership challenge you will ever face - leading your self! Let's face it, you will only be successful at leading others to the degree that you have learned to lead your self.

Practicing Greatness
This book is easy to read and clearly exposes the guidelines to be great in Jesus. It shows me that there is a way to participate in expanding his kingdom through applying them to my pastoral context.

Many thanks,

Young-Do

A quick read...
Practicing Greatness is a quick read that will challenge the ministry-weary practitioner. While there are some sound principles, it's better as an introductory read for emerging spiritual leaders. It would have been nice to have more in-depth, scripturally inspired examples. Nonetheless it is a worthwhile read.