Congregational Life Centre
Our mission is to help leaders acquire
the skills and attitudes they need to lead
Book Review
Leadership
Rick
Hillier's book offers "50 points of wisdom for today's leaders."
It begins and ends, however, with the one he considers the key to all the
others - put people first. That's because "it's people who make you,
and your company, organization or community, successful or not."
That's the way the book begins. It ends on the same note:
When you are in trouble, the world is falling in around your ears, your reputation is being shredded, stress is high, friends are few, bosses are angry and complete failure looms, go back to Rule One: Focus on People. You can't go far wrong.
General Rick Hillier served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 2005 to 2008. Most of the illustrations and stories come from army life. I'm a Royal Military College grad so didn't mind - but be warned. What really attracted me, however, is that everything he says about leadership applies directly to those who see themselves in a leadership role in their congregation.
Chapter 2 advises "build your network in groups of eight." We have been strong advocates of small groups as keys to multiplying ministry.
We hear too often of churches where members do not treat each other with dignity. "Always show respect" is a basic principle of leadership.
Hillier talks about the importance of being yourself. Letting your humanity show is one way of inviting others to work with you.
I liked his 95/5 rule. Too often we spend the majority of our time with problem people. Good leaders spend 95% of their time supporting those who are doing the job - and only 5% with those who are a drag on the system.
Above all, be optimistic. "It's a force multiplier," Hillier says. Yes there are things wrong and problems aplenty. Find the positive and move forward with that. The rest will fall into place.
Rick Hillier, Leadership. HarperCollins. 2010
"Leadership Ventures" Congregational Life Newsletter. March 2011. Volume 17 No. 4.