By: Dr. Kevin Leman & William Pentak
Lately, I was hooked up with reading several books about leadership and it’s inspiring me a lot to re-evaluate my leadership skills. Thanks to my professor in MBA for introducing me to these books. Well, I’d like to chat a bit about one of these books “THE WAY OF THE SHEPHERD” By: Dr. Kevin Leman & William Pentak. The book is actually short, easy to read text full of useful principles to effective leadership and supervision. I’ve always wanted to finish reading this book the soonest possible so I can write my reaction or thoughts right away, but unfortunately, it took me so long this time. Blame it to my work and to my MBA classes who eat most of my time ;).
Lately, I was hooked up with reading several books about leadership and it’s inspiring me a lot to re-evaluate my leadership skills. Thanks to my professor in MBA for introducing me to these books. Well, I’d like to chat a bit about one of these books “THE WAY OF THE SHEPHERD” By: Dr. Kevin Leman & William Pentak. The book is actually short, easy to read text full of useful principles to effective leadership and supervision. I’ve always wanted to finish reading this book the soonest possible so I can write my reaction or thoughts right away, but unfortunately, it took me so long this time. Blame it to my work and to my MBA classes who eat most of my time ;).
Anyway, this book is about a story of a cub reporter that lands the interview of a lifetime and walks away with the keys to exceptional leadership. When the reporter meets the most respected CEO in America “Ted McBride”, the businessman shares the seven secrets he learned long ago from his mentor “Dr. Jack Neumann”---an eccentric but brilliant professor who thought him proven management principles that, while ancient in origin, are readily applicable in today’s fast-paced, high-tech world.
Through a series of safe and supportive mentoring sessions, most of which revolve around Jack’s small flock of prized sheep, Dr. Neumann helps Ted explore the secrets of becoming an effective shepherd-leader in his new position as a supervisor of nine employees at General Technologies. Over the course of seven weeks, Jack assists Ted in coming to understand seven ancient principles of shepherding a flock of sheep, as well as people: 1. Knowing the Condition of Your Flock
2. Discovering the Shape of Your Sheep
3. Helping Your Sheep Identify with You
4. Making Your Pasture a Safe Place
5. The Staff of Direction
6. The Rod of Correction
7. The heart of the Shepherd
It’s amazing how this book opened my eyes on the art of leading people around me, especially my own sales team, so they will view their work as a calling rather than merely a job, a place to belong rather than a place to work. It made me realized how to infuse work with meaning and how to engage and energize my workforce.
Although only 123 pages in length, “The Way of the Shepherd” offers very powerful lessons in leading others in very simplistic, everyday terms. The simple lessons taught by Leman and Pentak are things we as leaders rarely think about. However, if you care about the people you supervise, this short but insightful book is a must read.
