Leading with a Limp: Turning Your Struggles into Strengths 
asked by paradiselove on November 5, 2006 1:35 AM
Put your flawed foot forward.
Pick up most leadership books and you’ll find strategies for leveraging your power and minimizing your areas of weakness. But think about the leaders whose names have gone down in history. Most of them were so messed up that, if they were looking for work today, no executive placement service would give them the time of day.
God’s criteria for choosing leaders runs counter to the conventional wisdom. Our culture equates strength with effectiveness, but God favors leaders who know the value of brokenness.
In Leading With a Limp, you’ll discover what makes flawed leaders so successful. They’re not preoccupied with protecting their image, they are undaunted by chaos and complexity, they are ready to risk failure in moving an organization from what is to what should be. God chooses leaders who aren’t deceived by the myths of power and control, but who realize that God’s power is found in brokenness.
If you are a leader–or if you have been making excuses to avoid leading–find out how you can take full advantage of your weakness. A limping leader is the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.
To go deeper, check out the Leading With a Limp Workbook.
Pick up most leadership books and you’ll find strategies for leveraging your power and minimizing your areas of weakness. But think about the leaders whose names have gone down in history. Most of them were so messed up that, if they were looking for work today, no executive placement service would give them the time of day.
God’s criteria for choosing leaders runs counter to the conventional wisdom. Our culture equates strength with effectiveness, but God favors leaders who know the value of brokenness.
In Leading With a Limp, you’ll discover what makes flawed leaders so successful. They’re not preoccupied with protecting their image, they are undaunted by chaos and complexity, they are ready to risk failure in moving an organization from what is to what should be. God chooses leaders who aren’t deceived by the myths of power and control, but who realize that God’s power is found in brokenness.
If you are a leader–or if you have been making excuses to avoid leading–find out how you can take full advantage of your weakness. A limping leader is the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.
To go deeper, check out the Leading With a Limp Workbook.
Reviews
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I ordered this book along with the workbook and found both very helpful.
Even though I have been told I am a good leader in my church I have been avoiding leading because I have felt I am not one because I am so flawed. I always thought you only become a great leader when you overcome all of your limitations and mistakes. Was I ever wrong. This book tells you how to take your deep wounds, lifelong limps, flaws, and weaknesses to accomplish some of the most amazing things.
Your limp becomes a sign, to the leader and the follower.
Just as in the Bible, God chooses those with flaws and makes effective leaders out of them. And He will do the the same with you.
The oddest thing in the whole book is that the best leaders are the ones who do not seek leadership. The writer says the best leaders are consumed with doubts so they flee leadership and they give away their power. And leadership comes back to them.
This book humbles you. And leaves you with hope. You will see God's power in your brokenness.
A limping leader is the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.
Even though I have been told I am a good leader in my church I have been avoiding leading because I have felt I am not one because I am so flawed. I always thought you only become a great leader when you overcome all of your limitations and mistakes. Was I ever wrong. This book tells you how to take your deep wounds, lifelong limps, flaws, and weaknesses to accomplish some of the most amazing things.
Your limp becomes a sign, to the leader and the follower.
Just as in the Bible, God chooses those with flaws and makes effective leaders out of them. And He will do the the same with you.
The oddest thing in the whole book is that the best leaders are the ones who do not seek leadership. The writer says the best leaders are consumed with doubts so they flee leadership and they give away their power. And leadership comes back to them.
This book humbles you. And leaves you with hope. You will see God's power in your brokenness.
A limping leader is the person God uses to accomplish amazing things.
reviewed by crafty1 on November 26, 2006 5:06 PM
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Allender's book challenges our hearts and minds to get us to consider the darker, less "fun" side of leading - pain. I found his analysis exceptionally helpful in reflecting back to see where I have let hurts impact the way I lead others. His insight and candor intrigued me and provoked me to change the way I lead and the way I live. I couldn't put it down! It's the best leadership book in recent years for the church, but also for leaders in industry.
reviewed by nutshell on November 27, 2006 3:55 AM
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If you're a leader, you are in for the battle of your life, says Mars Hill Graduate School founder Dan Allender in LEADING WITH A LIMP. The author of numerous books, including THE INTIMATE MYSTERY and TO BE TOLD, Allender warns that leadership is costly and likely will never bring you riches, fame or praise. Rather, Allender likens leadership to a "long march through a dark valley." Is it worth the cost? The costs of leadership include crisis, complexity, betrayal, loneliness, weariness, and interestingly enough, glory --- not particularly what most of us associate with leadership. That's not all. A good leader, Allender writes, will in time disappoint everyone.
So why would anyone aspire to leadership? Allender looks at what a leader is (anyone with someone following him or her). The fact is, God calls all of us to lead, he says, no matter how humble the context. And it is in extremity or your failures that you meet not only yourself but, more importantly, the God who has written your life.
Allender builds the core assumption of his book on this: "to the degree you face and name and deal with your failures as a leader, to that same extent you will create an environment conducive to growing and retaining productive and committed colleagues." Acknowledging your screw-ups transforms your own character and earns you more respect and power, he writes. And these shortcomings must be more than just acknowledged; they must also be dismantled in front of those you lead.
But, Allender warns, most leaders are afraid to name their failures; they have too much pride to admit their faults, and they may be addicted to various substances or behaviors.
The best leaders, he says, are not necessarily those who seek leadership. Rather, the best leaders are plagued with doubts or flee leadership. Sound odd? Reluctant leaders, he says, give power away. They use their own power to make sure power is used fairly. True leaders, he shows, eschew pride and ambition and take joy in helping others achieve their goals and dreams.
He makes other good points. Weakness, he says, is strength. Brokenness is a gift. Chaos can open the doors to opportunity. Leadership involves gratitude and awe. A leader has a hunger for the truth. Busy-ness is moral laziness (an intriguing section is devoted to this idea). It's important to know your story and the stories of those you work with, and understand how they shape you as a leader. There's an excellent section on the need for Christian organizations to realize that firing can be an act of redemption (if handled well) rather than keeping a worker who is ill-suited for a position. All Christian organizations should read this section!
Allender offers tales of leadership failures and fractured relationships from his own life and that of biblical characters. He uses scripture well; it tends to inform the points he makes rather than feel like an afterthought. Allender is also careful to make his book gender friendly. Women, as well as men, will feel included.
However, he sometimes rambles and tends to repeat himself. Occasionally, his examples lack clarity. (Managers, he writes, want to keep the plane in the air; a leader wants to put a new engine on the plane in midair. I was confused!) But if the reader sticks with him through the closing pages, Allender will make his points about leadership, and make them well.
"Every one of your weaknesses is the doorway not only to better character but to leadership dividends so enormous that avoiding the necessary risk is utter foolishness," writes Allender. Leaders who question whether they are suited for the role will find encouragement in Allender's call for recognition that leadership does not mean perfection. A LEADING WITH A LIMP workbook will further aid those exploring their own leadership challenges. Those in leadership positions, or who aspire to be, will find this good advice for the journey.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby (phrelanzer@aol.com)
So why would anyone aspire to leadership? Allender looks at what a leader is (anyone with someone following him or her). The fact is, God calls all of us to lead, he says, no matter how humble the context. And it is in extremity or your failures that you meet not only yourself but, more importantly, the God who has written your life.
Allender builds the core assumption of his book on this: "to the degree you face and name and deal with your failures as a leader, to that same extent you will create an environment conducive to growing and retaining productive and committed colleagues." Acknowledging your screw-ups transforms your own character and earns you more respect and power, he writes. And these shortcomings must be more than just acknowledged; they must also be dismantled in front of those you lead.
But, Allender warns, most leaders are afraid to name their failures; they have too much pride to admit their faults, and they may be addicted to various substances or behaviors.
The best leaders, he says, are not necessarily those who seek leadership. Rather, the best leaders are plagued with doubts or flee leadership. Sound odd? Reluctant leaders, he says, give power away. They use their own power to make sure power is used fairly. True leaders, he shows, eschew pride and ambition and take joy in helping others achieve their goals and dreams.
He makes other good points. Weakness, he says, is strength. Brokenness is a gift. Chaos can open the doors to opportunity. Leadership involves gratitude and awe. A leader has a hunger for the truth. Busy-ness is moral laziness (an intriguing section is devoted to this idea). It's important to know your story and the stories of those you work with, and understand how they shape you as a leader. There's an excellent section on the need for Christian organizations to realize that firing can be an act of redemption (if handled well) rather than keeping a worker who is ill-suited for a position. All Christian organizations should read this section!
Allender offers tales of leadership failures and fractured relationships from his own life and that of biblical characters. He uses scripture well; it tends to inform the points he makes rather than feel like an afterthought. Allender is also careful to make his book gender friendly. Women, as well as men, will feel included.
However, he sometimes rambles and tends to repeat himself. Occasionally, his examples lack clarity. (Managers, he writes, want to keep the plane in the air; a leader wants to put a new engine on the plane in midair. I was confused!) But if the reader sticks with him through the closing pages, Allender will make his points about leadership, and make them well.
"Every one of your weaknesses is the doorway not only to better character but to leadership dividends so enormous that avoiding the necessary risk is utter foolishness," writes Allender. Leaders who question whether they are suited for the role will find encouragement in Allender's call for recognition that leadership does not mean perfection. A LEADING WITH A LIMP workbook will further aid those exploring their own leadership challenges. Those in leadership positions, or who aspire to be, will find this good advice for the journey.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby (phrelanzer@aol.com)
reviewed by reviewer on November 27, 2006 5:07 AM