Leadership As a Lifestyle: The Path to Personal Integrity and Positive Influence

By John L. Hawkins

Book Overview

Shows how personal spirituality and spirituality in the workplace can be both substantive and practical. Hawkins draws from his years of entrepreneurial experience and organizational leadership to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930771126
• ISBN13: 9781930771123
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Executive Excellence Publishing
• Length: 165 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Great book to "put all the pieces together"

The book Leadership as a Lifestyle, by John Hawkins, is a great book that talks about how leadership must be looked at as a lifestyle more than just a method of thinking. Hawkins emphasizes that the only way to become a leader is to talk, act, and use the principles of leadership in everything in your life. He breaks the book up into three major parts: (1) Leadership at Work, (2) Leadership at Home, and (3) Leadership with Friends. Each part is then broken into subparts to show how leadership principles should be applied to that specific part of your life.Hawkins draws upon many of the different leadership skills that the O'Hair book lists. Hawkins agrees that managers are completely different than leaders. He poses the question, "Should managers be leaders?" and then follows up with "Are all managers leaders?" As we saw in the O'Hair textbook, the answers are yes and no, respectively. Hawkins then continues to discuss the different systems of management theory and how those theories can relate to leadership. He poses many questions for each of the different styles of managerial theory that O'Hair lists. Specifically, he asks how one can lead in any of the first three managerial systems from Likert's Systems of Management. He questions whether one can lead if one has no followers. Hawkins shows that to have followers, one must gain long-term loyalty and commitment. He further proves that only life-empowered leadership (essentially Likert's System 4) can accurately do such a thing.Unlike other self-help books, Hawkins offers many questions to ask yourself as a manager, father/mother, friend, or human to test your leadership skills. For example, he states that three questions, in particular, are daily questions to ask yourself: (1) What specific people am I leading, (2) What exactly am I leading them to do or to become, and (3) Are they doing it or becoming it? If you don't know the answers to these questions, Hawkins states that you are not a leader, as you are not leading anybody. And, to quote Hawkins, "a leader with no followers is nobody."Already I have asked myself many of the questions that Hawkins has posed. I realize that in many of my endeavors where I consider myself a leader, I am not. I may be in a position of power, but I have no followers. I need to change my lifestyle to fit that of one of life-empowered leadership. I need to be loyal and offer a commitment to all my employees. I need them to know that I am here to help, and if they are willing to follow, I can lead them. This will help me tremendously as I further my career and gain more knowledge and wisdom. Already I am re-reading Hawkins book for more in-depth information. I would definitely rate this book as a solid five star book. It has already helped me tremendously and will continue to do so for quite some time.

A Deeper Perspective on Leadership

Mr. Hawkins takes a page from his own book and helps the reader to see reality as it is. That reality being that no leader leads out in a vacuum or a neatly compartmentalized world, but exercises his influence amidst a community of relationships. With this reality in mind, Mr. Hawkins gives many practical helps and insightful gems to help the reader build and maximize his leadership in all areas of life, not just in the business realm. There are concepts here that I have not come across in any other leadership book. Because of its unique insights, richness and practicality, I will be keeping this book close by for future reference.

Excellent Read

Hawkins provides an excellent framework from which to carefully think about leadership as a lifestyle. He effectively argues against compartmentalizing the different areas of influence (e.g., family, work) in our lives, but instead, encourages the reader to balance the conflicts that are sure to arise. He also provides useful insights into managing our lives in each area of influence so that we prove ourselves faithful in each.The book is written in a concise and very readable manner. I highly recommend it, and have even purchased additional copies to give to friends and family!!!

A Great Personal Investment Challenge

John Hawkins challeneged me to take a meaningful look at my life to identify those aspects of my personality, character, interpersonal relationship skills, etc. that could severly limit my ability to be an effective leader in any sphere of influence (work, family, church, community). He reminded me that my influence as a leader will only be as strong as the character, competence, and commitment I demonstrate through the integrity of my words and action, 24/7. The emphasis Mr. Hawkins places on the leader as a servant was particularily inspiring. He attaches a very high calling for leaders to invest their lives in others. He makes a very convincing case for the development of mentor-protege relationships. The level of commitment required to build these relationships is challenging, but the reward of life-long unshakeable friendships is priceless. Mr. Hawkins offers no gimmicks or short-cuts. He offers us the opportunity to develop into lifestyle leaders who will leave a legacy. Legacies are not made of short-cuts and gimmicks. This book is a fantastic opportunity to take an introspective look at yourself, and to approach leadership as your "purpose" and not your "position."

Best current book on leadership I've read

John Hawkins has done a great service by defining leadership from the inside-out in clear, simple terms. His book is essential reading for anyone who seeks to influence an organization or business of any kind. Each chapter opens with a powerful vignette about a person who has experienced a leadership challenge of some type. He treats subjects such as sustaining one's influence, integrity, adversity and transcendance.The author writes with the simplicity of a Ken Blanchard, the the clarity of a Stephen Covey and the insights of a Warren Bennis. The book has the unusual advantage of being both suitable for a primer on leadership and a text for advanced leadership reflection. There are no wasted words. I could not put the book down until I finished it.I have already passed on copies of this to colleagues and will be using this book for an upcoming leadership retreat for staff development. This book is a gem. Can you tell that I am excited about?!Ross RainsPresidentThe Navigators of Canada