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Axiom
Powerful leadership proverbs
Top tips for leaders
AXIOM
Powerful Leadership Proverbs
By Bill Hybels
Zondervan. 224 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978-0-310-28259-4
I must confess I am a fan of Bill Hybels; I enjoy his writing style, and what he has to say. I find his teaching extremely motivating, especially when he speaks to leaders.
This new book is particularly good for all involved in church leadership. Although written for an American audience — Bill Hybels is the founder and leader of a huge church effectively reaching out to unbelievers — the pithy chapters sparkle with much goodness and show great humility. Bill learns through his mistakes!
This is not exposition, and at times it seems like another book from the airport book store on how to be successful in business, being full of good tips for leaders. But they are good tips; they are well-worked nuggets of helpful advice told in a way which shows how a leader struggles at times and yet keeps on track. This book sparkles with great advice.
The topics are grouped around four areas: vision and strategy; teamwork and communication; activity and assessment; personal integrity. Each chapter is really brief, covering just one item.
Take chapter two: ‘Make the Big Ask‘. Hybels writes: ‘Leadership is a lot about asking. After casting bold visions, leaders ask people to help make them become reality. Leaders describe pressing problems that are imperilling mission achievement and then ask people to devote their best thinking and most innovative ideas to solve them. In church work, leaders ask spiritual seekers to consider Christ. They ask believers to grow up in their faith. They ask staff members and volunteers and donors to give their best time and money and energy and heart — all because they believe so much in the cause they’re pursuing’.
The book recognises that church leaders need help to see that the church is going along the right track and gaining momentum. Many general books might help to do that, but this is high-class distilled wisdom from a man who’s ‘been there’. It would be ideal to pass round church leadership teams, and then go for an Away Day on ‘How can we be more effective in leadership — to grow our church?’