Energy Zappers: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry

While ENERGY ZAPPERS: DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO DRAIN YOU DRY could have easily been featured in our 'Spirituality' section, it's reviewed here for its wider-ranging importance to all kinds of leaders who would learn how to turn stressful relationships to more effective paths. The authors are pastors at two of America's largest churches so their approach is Christian in origin, but their practical, real-world tips on how to turn draining relationships into energy-charged ones makes for important reading, bringing this to the attention of not just spiritual collections and those catering to church leaders, but to any business holding. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Whether leading a group, mentoring, or counseling one on one, "Energy Zappers" is a helpful guide to dealing with those individuals who drain your group efforts or deplete your own personal energy level. Shaun and Wallace share from their own lives and ministry experiences in this fast moving study of energy draining individuals. Among them are "Angerers" "Foot Draggers," "Freeloaders, "Quitters" and "Wounders." I was surprised to find myself a borderline in one of the groups and am taking the suggested steps to overcome and to move on to being a stronger team member. Along with contemporary stories the authors share illustrations from the life of Jesus of these same "Cynics," "Distracters," "Doubters," and "Whiners." Lessons learned from Jesus, Paul, Daniel and other Biblical examples are as applicable today as at the time they were written. Blakeney and Henley write with humor, emotion, and insight as they adapt principles Jesus used in influencing people to help the reader recognize "energy drainers" and in providing practical advice on turning these negative relationships in to vital, dynamic, positive character building experiences. Easy to read, hard to put down, and a ready reference for future study.