Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values Empowering Change

Companies come and go, nations rise and fall, and the one common denominator is that every institution needs a leader. Leighton Ford looks at the one leader in world history that has shaped more hearts and minds and dramatically altered the course of human history more than any other person - the one person who was fully man and fully God - Jesus. Not a leader, some might argue, since he never commanded an empire or enterprise? Ford examines the leadership style and substance of Jesus and puts forth the concept that the leadership of Jesus was the ultimate example from which any and every leader can learn and follow His example - from the corporate executive to the household manager, the teachings and examples of Jesus transcend time, position and culture. Ford examines how Jesus handed various situations from a variety of perspectives - Jesus the leader as a strategist, as a seeker, as a servant and so forth. Each chapter gives examples from Scripture and then relates these principles into real world scenarios for the leader today to examine. Ford drives home the point that the leadership of Jesus stems from His unique ability to truly understand the nature of man - his longings, his needs, his wants, his desires, and his fears. Jesus is able to work with his men and women from all walks of life to produce a unified front who shared the same vision and values as their leader. Following His own death, burial, resurrection and transcendence, the message of the gospel was carried on by these disciples and their followers who walked with, ate with, ministered with, and lived with their leader. The message that Ford shares with leaders today is that we are all called for leadership in the kingdom of God - we are all followers of Christ, yet leaders of the lost to the cross. We have much to learn from the example of Jesus and Ford does an excellent job of mining some real gold nuggets from Scripture to make this book a gem to read and study.

Of the hunderds of leadership books I have read, "Transforming Leadership" by Leighton Ford is by far the most inspiring and informational.

Leighton Ford, leader or leaders, spiritual director, crusader, evangelist, writes an amazing book on Leadership. The whole book revolved around the fact that we must be servant leaders as Christ modeled for us in the 1st Century. Leighton is humble, and strong at the same time in his presentation of this material. You can see the results of him putting this model into practice throughout his life and how God has used him to be an amazing influencer for the Kingdom. Every emerging leader should take note of what is said in the this book, and no pastor should pass it by either. Thanks to the author for this insightful, and compelling work on leadership. Joseph Dworak

Overview: The person and ministry of Jesus is seen as the role model for this study of the qualities of the kind of leadership that motivates, empowers and changes people's lives. After introducing the topic in the first two chapters, we are treated to twelve distinct aspects of the leadership qualities presented by Jesus.Critique: For the most part, the various chapters are not given in any particular order so that they could have been shuffled and the effect would have been largley the same. At the same time, each aspect is well-presented and connected to corresponding Scriptures set in their correct context and thus reads like a sermon series.Application: We are reminded that a leader need not lose his self-identity in seeking to be like Christ, but he does need to lose his pride and selfishness as he sets himself as a servant for those to whom he came to minister. If I personally have an area of weakness, it is in the development of a vision that goes beyond the basic premise of the great commission and the making of disciples. It is for this reason that I have in the past (and continue so today) to be content to work under the leadership of others and to draw from and to buy into their vision.Best quote: Kingdom-seekers are leaders marked by loyalty, for they seek another's cause, by fidelity, for they tell another's truth; by humility, for they accept another's results; by constancy, for their wait another's time; and by expectancy, for they dream of another's glory (Page 97-98).

Leighton Ford has written an excellent book for the Christian leader. Among the principles Ford covers include:1. Treat others as people created by God, not things to be used.2. A leader has a transcendant purpose and is not distracted from it.3. The servant leader depends on God's timing and seeks to glorify God.4. True leadership is marked by servanthood, not lordship over others.5. Leaders will always face conlict, just like Jesus did.6. Those who display toughness at all times probably lack inner security.7. God is more interested in our character instead of our actions.8. We need times alone with Christ to see if we are serving Him or self.An excellent and highly recommended book for leaders and aspiring leaders (everyone is a leader in some way)!