Well-known leadership author John C. Maxwell has written that “every day, leaders must wake up and lead themselves before they can lead anyone else.”
What books can inspire and challenge you as a leader? To wrap up 2021, we asked several Rosewood managers and senior team members to share their top leadership reads of 2021 (and beyond). The following are their book reviews. Enjoy!
The FIVE Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni (Jossey-Bass: 2002)
This book not only tells how to build a cohesive, effective team but also illustrates it in practical everyday scenarios. It goes beyond the symptoms and dives into the causes of a dysfunctional team. It shows our need for help from others and the importance of facing our limitations realistically to build a successful relationship. Success is embracing common sense with uncommon levels of discipline and persistence.
Reviewer: Eugene Fox
General Manager
The FIVE Dysfunctions of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni (Jossey-Bass: 2002)
“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.” – from the introduction
The first three-quarters of the book reads like a novel as Kathryn Peterson, the new CEO of a startup tech firm, tries to save the faltering company by restoring teamwork to her team. The last few chapters explain the Five Dysfunctions model, how to assess your team, and how to improve your team’s teamwork.
In the model, the five dysfunctions build on top of each other. When there is an absence of trust within the team, its members will fear conflict and not air their opinions. When team members are not feeling heard, they will not commit to the group’s decision. When team members are not committed to the group’s decision, they will not hold each other accountable. And without accountability, the team, as they point fingers or excuse the lack of results, will not achieve what they could have achieved if they had all been rowing in the same direction.
Reviewer: Adrian Nolt
Head of Operations
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
by Greg McKeown (Crown Publishing Group: 2020)
The overwhelming majority of successful people have discovered the secret superpower of removing almost everything from their plate to focus on the few things that truly matter. You can too! This groundbreaking book includes a simple formula of criteria to help you decide the things that matter most in your world. Tap into the liberation of becoming an Essentialist in a world where the multitude of things begging for attention robs so many people of the life they truly want.
Reviewer: Luke Flory
Marketing Consultant / Business Coach
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey (Free Press:1989)
This timeless classic by the late Stephen Covey will fundamentally transform the way you approach your entire life and the people in it. The first three habits are Personal victories, the next three are Public victories and the final habit is the art of continual lifelong improvement in installing these habits into your character.
Reviewer: Luke Flory
Marketing Consultant / Business Coach
The Secret of Teams
by Mark Miller (Berrett-Koehler Publishers: 2011)
When Chick-fil-A tried to find research for what makes the best teams in the world, they discovered that virtually no such research had been done. So they did it themselves, expending millions of dollars scouring the world for the most effective teams and the common principles they embraced. What they found is stunning, and it’s written in engaging parable-form in this book written by Mark Miller, the vice president of training and development for Chick-fil-A. Discover the secret of turning the valuable folks who work for your company into a unified, passionate, unstoppable team.
Reviewer: Luke Flory
Marketing Consultant / Business Coach
The Rosewood Team salutes your leadership through the unique business challenges and opportunities you have faced in 2021. We wish you God’s blessing as you lead in 2022. Thank you for making Rosewood part of your story!