He had not only experiential wisdom but also practical advice on how to lead well.

He emphasized the significance of leading from one's weaknesses. As a leader, it is essential to be humble and admit one's failures, weaknesses, and sins.

By doing so, leaders can lead from truth and genuine character. This approach allows leaders to build trust with their team members and create a more inclusive and collaborative work environment.

When leaders are honest about their limitations, they can also seek help and support from others, which can lead to better decision-making and more successful outcomes.

In conclusion, leading from weaknesses and being humble is a powerful leadership strategy that can help leaders achieve greater success and make a positive impact on their organizations and teams.

I first began reading this particular piece back in 2007, shortly after its publication. At that time, I didn't gain much from it. However, now, after having served as a ministry leader for the past several years, when I picked it up again, it holds a great deal more significance.

It is not so much a book that focuses on what to do as a leader, but rather how to be. It delves into the essence and qualities that a leader should possess.

Nevertheless, I still discovered numerous points that I can apply in my relationships with others on my team and with those whom I serve. These applications help me to better understand and interact with them, enhancing my leadership abilities and the overall effectiveness of our work together.

It's interesting how our perspectives can change over time, and how a book that may not have seemed relevant initially can suddenly become a valuable resource.

This is truly one of the best leadership books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is a classic work by Allender, filled with rawness, honesty, practicality, and a solid biblical foundation.

The book is divided into multiple chapters, each offering unique and valuable insights. There are several chapters that I know I will be referring back to time and time again. For example, the chapter on “The Problem of Complexity” delves deep into the challenges that leaders face in today's complex world. It provides practical strategies for navigating through the chaos and making sound decisions.

Another chapter that stood out to me was “The Community of Character”. This chapter emphasizes the importance of building a community of like-minded individuals who share the same values and character traits. It shows how such a community can support and encourage leaders in their journey.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in leadership. It offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice that can help leaders to grow and develop in their roles.

A truly powerful leadership book, it delves into the concept of leading from a stance of humility and dependence. It emphasizes that our weaknesses are not something to be ashamed of, but rather they serve as a signpost pointing us towards a God who is infinitely strong. This book offers valuable insights and practical guidance for leaders of all kinds. Whether you are leading a small team or a large organization, the principles presented here can help you become a more effective and inspiring leader. By embracing humility and dependence, you can build stronger relationships with your team members, gain their trust and respect, and ultimately achieve greater success. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all leaders who are looking to take their leadership skills to the next level.

Thought provoking

I truly relished the perspective of interplay and leadership styles. It is indeed a fascinating concept that has made me think deeply. I highly appreciate the thought that spiritual maturity is not only required but also a journey that is essential for both the wounded and the healthy.

This idea challenges us to look beyond the surface and understand that everyone, regardless of their state, is on a path of growth and development.

Spiritual maturity is not something that can be achieved overnight; it is a continuous process that requires self-reflection, learning, and adaptation.

It is a journey that can bring about profound changes in our lives, enabling us to become better leaders and more compassionate individuals.

We should embrace this journey with an open heart and a willingness to learn from our experiences, both the good and the bad.

By doing so, we can enhance our leadership skills and make a positive impact on the lives of those around us.

Letting God build character into the lives of Christians is the very essence and purpose of limping leadership.

Limping serves a crucial role as it keeps us humble for an extended period, providing God with the opportunity to carry out His work within us.

Allender's book is truly remarkable as it goes a long way in assisting leaders within the church to undergo the transformation that God desires for us to experience.

It is an extremely challenging task to lead others both spiritually and emotionally when we have never bothered to take the time to examine our own personal baggage.

This insightful book has now found its way into the hands of the staff and elders at Faith Community Church, where it is expected to have a profound impact on their leadership journey and the overall spiritual growth of the congregation.

Hopefully, they will be able to apply the principles and wisdom found within its pages to better serve and lead the people of God.

I'm not the kind of person who deliberately reads leadership books. However, I'm truly glad that this particular one was given to me.

It is an outstanding book for anyone working on the staff of a church or other religious institution. It goes beyond the senselessness of many so-called "Christian" leadership books in the style of Dale Carnegie and omits all the rubbish about leaders being exalted individuals.

With a very postmodern approach, it places a great deal of emphasis on the use of storytelling and metanarratives to cast a vision for people and guide them towards it. This really struck a chord with me.

Moreover, there is a wealth of extremely good material regarding staff dynamics within an organization. And again, related to metanarratives, it helps in understanding the roles people play and how they can either complement or conflict with the roles of others. Here, "role" doesn't refer so much to a "position" but rather to the "role" on the stage of life.

All in all, it is the most useful leadership book I have ever read.

This book is truly one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading!!

It is an absolute must-read for every single sincere person out there.

Many of us struggle with coming to terms with the revelation of our own weaknesses.

We often find it difficult to face the flaws within us.

However, this book not only helps us confront those weaknesses but also calls us to point others towards the One who has the power to redeem our brokenness.

It offers valuable insights and practical guidance on how to navigate through our own personal challenges and, at the same time, be a source of hope and inspiration for others.

If you are looking for a book that will touch your heart, challenge you, and ultimately lead you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the power of redemption, then this is the book for you.

Don't miss out on this amazing read!!

I'll be reading this book periodically. It is a book that I need to read for my masters program. The content within this book is likely to be of great significance and value for my academic pursuits. By reading it periodically, I hope to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject matter. Each time I pick up the book, I expect to discover new insights and perspectives that will enhance my knowledge and skills. This book will serve as an important resource throughout my masters program, guiding me in my studies and research. I look forward to the journey of exploration and learning that lies ahead as I continue to engage with this book.

This book offers a brutally honest account of the challenges that come with leadership. It is not only eye-opening but also highly inspiring for individuals in various leadership roles, be it a CEO of a large corporation, a pastor guiding a congregation, or a parent leading a family.

The five core chapters are particularly valuable as they comprehensively outline the difficulties related to crisis, complexity, betrayal, loneliness, and weariness. What makes it even more engaging are the numerous real-life anecdotes that are skillfully sprinkled throughout the text. These stories bring the concepts to life and make it easier for readers to relate and understand.

However, it should be noted that the final few chapters were not as helpful. At times, the writing seemed to ramble a bit, lacking the focus and clarity that was present in the earlier parts of the book.

Overall, despite its minor flaws, this book is definitely worth reading. It provides valuable insights and practical advice that can help leaders navigate the complex and often difficult terrain of leadership. Whether you are an experienced leader or just starting out, this book has something to offer.

Most of the valuable insights I obtained from this book were actually gleaned directly from the title itself. The concept of "leading with weakness" is not only a powerful one but also has a biblical foundation. This idea truly challenged me, making me realize that as a leader, I should wholeheartedly embrace my weaknesses, for in them lies my true strength.

However, beyond this central concept, I didn't manage to extract a great deal more from the book. The author, Allender, seems to communicate in a language that I'm not entirely familiar with. But then again, that's not necessarily his fault. As a leader who often feels like I'm limping along, I must confess that I didn't read every single page in the book. There were times when I found myself struggling to connect with the author's ideas and表达方式.

Perhaps if I had delved deeper and made a more concerted effort to understand Allender's perspective, I might have discovered additional nuggets of wisdom. But for now, the idea of leading with weakness remains a thought-provoking and potentially transformative concept that I will continue to ponder and explore in my leadership journey.

While this is not an outstandingly brilliant book on leadership, the author's humility regarding his state of sinfulness is evident.

Regrettably, it appears that the book was written at different times, resulting in a disjointed and patchwork-like feel. Although many segments are extremely long-winded, some of the illustrations are excellent (which will be reproduced below).

"Is it now?" (140-142)

We are all procrastinators. There are many things that need to be done today, but I will not get to them legitimately. By procrastinating, I choose to delay other things. The way I manage my days is similar to how I choose books for my nightstand. If a book makes it to the stand, it has achieved a priority that few do. I select my books with the discrimination of a Broadway director. I don't care what sacrifices were made to get the book published; I only care if the book is worthy of being on my nightstand. Even then, I will only read forty to sixty pages to determine if I will invest the hours to finish it. I may not make great choices, but I am discriminating. However, each book I read requires saying no to some other worthy read. It's all a matter of what should take my heart right now.

I counseled a woman who was a partner in a prestigious law firm. She told me how the tensions among the partners were causing chaos in the organization. Everyone was burned out, yet they were still taking on more difficult cases than the infrastructure could handle. Her marriage was on the verge of disaster, and she knew that many other employees were barely getting through the day.

She shared her burden with a group of women with whom she prayed. She read the Scriptures and novels. She laughed and wept. She discussed with her husband the cost of speaking up at the next stakeholders' meeting. They knew it could be the end of her well-paying job. She had worked so hard to achieve her position that at first, she refused to be the one to expose the firm's idiocy and arrogance. But my work with her in counseling helped her see that telling the truth is never weak; it actually requires courage and audacious faith. She finally told her partners that she didn't understand who or what was driving the reckless mismanagement of personnel and resources. She also asked if the firm's out-of-control situation was due more to greed or arrogance.

The firm's older partners stared at her as if she had become a traitor. She told them that she had no intention of resigning or continuing to work the inhumane hours. She also wondered out loud if anyone else wanted to see their marriage and children suffer due to someone else's greed or arrogance. She talked about her dreams for her children and husband and acknowledged the lack of courage she had shown when she constantly told her family that she didn't have time to be a mother or wife. Clearly, this woman chose not to lie or hide. She left the meeting feeling like a fool, but she knew that her soul was more important than gaining the whole world.

This woman's courage was the catalyst for a month-long reconsideration of what cases the firm would take and how to redistribute the workload and financial remuneration. She still works with the same firm and is one of the most highly respected attorneys, not only for her courtroom performance but also because she told the truth to her peers.

"Strength and Tenderness" (180-181)

Whenever we see strength and tenderness in others, we must value it and do what we can to help it grow. My children provide a nearly constant supply of stories regarding their courage (strength) and care (tenderness) for me, for my wife, and for one another. They each live with a growing sense of awe and gratitude for one another.

Recently, for example, my son and I went fly-fishing, and an accident occurred where he fell and dropped his rod in fast-moving water. We both assumed it was gone forever, but later we discovered that the rod had gotten caught on a tree branch near the riverbank, in a spot that was nearly impossible to reach. When I foolishly decided to wade over to get it, I was nearly washed away by the current. It was a terrifying risk, but we were able to retrieve the rod.

After the drama subsided, my son said to me, "Do you think a rod is worth your life?"

I sheepishly answered, "No, it was a foolish decision."

He went on to say, "What do you think it would have been like for me to lose my father over a silly rod?" His words quickened, and he said passionately, "What do you think it would have been like for me to tell my mother how her husband died? Do you understand, dad, that I would miss you for the rest of my life?"

I was stunned. I was not only shocked by the utter foolishness of my choice but also by the passionate and compelling voice of my son as he named my failure, placed it in the larger context of our lives together, and then spoke to the deepest desires of my heart to matter to my son. The effect was incomprehensible: I had never felt more foolish before my son - or more loved by him.