The Ascent of a Leader: How Ordinary Relationships Develop Extraordinary Character and Influence, by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and Ken McElrath
I (James) highly recommend this book for mothers, fathers, bosses, employees, pastors, teachers and anyone who wants to awaken the potential of those who are watching them.
Leadership is about character, the authors assert – character that wins out, even in the face of setbacks, adversity and temptations to take shortcuts. It is about being credible, and others wanting to go where we’ve been. The longer people are with great leaders, the more they want to be with them, because they don’t discover an “ick factor” that causes them to want to disengage.
“No man is an island.” This book helps us make a difference in our homes, our companies, our communities and every other arena of our lives. It is filled with compelling stories of how magic happens when leaders of character nurture an environment marinated in grace. In a world filled with so much cynicism and fear, this is a book that shows us how to engender trust, creativity and hope – in ourselves and others.
