Practicing Greatness

Book excerpt: From an author and ministry consultant, seven practices for taking your religious leadership from good to great. Often spiritual leaders do not aspire to greatness for fear of seeming to lack humility. Yet greatness in spiritual leadership is just what we need—in our churches, our businesses, in education, in the social sector, in every sector of society. The question is how do good spiritual leaders become great leaders? Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence: *The discipline of self-awareness—the single most important information a leader possesses *The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, as well as mental and physical well-being *The discipline of self-development—a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths *The discipline of mission—maintaining the sense of God's purpose in your life *The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure *The discipline of belonging—nurturing relationships and living in community with others *The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of solitude and contemplation “Practicing Greatness is a hard-hitting leadership book.” —from the Foreword by Ken Blanchard, author of The One-Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time