The lessons extracted create a web of connection...

 Seeing the word, ‘Grace’ in the title of “Grace Under Pressure - Leading Through Change and Crisis” by John Baldoni connected with my Lutheran roots and hooked me for the journey of examining every crisis I have faced as a leader in academia and in the church.  Each of the four steps of this process outlined in the book, ‘Take Care of Your People’, ‘Take Care of Yourself’, ‘Prepare for the Future’ and ‘How to Lead with Grace Under Pressure’ flow naturally and are connected with each other in a unique and purposeful way.  The lessons extracted create a web of connection that makes sense when reviewing one's own personal experiences.

Embracing this journey with every page by utilizing the structure outlined helps the reader to focus on not just our past experiences and outcomes, but to lean in on what the future may be having made intentional discoveries and changes with the sole purpose of becoming a better leader.  John perfectly orchestrates how the last three years of our experience of the pandemic influence and help to inform how we review, learn and grow in becoming leaders ready for future challenges and opportunities.

Every quote and anecdote had a purpose and intention that not only led down the path for learning and evaluating for a brighter future as a leader, but lent themselves to helping change our perspective and understanding.  Utilizing this approach as a learning tool, and implementing it as a review for intentional growth as a leader will benefit the novice as well as expert in the creation of a healthy community.

These are a few of the many gems I found as I learned another way to embrace “How to Lead with Grace Under Pressure”:

p. 58 - “Leading is behaving truthfully under real circumstances.”

p. 63 - “What happens in one part of the world can impact another within a short period of time.”

p. 72 - “Respect is fundamental to each step and essential to building a solid community.”

p. 103 - “Only the one who has endured understands what it takes to face the odds, especially those stacked against you.”

p. 108 - “The world of January 2020 is no more; our duty is to create a “new normal” that embodies the best of what we had with the best of what we have learned.  We will need resilience to do so.”

p. 125 - “What is the linguistic existence of a fire escape, that we can give ourselves permission to say, ‘Are you really OK?  I know we’re talking, but, you want to step out on the fire escape, and you can tell me the truth?’”

p. 135 - “The defining purpose for ourselves can be a journey.”

As a leader, “Grace Under Pressure - Leading Through Change and Crisis” has enabled me to view my experiences through a new and helpful lens when facing change and crisis.  I would highly recommend this book as a tool that every leader would benefit from mining its riches for every crisis and need for change faced by leaders in the secular, non-secular, academic, for profit and non-profit sectors.  This book will help change the landscape of intentional growth for every leader.

“This book touches and has improved every relationship I have….”

 Today….
“This book touches and has improved every relationship I have….”

Two weeks ago….When I agreed to be on the launch team for Mark Miller’s new book, I wasn’t sure how I could adequately review it since I was most experienced in a non-profit position as a Pastor, instructor of Chemistry and Religion and now as a stay-at-home Father.  Once I received the book, I drug my feet to read the book.  And when I finally cracked the cover, I found it was not what I expected.

Mark from the beginning of the book has woven from the monumental data from “6,000 senior leaders, mid-level managers, and frontline workers from 10 countries” one of the most compelling books I have read on culture.  The stories interwoven into each chapter not only compliment, but clearly articulate a new language and understanding of culture that is easily understandable, but also relatable and readily adaptable to both for profit and the not for profit sector.

As a student of leadership for 20+ years having read many of the classics, this book will be my go to book about culture when talking to my friends, family and colleagues, because it is applicable to every part of my life and the culture I live in everyday.  Whether in professional or personal relationships, church settings, small businesses, mentoring settings or even how I view our world, this book has made me excited to read it after the very first chapter.

Here are only a seven quotes that ‘get me excited’ about culture and the influence we can have whether a student, soldier or seeking a solution to a problem we are facing: 

P. 3 “When culture is seen, understood, and intentionally crafted by leaders, it is the ultimate force for good in an organization”

P. 17 “The culture you build, good or bad, will outlive your time at the table.”

P. 29 “Relationships are an infinite game”

P. 39 “you cannot build what you cannot articulate”

P. 74 “the right values, clearly stated and deployed well, are one of the most powerful culture-shaping tools leaders have at their disposal.”

P. 111 “sometimes the best answer is to show, not tell.”

P. 176 “To Adapt well always begins with listening well.”

Mark’s book has challenged and humbled me and helped me to take a fresh look at my impact upon my culture and how to navigate changing the culture of my personal and professional life.

Are you interested in embarking upon this journey of discovery, confession and change for a healthier culture and a healthier you?  I humbly urge you to pick up today's release of Culture Rules and join in the revolution Mark has crafted that will help you if you are willing to aspire, amplify and adapt in the public or private sector, for profit or not-for-profit positions and every relationship of your life and the culture you live in today to influence it for tomorrow and it’s growth to meet the changes and challenges that are certain to occur.

https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Rules-Creating-Competitive-Advantage-ebook/dp/B0B3HHHNRS