Review of Leadership Principles and Purpose

[Ajay Pratap Singh Tomar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Leadership Principles and Purpose" by David Sharpley.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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In his book Leadership Principles and Purpose, David Sharpley explains what it takes to be a good leader in a very intricate and volatile world. The text under review is primarily concerned with the idea that being a good leader is not only about being technically competent but also about being able to deal with challenges and chores and motivate the whole team towards the vision they have. Efforts made in writing, such as the focus on the right traits, such as active listening, emotional intelligence, and flexibility, are important highlights of competencies that traditional leadership literature usually emphasizes technical skills and overlooks.

The communication models employed by Sharpley are quite descriptive since he cites two consultants who possess the same technical know-how, but one does it because of being inquisitive and the other makes it because of not being inquisitive, including the social aspects. Leadership is more than being able to provide solutions; it is about providing the right framework and context within which the solutions are developed. The book looks to be extensively practical as well as thought-provoking.

The author provides a variety of frameworks, such as P-Q-R-S-T (Problem, Question, Reflection, Situation check, Task), to assist the leadership to work their way through difficult situations. However, at some points, it seems that some of the concepts are a bit redundant, and more examples, especially about the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment, would have been useful to further advance the argument. Many times, the content transcends the descriptive nature of concepts of the theory and moves into the generalization of concepts that do not apply inevitably in the circumstances, leaving the reader asking what we do with these ideas contextually.

Regarding editing, the book is almost perfect. I do not think there were any mistakes made about grammar or spelling, which is a win for reading since the overall reading was quite pleasing. There is an ease in the sequencing of ideas, and Sharpley writes in an orderly and straightforward manner.

For the last portion, I rate Leadership Principles and Purpose at 4 out of 5 stars. It is true that the book has some weaknesses in terms of how rich real-life illustrations are provided and the way in which narrative shifts from one domain to the next, but the readers do learn a great deal about leadership in a complicated world. Even so, constructive and high-level editing and useful content make it an essential read for people in the leadership development sphere.

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Leadership Principles and Purpose
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[Williams Jaden]

David Sharpley's Leadership Principles and Purpose provides a thoughtful exploration of leadership, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, active listening, and flexibility. Beyond technical competence, Sharpley highlights the need for leaders to create the right environment for problem-solving and motivate their teams, offering a practical and insightful approach to leadership.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Based on the review, "Leadership Principles and Purpose" by David Sharpley seems to be a highly informative and practical read for individuals interested in developing their leadership skills. The book addresses the importance of not only technical competence but also qualities such as active listening and emotional intelligence. The author provides frameworks and concepts to navigate through challenging situations, although some redundancy and lack of real-life examples are noted. Overall, it appears to be a valuable resource for leadership development. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Richly detailed world-building, felt immersive.

[Philane mabona]

David Sharpley's Leadership Principles and Purpose, book is very insightful and a A must-read for anyone looking for a new perspective especially people in religious organizations and big businesses this a game-changing read, highly recommend it