Leadership books are common and often seem to be written for the aspiring leader, lacking serious content for the actual practicioner of leadership in the arena. The Longview by Roger Parrot is an outstanding exception. Filled with great insight for those who lead organizations, it touches on some issues that aren’t often spoken of in off-the-rack leadership books.
1. Lead as if You’ll be There Forever. My mentor Dr. Fulton Buntain was a big believer in consistency and exampled it by remaining pastor of Life Center church in Tacoma, WA for forty years. Watching him I saw first hand the power of making decisions with the idea that you’re going to be there to see you’re decisions come to bear fruit. Obviously however, this isn’t as common as it should be. Leaders come to see themselves a “turnaround artist” or a “transitional leader” largely because they don’t make decisions with their eye on the longview of history. Instead they rush it, pushing reforms before the nameplate off their predecessor is taken off the door.
2. Planning Will Drain Life. In a well-reasoned chapter, Parrott suggest that typical long term planning is hard to do well because of the unpredictability of the future. Instead he highlights a few great concepts that allow for planning to be more responsive and meaningful.
3. Renewal. Clearly this is the backbone of long-lasting leadership. Parrott shares great clues on how to get emotional and spiritual renewal so that you’ll be effective for years to come.
There are many solid tips for experienced leaders in this book beyond what I’ve mentioned here. I recommend you give it a look next time you’re thinking about a book on leadership.
DC
