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Rating (5 Rising Suns is a must read - 1 Rising Sun is low interest in reading)

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Review
You are either going to love it, or you are going to hate it - it all depends on your soul! "Leading with Soul" by Lee Bolman & Terry Deal, now in its second addition, is one of the pioneering books on the spiritual dimensions of leadership. Bolman & Deal skillfully bring together key concepts from the fields of religion, spirituality, philosophy, and psychotherapy to the study of leadership.

Set as a series of meetings between guide and student, Steve Camden, a stereotypical business leader, learns what we would consider the most important lesson in business today - that his organization, like all others, is made up of real people, with real thoughts, feelings and expectations. We are a people that desire to seek and find long term meaning in our lives. Camden learns that in order to inspire and motivate people it takes more than being told what to do and given a paycheck.

Although some might find it difficult to accept and/or embrace this "softer" side of leadership, we agree with Bolman & Deal. We found this book to be a sign of true courage and commitment by the authors to promote an understanding that true leadership is not a destination, but a personal journey involving service above self.

Summary of Main Points
"Soul. The word sometimes sounds strange to the modern ear. Terms like heart and spirit seem almost as exotic. We rarely think or talk about where we came from or what we are here to do. We need to. Otherwise, we deaden our souls, stunt our spirit, and live our lives halfheartedly."

The book tells the story of Steve, "a dispirited leader in search of something more meaningful in his life than an obsession with the bottom line." Working with Maria, a mysterious sage, Steve discovers the true meaning of leadership - Bolamn & Deal version of Servant Leadership. With this knowledge in mind, Steve is able to lead his organization to a new discovery of the relationship between work and spirit.

Perhaps the most important lessons in the book come in the form of what Bolman & Deal refer to as the "Gifts of Leadership": Authorship, Love, Power, and Significance. According to the authors, "The gifts of authorship, love, power and significance work only when they are freely given and freely received. Leaders can not give what they do not have or lead to places they've never been … When the gifts are genuine and the spirit is right, their giving transforms an organization from a mere place of work to a shared way of life."

* The Gift of Authorship - "Authorship is rare in most organizations … Giving authorship provides space within boundaries … Authorship turns the organizational pyramid on its side. Leaders increase their influence and build more productive organizations. Workers experience the satisfaction of creativity, craftsmanship, and a job well done."

* The Gift of Love - "Every organization is a family, whether caring or dysfunctional. Caring begins with knowing - it requires listening, understanding, and accepting. It progresses through a deepening sense of appreciation, respect, and ultimately love."

* The Gift of Power - "The idea of power as a gift may seem paradoxical … This might be true if giving power always meant becoming weaker … giving power liberates energy for more productive use. When people have a sense of efficacy and an ability to influence their world, they usually seek to be productive. They direct their energy and intelligence toward making a contribution rather than obstructing progress or destroying their enemies."

* The Gift of Significance - "… significance has both internal and external facets. The internal dimension is the feeling of unity and cohesiveness that goes with being part of a tightly knit community. The external dimension is the sense of pride associated with contributing something of value to the larger society."

Call To Action
Reading this book seems to lead one to six immediate steps which will help move you closer to the goals of effective leadership:

* Immediately begin your own journey! Step out of your comfort zone and explore the true meaning behind what you do and who are. Remember, you can not give away that which you do not have. (Soul)

* Seek out your spirit guide - someone who will help you explore outside of the norm. Look for someone who has been successful in terms of both productivity and people. (Mentor)

* Take time today, and every day, to get out of your office, engage the people you work with, listen to them, get to know and understand them, and learn to accept them for where they are and where they come from. (Love)

* Trust your people. Allow them to take risks and reward them for trying. Give them opportunities to take responsibility for a project from beginning to end. (Authorship)

* Offer opportunities for your people to empower themselves. Help them to find and employ the various sources of power available to them - information, people, materials, etc. (Power)

* Take time out to celebrate both your success and failure! Create special rituals and ceremonies to acknowledge the work your people are doing. (Significance)