Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders

By Reggie McNeal and Ken Blanchard

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. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and 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 body of information a leader possesses

 

The discipline of self-management—handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, 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—enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

 

The discipline of decision-making—knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

 

The discipline of belonging—the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

 

The discipline of aloneness—the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Apr 20, 2009
• ISBN: 9780787997939

Reggie McNeal

Reggie McNeal enjoys helping leaders pursue more kingdom-focused lives. He currently serves as a senior fellow for Leadership Network and city coach for GoodCities. In his consulting and speaking, Reggie draws on his experience as a pastor, denominational leader, seminary teacher, and leadership development coach for thousands of church leaders across North America and the world. His books include The Present Future, Missional Renaissance, A Work of Heart, and Kingdom Come.

Reviews for Practicing Greatness

[ezulween · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A well written book of observations. McNeal shares insight into traits of spiritual leadership. Interestingly the disciplines he suggests are all about leading one's self. This is a refreshing change in the genre.

[bsanner_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

McNeal identifies seven disciplines that hold the potential to transform one’s leadership from good to great: self-awareness, self-management, self-development, mission, decision-making, belonging, and aloneness. While these disciplines doubtlessly serve as catalysts to greatness in leadership, McNeal’s insights are generally stale and uninspiring. There is little here to disagree with, but, likewise, little that will adequately motivate or equip leaders (McNeal’s comments on debriefing as a form of discipleship offer a thoughtful exception). C