The 360 Degree Leader Workbook: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization

While many readers dislike the fact that John Maxwell's books often don't have any new or enlightening insights into leadership, I have found his books to be very useful at two things: (1) putting leadership concepts in simple language that are packaged in a very accessible way, and (2) encouraging self reflection or examination of my own leadership methods, style, and substance.This is the first of his workbooks that I've used. I did not read the book it accompanies first, or while I went through the workbook, or after I completed the workbook. It does well as a stand-alone book.The chapters of this workbook contain the details and anecdotes necessary to drive home his point. The questions in each chapter forced me to think honestly about some challenges I have faced in the past and am currently facing. Many questions also require an honest self-assessment of how I've behaved as a leader in the past. In fact, some of them were a bit too personal; I didn't write down my answers to those as I read through the first time.If you're wanting to spend some focused thinking about how you can lead within an organization, not just from the top of an organization, I believe you'll find this to be a useful book. I'm considering using this to guide professional development sessions within my organization - it's short enough that I'm hopeful everyone would actually read the content, it's focused enough that we should get specific discussion, and it's applicable to those at the bottom, middle, or top of an organization so everyone should find something of value in it.*** UPDATE (April 20, 2012) I used this book for a series of leadership discussions over the course of a couple of months in my organization. It proved very effective at sparking great discussions and prompted the sharing of many experiences from the leaders in my group. Because it is a short workbook, reading the 35-40 pages for each discussion was not a daunting task and it was clear from the discussions that most people had read the complete selection each time. Because the workbook includes many questions with space to record answers throughout, it caused most people to be honest with themselves prior to the discussion which led to more effective converstation.The Army has recently emphasized the importance of 360 degree leadership through a new evaluation tool they launched (the tool's been around for a while but it's only now gaining emphasis from senior leaders). I used this workbook and the discussions as a way to explain the Army's tool (called "Multi-Source Assessment and Feedback"), motivate my team to use the tool and consider the results, and to get us back into the Army's leadership manual (FM 6-22). It proved to be very effective for doing that.While we didn't always agree with Maxwell's ideas and many in my group thought Maxwell is quite an idealist, the book certainly focused introspection and enabled us to have some great discussion about leading up, down, and across in our organization.

Very useful my boyfriend love it.

This book was helpful in many ways. Not only was it a workbook that helped you to improve your own leadership skills but it also had many helpful points. I must admit I was a little disappointed when I received it and it was a workbook but then I realized that the workbook session of it can definitely help me in furthering my leadership skills. The book gives you step by step directions and useful hints to make you a better leader and teaches you how to work your way from the bottom to the top. It is a good book for someone who is already in a leadership position to advance their leadership skills and also a good tool for those who wish to be in a position of leadership. It gives some myths dealing with leadership and it addresses those myths. The book also deals with challenges that may arise during leadership. It deals with leadership from across, top and bottom. Although I had to use this book for a class project and I honestly going to keep it and use it once I get into my career. I believe this book would help me out a great deal. I want to go into Human Resources and that is a position of leadership so this book could come in handy. I also want to get my masters degree in Human Resources Management and being a manager in any field can be difficult so I'm sure this book can help me deal with some things. The author did a good job at breaking down the chapters and leaving space for you to answer the questions in the workbook and I believe that is one of the most useful parts of the book. After being disappointed initially, I am glad that I chose this book for my class project.

When a direct report begins asking about promoting, I buy them a book on leadership. I like this book and is usually the book of choice for the first level of leadership. The authors style is not found often, but I do use his style and it works. I have direct reports that read the book and perform to a higher level. I would recomend this for anyone seeking a leadership position.

The best leaders are people leaders! Know them, care for them and lead with confidence. John Maxwell and his team did a great job.

If you care about leadership, you need this book. In obtaining my masters degree in communication studies, I looked at the world this way from up, down and sideways. Mr. Maxwell brings this into the workplace in a succinct manner. I could never figure out how to do that; it was always mushy and convoluted whenever I tried to explain to people that leading honestly is evaluating up, down, and with peers. This is easy to read and clarifies many issues. It put into words what I have been trying to say for years. I recommend that anyone who has to lead people read this book. It's worth it.

As an educational leader, this workbook gave me positive examples to review and sample pages to make comments to increase my leadership knowledge and record my experiences. I recommend this workbook for assisting any leadership development classes, growing organizations, and large/small support groups. I have used strategies from this workbook to explain several important levels of leadership within my organization, school, and family life. A positive leader should exercise his/her 360 degree leadership daily and be open to feedback from others.

Perfect entry level baseline I use for work groups for weekly Lunch & Learn sessions. Maxwell nails foundational principles!

One of the best books on leadership I've ever read, the 360 degree leader shows people how to lead everyone around you and how leadership is required at every level of your organization. Stellar book with great insight on how to lead people above, below and along side you in an organization.

This is a really good workbook for someone who is working as a Assistant Manager or Manager. The author explains about the myths, challenges you face and also helps to understand and realize that anyone can make a difference at any level of an organization. It is a definite must read....