Thursday, July 13, 2017

Amplified Leadership

I'm going to be honest.  I'm not a fan of this book.  Not enough to stop reading it.  I did finish the book but I'm not a fan.  I read with a pink highlighter/post-it flag in my hand.  My books are highlighted and flagged within an inch of their lives.  This book only has one flag and less that 50 highlights.

Most of my highlights are at the start of the book.  Maybe this means that I'm just not ready for the later stages.  I'm willing to concede that so I'll put the book on the shelf and see what tomorrow brings. Amplified Leadership starts with the idea that if you don't like people, you probably aren't cut out for leadership.  I joked with a friend that it's all down hill from here since I'm not always a people fan.  (It really was a joke.  I do love to serve people but I am an introvert. I need time away.)

I have never published a book (bucket list).  I can't image the hard work and dedication it took to write this book, or any book.  So, to that end, I don't want to bash the book.  It's not poorly written, it's just not for me.

I want to share the part I flagged.  When I get nervous, I just keep talking.  Actually, I don't have to be that nervous, I just get carried away sometimes.  Then after I walk away I realize I should have asked more questions and let the other person talk more.  In the chapter entitled, Connect at the Heart, Dan Reiland shares 4 reasons you should tell a story about yourself.  The point is to help you determine your motives.  Are you sharing to get attention or as a form of therapy?  This is not talking about when you're hanging out with your friends, it's talking about in a leadership or mentoring situation. Here are the four reasons for talking about yourself:

  • To instruct
  • To entertain (my personal favorite)
  • To inspire 
  • To encourage 
I actually love all those reasons.  They are four of my favorite things to do.  I hope that my writing here does one of these four things.  

I do not regret reading Amplified Leadership.  I was reminded of several wonderful principles.  The focus is on relationships.  And I always need reminders to slow down, push pause on the to do list and focus on someone else.  

If you need a framework for mentoring someone, this is the book for you.  I feel certain I'll use the principles in the future.



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