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

John C. Maxwell's "The 360 Degree Leader" was, to me, a motivational exploration of excelling in business leadership no matter what your position or place within an organization. The book was well laid out and covered a myriad of organizational myths that exist to this day within corporate culture in organizations all around the world, which lead to frustration, lack of productivity and resentment if adhered to.

Leadership is not about a title; it is all about influence and earning the right to lead daily through every encounter with every person you meet and having the wisdom and maturity to be sincere in your interest and genuine in your intention to put your leaders, your team, and your shared projects first and foremost above self interest and ego. I realize that this is not an easy task, as I think back to when I worked in a large organization and had to deal with difficult individuals at different levels. I appreciated when he stated that we choose how we view people within our sphere of influence, and that it is not our job to fix them but rather to find ways in which we can value and appreciate them, and the ways in which they are assets to the team and to the organization. This is not an easy task, but I believe growth will result if we work towards seeing people in that light, as then we can add value to their strengths and build solid professional relationships as we work together. It is my opinion that without strong, focused teams that are coherent and united towards a common goal, creativity and communication are inhibited. I want to be a team member that sees and works with others on my team in this way. I know it won't always be easy, but it is a goal worth working towards.

He explains the challenges that leaders today face when they feel trapped in their position and/or unrecognized, or frustrated by having an ineffective leader, as well as the challenges of multiple responsibilities that face many in this economy and he goes on to deal with resolutions that can, when we address the issues at large, change our attitudes and enhance our productivity. I want to have the attitudes that John Maxwell describes in "The 360 Degree Leader," which can allow me to find satisfaction in enjoying my journey, starting with right where I am here and now without having my personal satisfaction hinging on the realization of a goal that I've set for the future. Having attitudes that build solid, foundational relationships within a team or organization, appreciating other's strengths and committing yourself to adding value to your team can only result in greater overall personal satisfaction.

"The 360 Degree Leader" is a book that can be enjoyed and used as a tool to foster growth no matter what your position within an organization. I also highly recommend it to consultants and the self employed, as I found a wealth of information that motivated and challenged me as I gained new insights into how to best work within a group successfully and truly identify what should be our shared, common goal.

Thanks for reading my review!

Kate Smalley
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