Practicing Greatness (eBook)

Reggie McNeal is the director of leadership development for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Through his various leadership roles, from local congregational settings to denominational positions to seminary classrooms to coach and consultant for thousands of spiritual leaders, he has been devoted to helping leaders understand and practice true leadership greatness. McNeal is the author of Revolution in Leadership: Training Apostles for Tomorrow's Church (Abingdon Press), along with A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders and the best-selling The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, both from Jossey-Bass.

About Leadership Network ix

Foreword by Ken Blanchard xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction Needed: Great Spiritual Leaders 1

1. The Discipline of Self-Awareness 9

2. The Discipline of Self-Management 35

3. The Discipline of Self-Development 61

4. The Discipline of Mission 81

5. The Discipline of Decision Making 99

6. The Discipline of Belonging 121

7. The Discipline of Aloneness 143

Conclusion Choosing Greatness 161

Notes 163

About the Author 165

Index 167

"This is a compelling and practical book that will help develop
great spiritual leaders to meet the challenges of leadership as the
church seeks to bring the gospel to a changed world."

-Insights magazine (Sept. 2008)

"Practicing Greatness is a hard-hitting leadership book, not
just a collection of inspirational thoughts."

--from the Foreword by Ken Blanchard, author of The
One-Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus: Lessons from the
Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time

"The depth and breadth of wisdom in this book is just short of
unbelievable. Good leaders aspiring to be great leaders will do
well to read this book and allow it to probe and shape their
lives."

--Bill Easum, Easum, Bandy & Associates

"I have always been challenged by Reggie McNeal's
'right on' insights. And this book is packed with
'right on' insights for any leader wanting to move from
good to great."

--Robert Lewis, pastor and men's fraternity founder,
Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock, Arkansas

"Someone once taught me a powerful lesson: 'If you are
without discipline, you are without power.' In this
revitalizing work, Reggie has tapped into a power source for all
leaders--disciplines. Grab hold of this book and begin a newly
charged life today!"

--Wayne Cordeiro, New Hope Christian Fellowship O'ahu,
Honolulu, Hawaii; author of Culture Shift: Transforming Your
Church from the Inside Out

"We owe Greatness to God. Reggie McNeal challenges us to this
standard and gives us some practical 'how-tos' in this
clear and compelling new book. I recommend this book for all who
aspire to a meaningful Halftime and Life II."

--Bob Buford, author, Halftime and Finishing
Well; founder and chairman, Leadership Network