Discovering Your Leadership Style: The Power of Chemistry, Strategy and Spirituality Paperback – April 22, 2014

A must read for every disciple of Jesus!

Very good.

I found the book to be practical. However, when I went to the assessment web site, the certificate had expired. It is no longer secure.

Sometimes guides on spiritual gifts can get a little overwhelming. This book simplifies it into three styles and goes into considerable depth with each as well as discussing the advantages and potential drawbacks to each including suggestions on how to improve areas that you are weak in. The best way to start the book is by completing the online questionnaire and printing out your results. The initial questionnaire is free but if you want more in depth analysis or want to use the available resources in a team context there is a modest fee. I think most people will find the initial questionnaire sufficient.This book is also really useful even if you are not currently in a leadership position.In short this is a very practical resource that deserves to be studied like a textbook and will help you learn more about your leadership style and may even surprise you on your own abilities.

My friend Dr. Huffard was teaching a class on church growth in October. I really wanted to take the class, but with my timetable, it was not possible, though I am taking a class later next year. But this book was on the list of materials to read. I am glad I picked it out. The best part of the book is the simple method of discerning your leadership style. Right now, most of the leadership gift assessments are following the line of "Strength Building." This is good material, but it is too complex for the average person. There are too many areas, and is harder to discern how you function in those areas. This method breaks it down to three areas, chemistry, strategy, and spirituality. There is the overriding area of wisdom too. In the book, there is quick survey that is really helpful. One of the best ever. It was so good, I shared it with the leadership team in the congregation, and were talked about the results. It helped us see each other better. The book goes into detail on these areas, and provides a holistic category for each type of leader. The only weakness of the book is maybe over applying the theory of the three legs of leadership to each area of ministry. At the end of the book, you kind of feel like you got it, which is really a good thing in a way. There are some great insights into leadership on a general note too like "Leadership strength is the slowest growing quality in the life of a Christian leader." "Once the spotlight is off of you and focused on others, your leadership possibilities and potential will explode! You will experience a river of fresh water flowing through you to others." "“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” This last quote is probably the most powerful for a leader. For a quick read, for good material, for practicality, this is an award winning book.

Dave Olson has written a unique Christian leadership book in my estimation. Dave uses the analogy of a three legged stool with each leg representing chemistry, strategy, spirituality, and the stool seat representing leadership. He provides the reader and leader with specific websites designed around their leadership position and a short online leadership tool inventory on these sites with the inventory results available immediately. There is both the basic free exam for less than $10, a 20 page detailed individual report, and a leadership team inventory profile available online. This book is easy to read, practical, and will enhance your leadership development at a spiritual and practical level. As an ordained Southern Baptist minister and Doctor of Strategic Leadership graduate from Regent University, professional leadership coach and church consultant, I highly recommend this book to anyone who serves in a Christian leadership position both in the marketplace and the church.Reading this book and taking the online leadership tool inventory provides the individual leader with insight into their leadership style relative to chemistry, strategy, and spirituality, providing professional evaluation and opportunities for growth. Beyond the individual leaders spiritual and professional growth, this book will allow team members whether paid professional staff and or volunteers to better understand their leadership strengths and weaknesses and how to work together to make appropriate course corrections to better lead their churches, ministries, or marketplace organization. Dave stated that his personal leadership quest was to develop a Christian leadership model that can build up the kingdom of God by forming Christ-centered, healthy, missional leaders. To this end it is my personal and professional opinion that he has accomplished his leadership quest.Hugh Herndon, Doctor of Strategic Leadership

Great book that we are using for leadership development and understanding how diverse styles work together in the body of Christ. Grateful for Dave Olson's work in developing this great discovery tool.

I can't find any evidence of solid research behind this book. It appears that from his experience and talking with others, he created a system that explained his experience, then went and looked for some verses to back it up. Squeezes things into the text that aren't really there. If your self-awareness isn't accurate, then the whole house of cards falls down.

Very insightful and great book.