George Barna, A Fish Out of Water: 9 Strategies Effective Leaders Use to Help You Get Back into the Flow. Thomas Nelson, 2002.
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
George Barna is a demographer whose books on the religious and spiritual longings of Americans, the characteristics of effective churches, and the nature of Christian leadership have been standard reading for over two decades. Anything he writes is usually worth reading. This book is no different. Here he “shares the wisdom and experience of thousands of leaders whose paths I have traced, dissected, and analyzed to help you avoid the same hooks and snags that bruised — and, in some cases, decimated – those leaders.” (xiv-xv) The result is a discussion of nine common challenges that confront most leaders, each of them centered around five dimension of effective leadership: calling, comprehension, character, competencies, and consequences. The nine are:
1. The organization is still afloat, but its seems like we’re drifting aimlessly – Managing and organization are not the same as leading.
2. God did not call me to be a Big Fish, but people still call on me for leadership anyway – Recognize the difference between situational and habitual leadership.
3. I just can’t handle all the pressure and expectations people have of me as a leader. I don’t know enough, and I can possibly do all that people need – Know the four types — directing, strategic, team-building, and operational — and how they work together.
4. There are more great opportunities out there than I shake a stick at. I don’t know where to start or which direction to swim in. – We don’t lack the opportunities; we lack God’s vision for us.
5. I’m worried about my skill levels. Maybe people won’t follow me if they sense I’m not up to the task – If you believe people support leaders because of their skills, think again; it’s character.
6. I’m working hard, I’m doing this for the right reasons and in the right ways, but nobody seems to be following – If it a leader’s job to create good followers — and it must be a priority.
7. I want everyone to join the school of fish and stick close. That means I can’t risk upsetting people by my decisions or my style – If you want to be popular, become an entertainer; if you want to lead, get used to choppy waters.
8. Leadership is so demanding that something has to give. For the time being, I’m going to have to sacrifice my own spiritual development until my schedule frees up – There is no such thing as an effective Christian leader who puts spiritual growth on the back burner.
9. I started this company and I ran it successfully for years. But lately, I seem to have lost my touch – Under the life cycles of organizations and which leadership type best fits each stage will help you progress.
About the Author
GEORGE BARNA is founder and president of the Barna Research Group, a marketing research firm in Ventura, California. He is the best-selling author of more than thirty books, including The Frog in the Kettle, The Second Coming of the Church, The Power of Vision and User-Friendly Churches. A popular speaker at ministry and leadership conferences around the world, Barna is frequently relied upon journalists, business executives, and clergy to interpret today’s culture. Barna lives with his wife, Nancy, and their daughters, Samantha and Corban, in southern California.
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