Turnaround Book Review by Jeff Bush

By Jason K. Allen 

• To be an effective leader, you probably need to do less, not more. 

• Leadership boils down to one word: stewardship. 

• A few principles that do not change in leadership: 

1. Lead where you are. The most important job you have is the one that you have right now. Leadership is not just for your future, it is in your present. In leadership, you must lead in your present area. Locationally, your job right now is more important than your job in the future. 

2. The Providence of God. 2+2 can be 7 when God is with you.

3. Credibility follows you. When a politician’s past is brought up, his credibility is doubted and it could be his end. It takes years to accumulate and take seconds to end. 

4. It takes a Team. 

• You must know what you believe, and why you exist. You must know your purpose.

• A mission statement help you as an organization and those you serve.

• The mission statement clarifies what you do and why you do it. It not only clarifies what you do, but it also clarifies what you do not do.

• Midwestern seminary has the vision statement “For the church.” It clarifies everything they do.

• A vision statement needs to be no longer than one sentence. It is better to have no vision statement than an unclear one.

• Vision leads, so communicate it regularly.

• Vision rusts over time, so we need to hear it over and over again.

• The leader might carry the vision, but the vision will also carry the leader. 

• Trust is needed for leadership.

• Trust requires authenticity, logic, and empathy.

• Trust is slowly learned, but quickly lost. It takes off in a sprint, but comes back in a crawl.

• Every hire matters. Never casually hire someone.

• When you’re going to hire, start with the C’s:

1. 1. 1. Character
      2. Calling — are they doing this for the money? 
      3. Conviction
      4. Culture – do they align with your organization’s culture?
      5. Competency — Will they strengthen the team or debilitate it?
      6. Capabilities – do they add value?

• Believe your team, and believe in your team. 

• Keep short accounts with your team.

• At the end of every meeting, it should be clear who is going to do what and when.

• Insufficient accountability results in a lack of progress.