McNeal Book Review Final
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
4-MAT Book Review: McNeal
Practicing Greatness:
7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders
A Paper Submitted To
Dr. Hyun “David” Chung
In Partial Fulfillment of The
Requirements for The Course
LEAD 510
Submitted By
Terry Michele Noonan Fitzgerald
February 19, 2015
Table of Contents
Abstract 2
Response 5
Reflection 6
Action 7
Bibliography 9
Abstract
This paper will constitute a review of Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders,1 with attention given to the disciplines themselves, as well as the rationale and method that McNeal believes will lead to leadership success. The work begins with a quotation from Elton Trueblood that sets the tone for the book’s contents. Trueblood states that “Deliberate mediocrity is a sin,”2 and to be mediocre is to be without discipline.
McNeal penned this work to highlight the disciplines that lead to greatness, both spiritual and in leadership. Interestingly, the listed “Disciplines” require a course of action on the part of the reader; and this implies not being idle or in the words of Trueblood, mediocre. The “Disciplines” comprise seven chapters and are noted as follows:
The discipline of self—awareness is crucial as it safeguards the leader against unhealthy views of self and needs as well as from task oriented rather than people oriented.
The discipline of self—management supports the claim that great leaders are great managers, not merely of others but, primarily and chiefly, of themselves.
The discipline of self—development is indicative of all great leaders. They will never stop learning and developing.
The discipline of mission honors the propensity of great leaders to sacrifice themselves to great causes.
The discipline of decision making sets great leaders apart from good or average leaders.
The discipline of belonging characterizes great leaders’ ability to retain and nurture significant
4-MAT Book Review: McNeal
Practicing Greatness:
7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders
A Paper Submitted To
Dr. Hyun “David” Chung
In Partial Fulfillment of The
Requirements for The Course
LEAD 510
Submitted By
Terry Michele Noonan Fitzgerald
February 19, 2015
Table of Contents
Abstract 2
Response 5
Reflection 6
Action 7
Bibliography 9
Abstract
This paper will constitute a review of Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders,1 with attention given to the disciplines themselves, as well as the rationale and method that McNeal believes will lead to leadership success. The work begins with a quotation from Elton Trueblood that sets the tone for the book’s contents. Trueblood states that “Deliberate mediocrity is a sin,”2 and to be mediocre is to be without discipline.
McNeal penned this work to highlight the disciplines that lead to greatness, both spiritual and in leadership. Interestingly, the listed “Disciplines” require a course of action on the part of the reader; and this implies not being idle or in the words of Trueblood, mediocre. The “Disciplines” comprise seven chapters and are noted as follows:
The discipline of self—awareness is crucial as it safeguards the leader against unhealthy views of self and needs as well as from task oriented rather than people oriented.
The discipline of self—management supports the claim that great leaders are great managers, not merely of others but, primarily and chiefly, of themselves.
The discipline of self—development is indicative of all great leaders. They will never stop learning and developing.
The discipline of mission honors the propensity of great leaders to sacrifice themselves to great causes.
The discipline of decision making sets great leaders apart from good or average leaders.
The discipline of belonging characterizes great leaders’ ability to retain and nurture significant
Bibliography: McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2006.