Maxwell does an excellent job of getting to the heart of each quality in a few short pages. He starts with two relevant quotations to start you thinking. He then gives you a short real-life example of that particular quality in action.

He breaks each principle down into specific applications, gives you a brief period where you can assess your own effectiveness, offers you concrete ways to improve yourself, and wraps each chapter up with a profound thought that will stay with you long after you have closed the cover.

What you get out of this book depends on how you read it. This is a very simple read, and you may be tempted to race through it and miss some key points. Maxwell rightly suggests that you walk through each quality methodically, giving it the attention that it warrants based on your current level of competence.

While the material warrants five stars, some spelling mistakes and the author's use of his own quotes dropped it down a notch for me. Otherwise, an excellent handbook for improving your personal leadership qualities.

Great encouragement that effective leadership is attainable
Review date: 2001-02-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

Through Maxwell's concise and effective use of examples and illustrations, my eyes were opened to many simple ways in which I can become a more effective leader. Suddenly, leading the people around me is not nearly so daunting. The book also provides a useful framework for assessing your own qualities of leadership. Particularly useful are the 'fleshing it out' sections at the end of each chapter which make application of the principles simple and measurable. I reccommend this book highly to anyone who needs to influence people more effectively.