"Thinking for a Change"
by John C. Maxwell

"You can find many big-picture thinkers who
aren't leaders, but you will find few leaders who are
not big-picture thinkers. Leaders must be able to do
many important things for their people:

1. See the Vision Before Their people.
That's one of the reasons they are able to lead.
Leaders not only see the big picture before others
do, they also see more of it. This allows them to...
2. Size up situations, taking into account many
variables.
Leaders who see the big picture discern possible
possibilities as well as problems. As Max De
Pree says, the first responsibility of a leader is to
define reality. Doing that allows the leader to form
a foundation to build the vision. Once leaders
have done that, they can ..
3. Sketch a picture of where the team is going.
Too often when people present the big picture, it is
drawn up as a bright image without any challenges
or obstacles. That false portrait leads only to
discouragement when followers actually take the
journey.
The goals of leaders shouldn't be merely to make
their people feel good, but to help them be good
and accomplish the dream. The vision, shown
accurately, will allow leaders to. . .
4. Seize the moment when the timing is right. In
leadership, when to move is as important as what you
do. As Winston Churchill said, "There comes a special
moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that
person was born. When he seizes it . . . it is his
finest hour."
"People who are constantly looking at the whole
picture have the best chance of succeeding in any
endeavor." John Maxwell
This incredible book teaches not what to think,
but how to think - how to best use one of your most
precious possessions - your mind. He's considered
one of the foremost experts on leadership and has
written many books on the subject of leadership.
In this book he explores the topics such as
Focused Thinking, Creative Thinking, Strategic
Thinking and Possibility Thinking.