And Being Ridiculously in Charge

This is an amazing read for anyone in a leadership role. Great information and sensible advice with great examples that apply to the content in each chapter, helping to make it relevant to the leadership role.

Great insight and experience from a seasoned counsellor on the challenges men have in their homes businesses and careers. Management is what you expect to be trained for...how much better is sound training for honest leading?

I discovered Dr Cloud' s Boundaries books over 10 years ago and they have been pivotal to my personal development.
Boundaries for Leaders did not disappoint and is a must-read for anyone looking to continue to grow in their professional development as well.

I found the earlier book: "Boundaries" to be extremely helpful, so my expectations were high for this one. However, I was disappointed to find that it was more technical than practical for my needs. Still a good read, just not as helpful.

Very practical for anyone in leadership. Application to church leadership in almost every point. Dr. Cloud is a very entertaining writer. I have heard him speak at AACC conferences & he is just as good a communicator in writing.

Boundaries For Leaders really caught my eye because ...well, it's by Dr. Henry Cloud and he writes great books! And this new one from him does not disappoint.

It's not exactly what I thought it might be about. I sort of picked it up hoping it was about leaders setting boundaries for their own time, etc., and, boy, was I going to read it aloud to my leader-husband. LOL

In reality, it's about how leaders can (and should) create boundaries for those they are leading--boundaries that they are able to succeed within. Each chapter is just full of nuggets of truth and wisdom.

One quote that has really stayed with me from this books is

"You cannot grow a plant by dipping
it into the dirt once a year.
It takes an ongoing connection
to build a root system."

Wow. That can be applied to so many areas of life. Just real wisdom there.

In conclusion, this book focuses on these key points:
~help people do what is important
~create the right environment
~have deeply connected teams
~think optimistically, not negatively
~learn what you can control and what you can't
~strive for high performance
~lead yourself

If you are in leadership on any level--and most people are--then I definitely recommend this book. It's a very insightful read and, of course, Dr. Cloud is an excellent writer so you won't be bored in the least.

"Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge
by Dr. Henry Cloud (2013)

Dr. Henry Cloud has become one of my favorite leadership experts to learn from. It is always a joy to hear speak because his lessons are practical, researched based, and full of integrity. In fact, his book "Integrity" was his first work that really made him a serious leadership expert in my mind. However, Dr. Cloud has over twenty years of leadership experience as an organizational consultant and has become a major influencer in certain church circles as well as the business world. He has a Ph.D in psychological leadership and writes from a faith based perspective.

Dr. Cloud's newest book, "Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge (2013) is essentially a synthesis of his previous bestselling work Boundaries, with a heavy emphasis on neuroscience and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Cloud states that leaders get what they create and allow. Thus, the need for clear boundaries is a discipline that is absolutely critical for optimal effectiveness at both the personal and corporate level.

While Dr. Cloud's insights are based on scientific research and they are by no means empty or dry data. Instead, he brilliantly weaves in personal stories of working with previous clients and shows how each principle can be fleshed out in the reader's organization. At the heart of his book, is the thesis that leaders lead better when they appeal to the executive functions of human brains. These functions are habits that cultivate chemical reactions and build healthy company cultures. The three disciplines leaders need to adhere to are attending, inhibiting, and relying on working memory. In attending, employees, followers, or teammates become ambitiously focused on completing the task at hand. With inhibition, unnecessary distractions are eliminated and certain activities are avoided. The third element is perhaps the most detrimental for it joins and applies the previous two. Dr. Cloud explains that working memory is "the ability to retain and access relevant information for reasoning, decision making, and taking future actions" (p. 27).

Many of the boundaries discussed focus on factors that build relational trust. Of these, things like connecting through understanding, motivation and intent, character, capacity and ability and a leader's track record are foundational. Likewise, Dr. Cloud lists a number of objectives leaders can enact that will help execute trust that will improve performance. The implementation of trust, sharing team objectives, defining operating values and behaviors, utilizing case studies, making specific covenants, and developing accountability systems will help deepen trust and consequently align organizational purpose.

In addition, Dr. Cloud shows how a results-oriented team can work to turn the three P's of personalize, pervasive, and permanent attitudes from a negative perspective to a positive mentality. Ultimately Dr. Cloud states seven scientific steps to build a successful organizational culture, which he claims is more important than the smartest of people or most advanced strategic plan. The seven elements of an inspirational culture include helping people attend to what is important, inhibit what is not important, and remember what they are doing as well as the why behind it. Emotional environments free of the wrong kind of stress as well as building teams that are deeply connected and help people think optimistically help people gain and keep control over the items which they should concentrate on the most. The final component of great performing teams, are leaders who are able to lead themselves effectively. Leaders, who can take charge, relationally connect with people, and create opportunities for growth, will consistently get high performance results while being ridiculously in charge.

Dr. Henry Cloud, co-author of the book "Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life" teaches about leadership boundaries in "Boundaries for Leaders". It focuses on helping business leaders accomplish a vision. He lays a foundation for leaders to build upon which helps to cast and execute a plan of bringing their employees on their business team, and not seeing each individual department as a separate team. It is filled with ways to make work culture better within a business, which trickles down to the customers who buy its products and services. He explains how a company that is ready to call it quits can potentially turn things around by having a positive attitude. He also gives many examples of how his approach of "Boundaries for Leaders" works in businesses through stories he shares of business leaders he has worked with.

It was great to be able to learn how boundaries can be put into effect into a work culture and I believe that leaders that follow the teachings in this book will have changes happen within their businesses for the better. One new area that was brought up in this book for me was how a pattern is sometimes viewed as a problem. Patterns and problems are different. It might help when we address that what is going wrong is a pattern and not a problem, but if a bad pattern continues to occur a "necessary ending" might need to occur. I also like the examples he gave explaining that there is power in our words, to either build up or tear down.

Reading the book "Boundaries" that Dr. Henry Cloud co-authored and taking a class on how to create boundaries started a big change in my life about ten years ago. The teachings became ingrained inside of me and I am pretty sure that I currently use what I learned in all or most areas of my life. Needless to say, it was a huge blessing to be able to read and review this book for the publisher because of how the Boundaries book teachings have inspired me and changed my life, and continue to do so.

I highly recommend "Boundaries for Leaders" if you want to learn how to create healthy boundaries within your business, non-profit organization, or ministry. I believe you will benefit from learning and absorbing what is taught throughout the pages of this book, and you will also be able to put the information into action in so many ways.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge
By Dr. Henry Cloud
Published by Zondervan

I originally requested this book to review from BookSneeze to help out a friend, in a new office management position. I thought I'd read it to glean some tips for my hubby who is in Retail Management. I ended up reading every single page, and enjoying the entire read. I like the way Dr. Henry Cloud writes, how he explains human behavior and our reactions to people's actions.

Chapter by chapter I could see circumstances and results in my own life and that of my friends. My favorite section was The Emotional Climate That Makes Brains Work. My husband works in an extremely hostile work environment, has for the last 4 years. I could see the choices of management and the fight or flight reactions. It helped me to see what he is going through. A fresh new manager came to the store a few months ago - ready to run the company and rule the world. He has how chosen Flight and switched retail establishments throwing away a thriving career path. Nothing anyone could say to him could change his mind and make him stay. I couldn't figure it out until this chapter. I wish I had the guts to hand this book to the three executives in charge of our store. sigh.

If you are in charge of people, and are trying to figure out how to pull your team together - this is the book for you. If you are like me, Type A. Take Charge. Run in and Fix. - then this is the book for you. He gives so many example of how the same things can be said and presented, in just a bit of a different twist - to take your team to a winning level. I feel like a lot of what I say is misunderstood, and this book helped to explain reactions to me.

I have enjoyed the other Boundaries books, and this was no disappointment.

Boundaries for Leaders
Boundaries for Leaders is the second book on boundaries that I have read from Dr. Henry Cloud. Rather than focusing on our own individual boundaries, this book looks at leaders and the boundaries needed within leadership. Dr. Cloud examines seven leadership boundaries throughout the book, ranging from helping others focus on what is most important, to creating thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness. Basically, Dr. Cloud asks leaders to understand that boundaries are structures that determine what is allowed to exist and what will not. Each leader needs to be aware of what they will accept within their organization and/or team of people, and what cannot be tolerated. These limits need to be addressed up front and need to be clear to all involved. The leader has to set the stage for everyone. A team needs clear limits to demonstrate where the boundaries are, so that there can be no question of what is acceptable. Leaders need to be willing to establish these structures and stand behind them. The leader sets these boundaries and they determine whether the vision and the people involved will thrive or fail. The leader needs to be willing to take this responsibility. Leaders have to be willing to assume the role of motivator. They determine whether their people are motivated or not. It is essential for leaders to understand that as a leader, they will always get what they create and what they allow. If something is not going the way a leader wants it to, then he needs to be willing to take responsibility for changing it. This book talks about ways the leader can move from vision to reality. A leader needs to establish the vision for the people, and then help provide support for them to make that vision a reality. Leaders need to invest in people, as they are the ones in charge of building an emotional climate. They are responsible for the overall context of their place of work. The book continues by explaining how to set boundaries and take responsibility for them. It gives details on things like nonverbal clues, a shared purpose, and ways to keep everyone aware of the boundaries and the vision of the team. The book is insightful and straight-forward. Dr. Cloud includes personal examples and stories that keep the reader's attention, while building on the role of the leader. The book includes personal questions to mull over about leadership styles and methods. It also gives practical step-by-step advice to help leaders build up the climate and vision of their company. Overall, I found the book easy to read and follow, and it motivated me to take responsibility for the leadership roles in my life. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any leadership role, whether big or small, in their workplace. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

In this book, Dr. Cloud endeavors to show leaders how to behave so that they can attain the results that they desire in their organization and on their teams. He does this by helping leaders understand and create boundaries, which are "structures that determine what will exist and what will not." Leaders will learn how to determine what matters most, establish the emotional climate that lends itself to productivity, limit negativity, and protect themselves in order to maintain the vision for the organization.

I give this book five stars. I found countless points in this to which I could relate, and am eager to begin doing so. I manage a team of people whose plates continue to get stacked higher and higher with new responsibilities (on top of already full plates) and sometimes the stress levels escalate and negativity threatens to set in. I work hard to keep things positive, but given that my own task list is generally sky high as well, I know that I can do more than I have and have been convicted about that in the past year but unsure what to do about it. This book has given me some very tangible action points for my coming years of leadership. I really appreciate the way that Dr. Cloud cuts to the chase by reminding us that in our organization, we are the decisive element - ultimately we decide what we create and/or allow to exist.

I think this is a book that should be on every leader's shelf, well worn and read many times. I actually already had one of Dr. Cloud's other books, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life, on my list to read soon, but received this book first. Now, I am even more eager to read the other book to see how the same general concept of boundaries can impact and improve my personal life as well!

Henry Cloud, early on in his book Boundaries for Leaders, states this: "In the end, as a leader, you are always going to get a combination of two things: what you create and what you allow," (p. 15). This is almost a revelatory statement and when Cloud unpacks it, this becomes a valuable book for your leadership library. Think of that statement for just a moment. What have you created in your family, team, or organization and now, what do you allow to happen on your watch? The impact of this statement is truly practical and important.

As the book progresses, Cloud has two chapters respectively entitled, "Leading So Brains Can Work" and "The Emotional Climate that Makes Brains Perform." Both chapters contribute some interesting scientific angles to the leadership discussion and reiterate that we are people with bodies and chemistry and not just ideas and ingenuity. I am not sure that chapters 5 and 7-9 offer anything new, but the final chapter surely accents the expertise of Cloud once again and if the final chapter were a separate ebook, it would be worth buying on its own.

When Cloud writes, "the first person you have to lead is yourself," (p. 211) and follows it up with, "One of the most important self-boundaries that leaders have to establish is against the tendency to put off changes that they know need to be made," (p. 214), we're getting not only a good book, but productive consulting. I have said elsewhere on this site that this is now in the top 10 books for your leadership library and I hope you consider it to be part of yours.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Well, Dr. Henry Cloud has written an amazing leadership resource for those wanting to grow their leadership capabilities. At the core of this book's insight, it's all about people, relationships, and creating boundaries that facilitate success. The author shares 7 leadership boundaries that will make everything else work. Success is based on mastery of these seven boundaries.

I read a ton of books on leadership, and I have to say this is one of the best. Dr. Cloud breaks down these seven areas which help set the "stage tone, and climate, for people's brains to perform":
1. Help People's Brains work better
2. Build emotional climate that fuels performance
3. Facilitate connections that boost functioning
4. Facilitate thinking patterns that drive results
5. Focus on behaviors that shape results
6. Build high performance teams that achieve desired results
7. Help you lead in a manner that drives and protects vision
The information guiding you through each step was informative, applicable, and incredibly insightful. I strongly recommend buying and reading this book if you want excellent results in your organization.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Are you looking for a leadership treatise that is Biblically based and Christ centered? If so, this book is not the one for you. I am not sure why this work is considered a "Christian book" (other than the author's profession to be a Christian); yet, I do believe this leadership manuscript is one that is worthy of your time, effort, and money.

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud can be misconstrued as just another leadership book and that is the beauty of Cloud's work - it is not just another leadership book. I do not like to use the word "revolutionary" for books because those are lofty and often meaningless words to curry favor with potential readers (or an author). In this case, however, I will say that Dr. Cloud's work has "revolutionized" my thinking as an educational leader.

I can say such a thing because of the timeliness of receiving this book. We are in the midst of a significant, external situation involving politics. In maintaining a transparent operation, I have shared what is taking place with my constituents and we have all share in each other's misery. The problem has been that those times to "get it off the chest" have turned into prolonged periods of paralysis. Cloud has what he calls a "control divide exercise" and that was significantly beneficial for us. He also has other tools that can be used (calendar audit) to truly help focus a leader on what matters most.

The thesis of Boundaries for Leaders can be summarized in this way: boundaries are essential for success and they are defined as what you create and/or what you allow. Leaders miss the true intent of leadership - not the bottom line or attaining certain goals but people. In working with people, a leader must free their creativity, and boundaries are what help focus those individuals on the most important work. Therein lies the problem - our work cultures suffer from what Cloud calls "organizational ADD." So much is going on that we permit that mentality of putting out fires rather that purposefully focusing on the things that matter most.

In a sense, leaders establish boundaries that fall into three categories: attention, inhibition, and cognition. Attention, you guessed it, is focusing on what matters most and will produce the greatest result. Conversely, inhibition is dictation what factors cannot and will not be tolerated because they are irrelevant or unfruitful. Last, cognition (my term) is reminding constituents what information should be retained due to its value in future areas that will demand our attention. Those simply thoughts are what the entire book is based upon, and he provides a significant amount of personal examples to help the reader understand his exact intent.

This book, in my opinion, is worth a read. Get it and put it on your shelf. There will come a time when you need to reconsider its tenets as a leader. His final chapter - a leader's boundaries for self - and the conclusion are wonderful thoughts to bring an end to a solid, leadership book. Some leadership scholarship is selling a program to help the author "get rich quick;" however, this manuscript is different. You can tell he knows and understands what he is saying and truly wants to help.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I ordered Boundaries for Leaders because the author's work was already familiar to me. I expected excellence and I got it. Dr Henry Cloud is of course, the best selling coauthor of Boundaries.
I first discovered the book, Boundaries when I was trying to lose 50 pounds. It was immensely helpful. This book is no less useful. It is highly readable, easy-to-understand and simple to apply.

You see, leaders always get what they create and what they allow. I believe this applies to everything from being a parent, to running a little league baseball team or to being president of a country. We each define what will happen within our own personal boundaries. The problem is that we do not set clear boundaries.

* The person who owns your body sets your boundaries. Who owns you?

I found the chapter on The Gatekeeper of our Thinking, particularly helpful. There is always a way...will we find it? Or will we just give up? As a man, or woman or child thinks in his heart, so is he!This book is well worth the read.

Brenda J Wood, author of The Pregnant Pause of Grief, the first trimester of widowhood

Dr. Henry Cloud, a well-known clinical psychologist and leadership consultant, always gives practical, applicable guidance based both on experience and research. He continues to provide this type of information in Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge.

Written for organizational leaders, Cloud challenges leaders to be "ridiculously in charge" by setting boundaries "that determine whether the vision and the people thrive or fail." He defines a boundary as "a structure that determines what will exist and what will not." A leader must step up and take complete responsibility about what will and what will not be allowed in an organization. He writes, "[A]s a leader, you always get what you create and what you allow."

Cloud's seven leadership boundaries are: help people's brains work better; build the emotional climate that fuels performance, facilitate connections that boost people's functioning; facilitate thinking patterns that drive results; focus on what behaviors shape results; build high-performance teams that achieve desired results; and lead yourself in a manner that drives and protects the vision.
As a leadership coach, I found Cloud's last chapter on "Boundaries for Yourself" to be very helpful. He provides some great suggestions for self-leadership and personal development--being open to new insights and outside input, seeking feedback, embracing change and resisting fear.

The personal examples from his consulting help to clarify concepts and relieve the often repetitive and rather dense writing style. The basic ideas probably could have been communicated with fewer words and more examples.

Even though it is often a hard read, the book provides helpful leadership insights from an experienced and respected consultant that may be applied in a number of organizational settings for positive change and growth.

Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and being Ridiculously in Charge

By: Dr Henry Cloud

I don't know if you have had the opportunity to listen to one of his podcasts but if not . Reading this book made me feel like I was listening to one of his podcasts. This is a book that every servant leader needs regardless of where you may be on your leadership journey. This Book is packed full of profound wisdom to help a leader grow. Below are just a couple of my favorite quote:

_200_360_Book_871_cover

"Ultimately, leadership is about turning a vision into reality; it's about producing real results in the real world. And that is only done through people doing what it takes to make it happen."

"Effective leadership begins with adding value."

This is a great gift for yourself and for others. "The hardest person to lead is yourself and as leaders you are always working on yourself first." -- John C Maxwell

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission : I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® [...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

With Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge by Dr. Henry Cloud, you're just 7 boundaries away from achieving great results in your teams and organizations. In a clear and concise way, Dr. Cloud outlines why having a strategy isn't enough to get results. You also have to lead in a way that allows your people to function highly. One of my favorite phrases in the book is: "the people are the plan."

Dr. Cloud shows you how to get results by: Creating executable attention; Creating an emotional climate that drives brain functioning; Creating unity that empowers energy and momentum; Creating organizational thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness; Creating paths for people to take control of the things which drive results; Creating high performance teams that are organized around the behaviors which drive results; and Creating structures that lead to strong self-leadership.

Anyone who considers themselves a leader should read this book. Whether you're a business leader, a pastor, a teacher, or a parent, the principles still apply!

Book Review

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

This is a must read book for all leaders in any organization. Henry Cloud has an amazing ability to write about leadership in a way that is both rich in theory and abundant in practice. Additionally, the issues that he addresses hit the key issues of leadership, particularly the relational side of leadership that is so critical today.

This book did not disappoint. In fact, Its probably one of the best books that Dr. Cloud has written on leadership. My one critique would be that he could have made his argument just as strongly in less pages. The focus of the book is on results and relationships, both of which matter. Many leaders tend to focus on one over the other. He also addresses the issue of authority, or being in charge. Dr. Cloud makes sure to reiterate the main point of the book throughout the book which is `leaders get what they create and what they allow.' This has stuck with since I first read it and has shaped how I lead and will continue to lead. Rarely do we think about leadership culture, even though it is the most critical aspect of leadership outside of personal integrity. Most leaders are not good with boundaries, whether they do not set them for themselves or they fail to set them for others. This book addresses those issues in many ways. If leaders were to focus on leadership culture based on the main premise of this book, I think they would achieve greater health and results in their organizations. If we look at the toxic or negative aspects of our organization and consider what we have done or are doing that creates or allows these things to occur, we could address them with greater effectiveness. If we think about what we want to see in our organizations, we could carefully consider what we need to do in order to create and allow for those things to occur.

I strongly recommend this book for any leader who wants to change the culture or improve the relationships and results in the organizations in which they serve. This is a book that is helpful for all leaders in any setting, whether you have been leading for a day or for your lifetime.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rev. Marcus J Carlson

Boundaries For Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud is the second of Dr. Cloud's books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is clear, concise and if you take the steps outlined you can make dramatic changes your in your life at home and at work.

From the press release: "In Boundaries for Leaders, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Henry Cloud leverages his expertise of human behavior, neuroscience, and business leadership to explain how the best leaders set boundaries within their organizations--with their teams and with themselves--to improve performance and increase employee and customer satisfaction."

I honestly think this book could change an entire company for the better. With over a decade of experience with a 300+ person business location I can tell you that I have seen many of these principles work in person. I do not think it matters whether you have 5 or 500 on your team this book will help you lead better, build culture, and keep the negativity and energy draining annoyances at bay.

I highly recommend reading this book and absorbing what is taught. While it did start out a bit slow for me it quickly picked up in Dr. Cloud's style. You can't go wrong here - pick it up and be "ridiculously in charge."

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*

Do you ever wonder why some leaders can motivate, lead, and retain their employees while others do not?

Boundaries for Leaders is a book for any leader who has employees who report to them. At first glance, I thought it was book to whip their employees in shape. It's quite the opposite. It's a leader's bible on how leaders can take a look in the mirror, see how they can change, and then be able to motivate their employees to succeed in their jobs.

When employees are motivated and feel like they can make a difference, they perform better. I do believe the supervisor/leader does make or break the employee. If a leader is constantly on a short fuse, sends rude e-mails, and never takes time to listen, employees will become less apt to perform at their peak. Since they are berated no matter what they do, why try?

The key points in the book is being able create connections to your employees, motivate your team to perform at its peak, and leading in such a way that not only does the team excel but you remain `ridiculously in charge.'

I would recommend this book to any leader or anyone who wants to be a leader. The best leaders are not dictators but ones who take the time to learn how the brain works, build relationships, and create results.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

As I complete my Business Management degree, I was looking forward to reading this book. I want to be an effective leader who can encourage and motivate my employees and / or team members.

I found Boundaries for Leaders to be long-winded and redundant. I wanted to learn hands-on ways to become a better leader, but this is not what I found. Instead of quickly consuming the book and its ideas, I trudged through hoping for better with each turn of a page. Dr. Henry Cloud introduces a topic and then writes that he will delve into that later in the book. Because of this, the book did not flow smoothly at all.

The basic tenets of trust, a positive emotional climate and culture were mere background information to Dr. Cloud's constant description of how your brain works. I would have preferred these flipped - more information and ways to improve or maintain a positive working environment and less "brain talk."

My rating: C

2.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of Boundaries for Leaders from BookSneeze.com for my honest review.

In the interest of helping leaders I coach be more effective, and as a fan of working with brain science to explain human nature, this book hits a sweet spot. Put simply, as he does many of his ideas, for leaders to get the most productivity and loyalty out of their people, "their brains need to work." Henry Cloud uses some compelling real-life examples of how to do that, including how to structure and focus meetings, as well as how to learn to be more empathetic. Valuable tools for anyone who wants to be the best leader, business owner, even parent they can be. Looking forward to reading his other books...

Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and being Ridiculously in Charge

By: Dr Henry Cloud

I don't know if you have had the opportunity to listen to one of his podcasts but if not . Reading this book made me feel like I was listening to one of his podcasts. This is a book that every servant leader needs regardless of where you may be on your leadership journey. This Book is packed full of profound wisdom to help a leader grow. Below are just a couple of my favorite quote:

_200_360_Book_871_cover

"Ultimately, leadership is about turning a vision into reality; it's about producing real results in the real world. And that is only done through people doing what it takes to make it happen."

"Effective leadership begins with adding value."

This is a great gift for yourself and for others. "The hardest person to lead is yourself and as leaders you are always working on yourself first." -- John C Maxwell

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission : I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® [...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

With Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge by Dr. Henry Cloud, you're just 7 boundaries away from achieving great results in your teams and organizations. In a clear and concise way, Dr. Cloud outlines why having a strategy isn't enough to get results. You also have to lead in a way that allows your people to function highly. One of my favorite phrases in the book is: "the people are the plan."

Dr. Cloud shows you how to get results by: Creating executable attention; Creating an emotional climate that drives brain functioning; Creating unity that empowers energy and momentum; Creating organizational thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness; Creating paths for people to take control of the things which drive results; Creating high performance teams that are organized around the behaviors which drive results; and Creating structures that lead to strong self-leadership.

Anyone who considers themselves a leader should read this book. Whether you're a business leader, a pastor, a teacher, or a parent, the principles still apply!

Book Review

Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

This is a must read book for all leaders in any organization. Henry Cloud has an amazing ability to write about leadership in a way that is both rich in theory and abundant in practice. Additionally, the issues that he addresses hit the key issues of leadership, particularly the relational side of leadership that is so critical today.

This book did not disappoint. In fact, Its probably one of the best books that Dr. Cloud has written on leadership. My one critique would be that he could have made his argument just as strongly in less pages. The focus of the book is on results and relationships, both of which matter. Many leaders tend to focus on one over the other. He also addresses the issue of authority, or being in charge. Dr. Cloud makes sure to reiterate the main point of the book throughout the book which is `leaders get what they create and what they allow.' This has stuck with since I first read it and has shaped how I lead and will continue to lead. Rarely do we think about leadership culture, even though it is the most critical aspect of leadership outside of personal integrity. Most leaders are not good with boundaries, whether they do not set them for themselves or they fail to set them for others. This book addresses those issues in many ways. If leaders were to focus on leadership culture based on the main premise of this book, I think they would achieve greater health and results in their organizations. If we look at the toxic or negative aspects of our organization and consider what we have done or are doing that creates or allows these things to occur, we could address them with greater effectiveness. If we think about what we want to see in our organizations, we could carefully consider what we need to do in order to create and allow for those things to occur.

I strongly recommend this book for any leader who wants to change the culture or improve the relationships and results in the organizations in which they serve. This is a book that is helpful for all leaders in any setting, whether you have been leading for a day or for your lifetime.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Rev. Marcus J Carlson

Boundaries For Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud is the second of Dr. Cloud's books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is clear, concise and if you take the steps outlined you can make dramatic changes your in your life at home and at work.

From the press release: "In Boundaries for Leaders, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Henry Cloud leverages his expertise of human behavior, neuroscience, and business leadership to explain how the best leaders set boundaries within their organizations--with their teams and with themselves--to improve performance and increase employee and customer satisfaction."

I honestly think this book could change an entire company for the better. With over a decade of experience with a 300+ person business location I can tell you that I have seen many of these principles work in person. I do not think it matters whether you have 5 or 500 on your team this book will help you lead better, build culture, and keep the negativity and energy draining annoyances at bay.

I highly recommend reading this book and absorbing what is taught. While it did start out a bit slow for me it quickly picked up in Dr. Cloud's style. You can't go wrong here - pick it up and be "ridiculously in charge."

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*

Do you ever wonder why some leaders can motivate, lead, and retain their employees while others do not?

Boundaries for Leaders is a book for any leader who has employees who report to them. At first glance, I thought it was book to whip their employees in shape. It's quite the opposite. It's a leader's bible on how leaders can take a look in the mirror, see how they can change, and then be able to motivate their employees to succeed in their jobs.

When employees are motivated and feel like they can make a difference, they perform better. I do believe the supervisor/leader does make or break the employee. If a leader is constantly on a short fuse, sends rude e-mails, and never takes time to listen, employees will become less apt to perform at their peak. Since they are berated no matter what they do, why try?

The key points in the book is being able create connections to your employees, motivate your team to perform at its peak, and leading in such a way that not only does the team excel but you remain `ridiculously in charge.'

I would recommend this book to any leader or anyone who wants to be a leader. The best leaders are not dictators but ones who take the time to learn how the brain works, build relationships, and create results.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

As I complete my Business Management degree, I was looking forward to reading this book. I want to be an effective leader who can encourage and motivate my employees and / or team members.

I found Boundaries for Leaders to be long-winded and redundant. I wanted to learn hands-on ways to become a better leader, but this is not what I found. Instead of quickly consuming the book and its ideas, I trudged through hoping for better with each turn of a page. Dr. Henry Cloud introduces a topic and then writes that he will delve into that later in the book. Because of this, the book did not flow smoothly at all.

The basic tenets of trust, a positive emotional climate and culture were mere background information to Dr. Cloud's constant description of how your brain works. I would have preferred these flipped - more information and ways to improve or maintain a positive working environment and less "brain talk."

My rating: C

2.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of Boundaries for Leaders from BookSneeze.com for my honest review.

In the interest of helping leaders I coach be more effective, and as a fan of working with brain science to explain human nature, this book hits a sweet spot. Put simply, as he does many of his ideas, for leaders to get the most productivity and loyalty out of their people, "their brains need to work." Henry Cloud uses some compelling real-life examples of how to do that, including how to structure and focus meetings, as well as how to learn to be more empathetic. Valuable tools for anyone who wants to be the best leader, business owner, even parent they can be. Looking forward to reading his other books...

Dr. Henry Cloud is one of my favorite writers when it comes to leadership. His insights are incredible. In his newest book BOUNDARIES FOR LEADERS, Dr. Cloud draws from some important insights in neuroscience. Cloud seeks to help leaders be great leaders of people and be intentional about tapping into what drives people to do things.

Cloud talks a lot about the responsibility of leaders to shape the culture of the organizations they lead, and this requires interacting with people in our organizations in ways that drive them to give their best. Leaders need to foster unity among their people and inspire people to action. If leaders want results, they must do what it takes to drive healthy environments that produce results.

BOUNDARIES FOR LEADERS is another great leadership book from Dr. Henry Cloud. It is one that anyone who sees themselves as a leader of people should work their way through.

Review copy provided by HarperBusiness through BookSneeze

I have read Boundaries, and Boundaries for Marriage. This book was somewhat different in the direction it took (although it does talk about boundaries). It had a lot to say about neuroscience (in layman's terms) that was incredibly applicable to other areas of my life besides leadership. For example, it helped me to understand why sometimes people "shut down" and become impossible to reason with. It helped me to know what I can do to avoid contributing to this and also how to help create an environment that is more conducive to thinking, problem solving, and being productive. This has been one of the most practical, helpful books I have read.

Boundaries for Leaders is Cloud's examination of how purpose and intentionality helps build the healthy relationships that great business success requires. It is full of great examples, and Dr. Cloud's thorough analysis. Dr. Cloud's unique point-of-view and insightful analysis is well worth reading.

This book is insightful and a great read for anyone in management or thinking of being in management. In fact if you aren't in management but work in a job with more than 2 employees or 2 customers this is worth a read.

This is a great book! I laughed and was encouraged by the practical ideas Lorraine suggested, most of which are just good health practices. She also addressed the spiritual and emotional aspect of "being woman" and ways to combat the negativity and emotional ups and downs. A good read. Its good To know I'm not crazy! ;)

I am learning how to lead transformationally verses traditional. Initially in my leadership roles I relied on the examples of an older mindset - blaming. Now I am taking responsibility for my part in all outcomes and not afraid to make the atmosphere the type needed for optimal performance.