Often spiritual leaders do not aspire to greatness for fear of seeming to lack humility. Yet greatness in spiritual leadership is just what we need--in our churches, our businesses, in education, in the social sector, in every sector of society. The question is how do good spiritual leaders become great leaders?

Based on his extensive experience as coach and mentor to many thousands of Christian leaders across a broad spectrum of ministry settings, Reggie McNeal helps spiritual leaders understand that they will self-select into or out of greatness. In this important book, McNeal shows how great spiritual leaders are committed consciously and intentionally to seven spiritual disciplines, habits of heart and mind that shape both their character and competence:

THE DISCIPLINE OF SELF-AWARENESS--the single most important body of information a leader possesses

THE DISCIPLINE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT--handling difficult emotions, expectations, temptations, mental vibrancy, and physical well-being

THE DISCIPLINE OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT--a life-long commitment to learning and growing and building on one's strengths

THE DISCIPLINE OF MISSION--enjoying the permissions of maintaining the sense of God's purpose for your life and leadership

THE DISCIPLINE OF DECISION-MAKING--knowing the elements of good decisions and learning from failure

THE DISCIPLINE OF BELONGING--the determination to nurture relationships and to live in community with others, including family, followers, mentors, and friends

THE DISCIPLINE OF ALONENESS--the intentional practice of soul-making solitude and contemplation

Practicing Greatness goes beyond mere clichés and inspirational thoughts to be a hard-hitting resource for leaders who aspire to go from being just good enough to being a great leader who blesses others.

Reggie McNeal is the director of leadership development for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Through his various leadership roles, from local congregational settings to denominational positions to seminary classrooms to coach and consultant for thousands of spiritual leaders, he has been devoted to helping leaders understand and practice true leadership greatness. McNeal is the author of Revolution in Leadership: Training Apostles for Tomorrow's Church (Abingdon Press), along with A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders and the best-selling The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, both from Jossey-Bass.

About Leadership Network ix

Foreword by Ken Blanchard xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction Needed: Great Spiritual Leaders 1

1. The Discipline of Self-Awareness 9

2. The Discipline of Self-Management 35

3. The Discipline of Self-Development 61

4. The Discipline of Mission 81

5. The Discipline of Decision Making 99

6. The Discipline of Belonging 121

7. The Discipline of Aloneness 143

Conclusion Choosing Greatness 161

Notes 163

About the Author 165

Index 167