![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.blackaby.net\/members\/files\/2012\/07\/executive-presence-art-commanding-respect-like-ceo-harrison-monarth-hardcover-cover-art.jpg\" "\\"Executive")
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(<\/em> <\/strong> <\/strong>New York: <\/strong>McGraw Hill, 2010)<\/em><\/p>\n 251 pgs Harrison Monarth is the Founder and President of Guru Maker – School of Professional Speaking. He provides executive coaching for Fortune 500 CEOs, high-level professionals, and political candidates across the United States and in Europe. His first book, The Confident Speaker, <\/em>became a New York Times <\/em>best-seller.<\/p>\n Monarth addresses two particular issues in his book that are becoming extremely popular in current discussions of leadership. The first is the process of leadership coaching. In the past, we tended to assume that if you were a leader, you didn\u2019t need anyone to help you know what you should do. If you needed a coach, you weren\u2019t a leader! However, it is becoming clear that in our increasingly complex and challenging world, even the best leaders need help in staying at the top of their game. Our ministry, BMI, has developed executive coaching so we can help people attain their maximum, God-given potential.<\/p>\n The second issue is branding. In the past, we assumed only narcissists were concerned with their public image. But today, with so many ways for people to view your life and organization through social media outlets, it is crucial that leaders manage their own image as well as the image of their organization.<\/p>\n To begin with, it must be clear that this book addresses these issues from a thoroughly secular perspective. The greatest means for spiritual leaders to experience success is when God\u2019s hand is upon them (something secular leadership coaches can\u2019t orchestrate!). The motives for self-promotion in this book can also appear quite secular and, essentially, self-promoting. It is basically presenting the world\u2019s way of becoming successful at what you do. Nevertheless, it does offer some practical advice for anyone who depends on a good reputation to get their work done.<\/p>\n Monarth\u2019s thesis is straightforward: \u201cIt\u2019s not that people lack intelligence or skill or even ambition, but they haven\u2019t learned how to leverage their assets by effectively representing themselves or communicating with others to the best of their abilities\u2019 (1). He goes on to argue: \u201c. . . the reality is that being skilled at one\u2019s chosen profession isn\u2019t enough. Toiling away in obscurity and hoping the world will notice has never been a sound strategy\u201d (2). Of course, this leaves God and HIS marketing of us out of the picture, but the truth is that there are many talented Christians and Christian organizations that do quality work but are languishing in obscurity.<\/p>\n Monarth suggests that \u201cWe are at our core a society of pitchers\u201d (7). \u201cWe are pitching when we sell, when we lobby, when we complain, and when we seek to be heard and understood, which for most of us happens each and every day\u201d (7). He argues that wise leaders will be intentional about influencing how people perceive them. He argues \u201cEven if we are simply commiserating or analyzing, there is an agenda in play, at the heart of which is the desire to be understood <\/em>and taken seriously by those who can help us along our career path\u201d (8). We have probably all known people who desperately wanted to be taken seriously but they were their own worst press agents. These are the people who often do the most talking in meetings, yet no one heeds their counsel or embraces their ideas. This is fundamentally because people do not take them <\/em>seriously.<\/p>\n This book is all about doing what you can so people take you seriously. Monarth argues that wise leaders understand that people are viewing them and their ideas through their own lenses. These perspectives may not be accurate or fair, but it is the way people are seeing you (12). While you cannot necessarily change peoples\u2019 values or perspectives, you can take them into account when presenting yourself and your ideas to them. Monarth discusses the laws of \u201cdeletion, distortion, and generalization (16).<\/p>\n Monarth also presents a discussion of emotional versus social intelligence (22). He argues that emotional intelligence is more inward focused while social intelligence is more outward. I am not sure Daniel Goleman would agree with his presentation. I have always understood emotional intelligence to be related to having empathy for other people\u2019s feelings. Nevertheless, he offers \u201cSeven Keys to Social Intelligence\u201d (27). He even provides exercises where you can enhance your social intelligence in only seven days (28).<\/p>\n Monarth has an interesting chapter entitled, \u201cHow to Read People and Predict Behavior.\u201d He notes that we cannot necessarily change peoples\u2019 viewpoints, but if we understand them, we can better work with people to obtain the results we desire. He notes: \u201cThe whole point is to optimize an outcome rather than to judge others\u201d (39). He identifies four key steps in understanding people which are: establishing a baseline, recognizing patterns, refining your assumptions, and drawing a conclusion\u201d (42). He cautions that a common trap is to notice and over-weigh negative observations about others (43).<\/p>\n He also has an interesting chapter on \u201cHow to master the art of storytelling for personal and professional success.\u201d He notes that people generally aren\u2019t good at remembering facts. They need context. And \u201cstory is context, all the time\u201d (65). He also notes: \u201cWhen listeners have a difficult time comprehending your message, they will not blame themselves for not getting it; they\u2019ll blame you\u201d (78). Monarth gives a number of ways in which to build credibility with listeners. These can at times sound manipulative, but in reality they are simply recognizing how people perceive information and the messengers who relate it to them. Wise communicators always take these factors into account.<\/p>\n The author also has an interesting section in his book entitled, \u201cA brand is a promise: what does your personal brand say? (125). Much of this material is presented in an effort to help the reader \u201c\u201dseparate yourself from the crowd\u201d (133). Again, this is taken strictly from a secular perspective. Personal branding, however, is a huge issue in modern times. People are wise to consider what they have purposefully or inadvertently led their personal \u201cbrand\u201d to become. Monarth also gives much advice on how to improve your image if it has been tarnished either in reality by your own actions, of through the malicious efforts of others. With Google and the universality of the Internet, people can post a negative blog about you that remains at the top of peoples\u2019 searches when they investigate you. Monarth gives practical tips on how to make your Internet image more positive. I found the final chapters a bit tedious. Monarth provides a lot of technical suggestions on improving your image and damage control wen you collect bad press. I suppose if you NEED his suggestions, however, you might find his material quite compelling!<\/p>\n Overall I found this book to be average. It does provide some practical suggestions that can be helpful. It offers some stories that create some interest. Overall the book just didn\u2019t really grip me. Perhaps it contained a few too may lists, which always tend to lose my interest. Nevertheless, it does address some pressing issues for today\u2019s leader. It wouldn\u2019t be the first book I would send you to next, but if you are trying to think through developing your personal brand or you want to \u201cmake over\u201d your current image, this book could provide you some great thoughts to get you going.<\/p>\n by Richard Blackaby<\/em><\/p>\n <\/ins><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [rating:2.0] ( New York: McGraw Hill, 2010) 251 pgs Harrison Monarth is the Founder and President of Guru Maker – School of Professional Speaking. He provides executive coaching for Fortune 500 CEOs, high-level professionals, and political candidates across the United States and in Europe. His first book, The Confident Speaker, became a New York Times … <\/p>\n
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