This book will change the world.

Ron Carucci, Coo Mars Hill Graduate School and Co-Founder of Pathways Consulting and personal friend and mentor has a big day tomorrow. For tomorrow is the release of his first solo book, called Leadership Divided. As a friend of his I have gotten to watch the metamorphosis of this book over the past two years. I have prayed over the original proposal, helped come up with the original title (which its a bummer it isn’t the final title Dying to Lead) and had the amazing privilege of reading and editting the manuscript.

The beauty of all of the things described above is that Ron embodied what he preaches in the book. His main thesis is that there is a division in leadership, primarily between generations and Ron spends the book naming the division and laying out some ways that he thinks we can move forward together, instead of divided. And for those of us that have attempted to lead in any setting the fact that a division exists is obvious, what isn’t obvious, and thus necessitated the book, is a way forward. Typically what Ron calls ‘incumbent’ leaders and ‘emerging’ leaders just give up on each other because both thinks the other is flawed in their acting and thinking. This is a problem, and could be the demise of companies, churches, and non-profits if it isn’t addressed.

This book is also not your typical leadership book that ou can pick off the shelf, find the five values, and start applying them tomorrow. Ron knows that doesn’t work — well it does, but much like a band-aid works. This book calls for and seeks reconciliation between parties, and most importantly, it doesn’t place the blame of the ‘division’ on anyone. Therefore, at the foundation of Ron’s thought is a true change of character of both the ‘incumbent’ and ‘emergent’ leader if we are to move forward with any level of sustainable health. This is a beautiful call to companies, big and small, worldwide.

Now for the sales pitch, if you are in any leadership role and you find yourself struggling with a collegue that is a generation (or two) older or a generation (or two) younger than you then please read this book. But read it slowly, meditate on what Ron suggests, and before you apply anything that you learned, talk it over with a community of people — maybe even those you want to ‘apply’ it to.

peace
Joel

p.s. Ron — If you read this, know that I am personally grateful for you writing this book. I have reaped the benefits of your struggles with this material and have found that you are a brilliant leader, but behind the brilliant leader is an extravagant, honest man who seeks to see this world become a better place.