Reaction Paper about the Book entitled The Way of the Shepherd.

The Way of the Shepherd, 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People by Kevin Leman and
William Pentak is an excellent book that will help us big time in our leadership training that I could
recommend to my friends and family. This is a motivational and mind-blowing story centered on a
youthful, inexperienced reporter who got the interview of a lifetime with the honorable regarded CEO in
America, Theodore McBride. The unforgettable highlight of this book is focused on the principles that
serves as a leadership plan. With the seven principles, there are three which I believe I can relate and
spend most of my attention. These are to know the condition of your flock, discover the shape of your
sheep, and the heart of the shepherd.

First, to know the condition of your flock. By knowing what you are doing will also mean that
you can have the aura to manage it effectively. I believe that being knowledgeable on the things you are
doing as a leader will make efficient and effective. It also prevent you from misleading the people,
information, and most especially your responsibility which need to be fulfilled at the same time.
Extraordinary leaders know that it is their people who get the work done and who deliver the
organization a competitive edge. Hence, the shepherd begins regularly by examining the condition of his
or her flock. By checking your people, it plays a vital role not only to the organization but also to their
physical and mental health. By that, it motivates the people of the organization as a whole.

Second, to discover the shape of your sheep. A talented shepherd knows the shape of his or her
sheep so as to make sure that they are within the right fold. In this principle, the SHAPE stands for
different definition that relates to leadership. S stands for strength, a great leader you are able to
certainly identify a person’s skilled that is necessary for his job in order to be an effective employee. H
stands for Heart, this means that passion leads to purpose. By confirming each person’s heart is in his
job will lead to its optimum satisfaction and growth of the company. A stands for attitude, a great leader
always choose the attitude between skills. This is because being optimistic is contagious and creates a
healthy and productive working environment. P stands for personality, a great leader know how to
identify which one is extrovert and introvert. He know that people are wired differently into different
culture, environment, and experiences. E stands for experience, everyone is a product of their life
experiences. What you have become now is the result of what you have done in the past. A great leader
knows that the person’s experiences are situated differently on the team. They can be a gem of the
company.

Third, the heart of the shepherd. What makes a great shepherd isn’t the staff or the rod; it is the
heart. What recognizes a best leader from an unremarkable one is that the best leader has the heart for
his or her individuals. Your extreme test of administration isn’t setting the heading for your flock. Or
maybe, it is getting your run where you need it to go. In the event that you need your individuals to go
over and past, they must see your enthusiasm, your heart. As the quote goes, if it’s greatness that you
want, it’s greatness that you must give- this means you need to show first the heart of a leader for you
to be able to create a wonderful team camaraderie. Indeed, giving the importance to the people is the
best thing you can take to have a prosperous team aiming for a common goal. By showing your people
that you care not only for the task completed but also to their job accomplishment would feel them
appreciated and motivated in the long run. It will keep the organization strong and wired to each other.
It would create a good circle from which everyone is helping each other.
 Truly, in order to be a great leader you need to invest first on knowledge on how to direct the
people and on how to deal with the pressure included in your job. One should know when to fight and
when to resist in the battle. This book will not only help me but all people who have the heart of being a
leader or planning to pursue the career of manager in banks or into different institutions. It will help
them to better themselves on the true concepts of being a leader that will actually transform them into
an excellent leader. It is important to have good management in an organization and thus this will be
possible if we have a good leader that would transform the different personality of the people in the
work place. Reading this book is worth it which I can use in my future career.

1. Summarize every chapter in your own words. Min of 2 paragraphs per chapter.

Chapter 1: Know the Condition of Your Flock

The highlight of this chapter focus on how to follow the status of your people as well as the
status of the work, get to know your flock, one sheep at a time, engage your people on a regular basis, &
keep your eyes and ears open, question, and follow through. This first principle, Know the Condition of
Your Flock, CEO McBride clarifies to Pentak the significance of a great leader is being display and locks in
frequently with their employees.

It illustrates us that if leaders make themselves accessible to their workers this appears they
have an individual intrigued which makes a difference to propel individuals to perform at their best.
Leaders to urge to know who their representatives are, what they are around, understanding their
working fashion, and learning what is vital to them. "You're going to have to get out and get among your
people. When you do, keep your eyes and ears open and ask lots of questions". From here, McBride
clarifies the significance of getting to know your individuals on another level, not fair the part they have
at work but to urge to know the individual themselves.

Chapter 2: Discover the Shape of Your Sheep

The highlight of this chapter focus in someone’s choice of sheep can make flock management
easier or harder, start with healthy sheep, or you’ll inherit someone else’s problems, and know the
SHAPE of your sheep to make sure they’re in the right fold. The second principle portrays how great
leader got to be specific when choosing individuals to interview and contract for a position. Leaders
have to be contract the finest individuals who will be the most excellent fit for the work conjointly the
most excellent fit for the group.

"As a shepherd, your choice of sheep can make flock administration less demanding or harder.
In the event that you don't buy right, you'll acquire somebody else's issue". A leader may select to meet
an individual who comes with parcels of involvement and numerous experiences within the trade but
may not essentially be the best fit for the group. Great leaders are continuously reaching out for team
oriented-people who are the correct fit. Individuals can be old, youthful, experienced or unpracticed,
that isn’t always what matters. What is vital is will they be a team player and willing to be included.

Chapter 3: Help your sheep identify with you

 The highlight of this chapter is focus on building trust with your followers by modeling
authenticity, integrity, and compassion, set high standards of performance and many more that helps
your flock understand and appreciate the authentic you. In this principle, Leman and Pentak talk about
what it implies to be a shepherd leader and the duty of directing each group part. Leaders is in
obligation for their employee's learning, development and victory as well as for their well-being.
Genuine administration is around making a difference others that create their claim aptitudes so they
may ended up leaders themselves.

It teaches us that it is so imperative for a great leader to form beyond any doubt of individuals
are within the right designation which their qualities and interests that reflect their duties. This chapter
tells about that leaders who say things like, be a great communicator, and after that go and stow away
in their office are not showing the qualities of a genuine leader. Leaders got to be obvious and ought to
be among their staff. They should socialize with them to be able to know them individually as well as
your personality.

Chapter 4: Make your Pasture a Safe Place

The highlight of this chapter is focus on keeping your people well informed, infuse every
position with importance, cull chronic instigators from the flock, regularly rotate the sheep to fresh
pastures, reassure the sheep by staying visible, and don’t give problems time to fester. In this principle,
it identified in Leman and Pentak's book is the significance of keeping your individuals well educated and
addresses the esteem of communication. Whether its communication with respect to desires, a
mandate or any other data that's relevant, it is exceptionally vital to keep in mind that quality
communication must stream both ways - from leader to worker and from worker to leader.

This chapter tells us that a great leaders ought to persistently challenge their individuals to keep
them energize, strengthened and keep the efficiency progressing. In case individuals have been doing
the same work for a long time they may gotten to be smug or feel their occupations are unremarkable.
This frequently leads workers to lower their efficiency, ended up withdrawn from execution, or smother
inventiveness. That is why, best way for great leaders to console confidence and spur their workers is by
being present and visible.

Chapter 5: The Staff of Direction

The highlight of this chapter is suggest that to remind your people that failure isn’t fatal, give
your people freedom of movement but don’t confuse boundaries with bridles, in an instance your
people get in trouble, go and get them out, & many more that will help to direct your people. In this
chapter, Leman and Pentak depicts how shepherds utilize staff and rod to herd their sheep. Typically
fitting since antiquated rulers utilized to be referred to as the shepherds of their individuals. Based to
Neumann there are four functions the staff makes a difference the shepherd perform, each speaks to a
duty of what it implies to be a shepherd leader.

It may be a leader's duty and obligation to coordinate their people to get out and lead by
socializing, persuading and challenging their workers. It is vital that workers feel esteemed and well
looked after by their leaders and bosses, this will help advance the quality of work execution. In the
event that a leader can get many individuals to believe their capabilities and administration fashion, the
rest of the staff will take after. When a leader steps up to bolster an employee, the dependability that an
employee will appear will be amazing – the believe they will have in you as a leader will gotten to be
self-evident. Extraordinary leaders reassure people with their presence and believe. Leaders recognize
the significance to continually encourage their employees.

Chapter 6: The Rod of Correction

The highlight of this chapter is more focus on protection, correction, and inspection of the
people in the workplace. This principle help to empower leaders to stand in the gap and battle for their
sheep. In other words, to appear support for their sheep. Be there to lead and ensure them, and to have
their best intrigued in intellect. Back your workers in their endeavors to end up way better and stand by
their decision making.

This chapter taught us that leaders shouldn't be speedy to teach but ought to be willing to
appear individuals how to rectify a mistake that occurred. Leaders have to be demonstrate what
changes have to be happen to make things way better. One of the vital angles of being a good leader is
habitually asking around your people's progress. Regular check-in with workers, finding out how they
are doing and on the off chance that they require your bolster. If you know an employee contains a
concern or struggle in another range of their life, a great leader makes beyond any doubt bolsters are
advertised to the individual in require.

Chapter 7: The Heart of the Shepherd

The highlight of this chapter is teaches us that great leadership is a lifestyle, not a technique,
that every day you have to decide who’s going to pay for your leadership, and most importantly, that
you should have a heart for your sheep. Within this principle, Leman and Pentak discuss how great
leadership could be a lifestyle, not just a technique. This last message discusses how incredible leaders
ought to keep creating and changing. Leaders cannot depend on one way of doing things since they had
worked in the past.

It made us realized that incredible leaders ought to be ceaselessly advancing for the people they
work with. The heart of leadership means to persistently attempt and be way better at what you are
doing, making beyond any doubt not to end up stagnant. It is important to keep in mind that time alter,
people alter and needs innovation. Leaders really aim for all their workers to become effective and
thrive in their occupations. This requires a leader to be visible, an extraordinary communicator,
persuaded, and be able to walk alongside all individuals of the group. When shepherd leaders illustrate
their care and commitment for the group to succeed, respect and victory will follow.
2. Make you own unique Flow Diagram, Decision Tree or Framework of each of the 7 principles (do self-study on what does each shape
[square, diamond, circle, and arrow] mean & put labels. Be creative and be original)

Seven greatest management principles of being a great leader: 1. Know the Condition of Your Flock; 2. Discover the Shape of Your Sheep; 3. Help
Your Sheep Identify with You; 4. Make Your Pasture a Safe Place; 5. The Staff of Direction; 6. The Rod of Correction; 7. The Heart of the Shepherd

7 PRINCIPLES FROM THE BOOK THE WAY OF THE SHEPHERD: A DECISION TREE IDENTIFYING BEING A GOOD LEADER

Do you embody the

primciples to be a
great leader?

No

Yes
You do not have the
qualities of being a
great leader.

Do you keep your Are you a leader who Do you continuously try
Are you responsible Do you know how to and be better at what
Are you aware of the Do you know how to people well-informed direct your people and encourage your
condition of your for your employee's and addresses the you do, making sure not
identify the perfect fit keep them on the people and stand in
people? learning, growth, and value of to become stagnant
personality for a job? move? the gap and fight for
success? communication? them? together with your
people?

Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Np

You embody You don't You embody You don't You embody You don't You embody You don't You embody You don't You embody You embody You embody You don't
the 1st embody the the 2nd embody the the 3rd embody the the 4th embody the the 5th embody the the 6th the 6th the 7th embody the
principle of 1st principle principle of 2nd principle principle of 3rd principle principle of 4th principle principle of 5th principle principle of principle of principle of 7th principle
being a great of being a being a great of being a being a great of being a being a great of being a being a great of being a being a great being a great being a great of being a
leader. great leader. leader. great leader. leader. great leader. leader. great leader. leader. great leader. leader. leader. leader. great leader.
3. Compare the 7 principles of the book to the 7 QA principles of Render, Stair & Hanna. Where are
they similar, and where are they different.

The seven principles from "The Way of the Shepherd" focus on how to become a great leader. It
will help you understand on proper directing your people on how to manage their different emotions in
achieving the company’s common goal. This also include on how they would find satisfaction to their
work and feel secure while working. This taught us to be one of the great leaders in the future.

On the other hand, the seven QA principles of Render, Stair & Hanna is focus on the use of
quantitative approach that will help you with your analysis and statistics regarding the business
problem. It will also help you to define the problems and be able to come up with the proper solution. It
introduce you the use of models that take a big part in making difference in a decision making.

Moreover, the similarity of these principles coming from different authors will help you to come
up with excellent outcome of the output and be able to end up in a better decision making. These
principles will help certain individuals to work effectively and efficient and be able to contribute a
purposive and meaningful impact in the workplace especially in decision making.

4. What personal insights from the book have made a strong impact to you and why?

The personal insights from the book that have made a strong impact to me would have to be as
a leader you need to protect, correct, and inspect as always your sheep. This made a strong impact to
me since I saw my mother under their manager at their work of how they are treated solely as their
earning machine and not considering their effort and satisfaction they acquired in the job. I saw my
mother containing those attitude towards their manager and she could not resign due to financial needs
that time. But now that she have the chance to end their employment on that business, I am happy that
she was able to stop the unjust treatment of her manager and be able to transfer in a new and healthy
working environment. When ask her why they don't stop early, it is because for us - their children.

Realizing of how selfless they are, and prioritizing first our welfare pushes me to work harder
and be a great leader someday at work. This manager was lack of the proper knowledge on how to
become a great leader that should be aligned with the principles that this book taught me.
Managers/leaders should always check their employees all the time, correct them nicely, and be able to
stand the rights of the employees toward people aggravating them. And not to leave them behind their
battles.

5. To whom would you recommend this book within your circle of family and friends and why?

I would want to recommend this book to my mother. As of now she is managing a business and
basically also serves as leader of the business. I want her to learn the good management and be able to
teach those individual who is lack of knowledge in handling the people. I want her to be aware of how to
become a great leader even more since she is the one who holds the most power in the house. She is
the balancing ingredient of the family. I want her to widen her perspective and learnings & not just stay
stagnant with her growth. With that, my mother will influence other people too through the execution
of her action to them. In addition, this fits best to her since she encounter a lot of people every day. It
will help her understand the emotion of the people and socializing with them properly. After learning
this, she could use this in lifetime endeavor.