Book SummaryThe Way of the Shepherd, by Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Way of the Shepherd

How do business leaders create engaged, motivated, and coordinated teams? In The Way of the Shepherd, Kevin Leman and William Pentak, show how, by adopting a shepherd’s mindset, managers can foster loyalty, trust, and high performance among their "flock" of employees.

Leman is a psychologist, educator, and radio and television personality. Pentak is a business consultant, author, columnist, former pastor, and speaker. In the book, these authors use a narrative format to make leadership concepts accessible and memorable for readers seeking to improve their management skills in various organizational settings.

The Way of the Shepherd tells the story of Theodore McBride, the successful CEO of a major technology company. When a journalist asks him for...

The Way of the Shepherd Summary Part 1: Leadership Is a Way of Life

Leman and Pentak argue that becoming a great leader involves more than learning specific methods—being a leader is a way of life, much like being a shepherd. They state that true leadership stems from your character, values, and daily habits. Effective leaders embody their principles consistently, both in professional settings and in their personal lives. This holistic approach to leadership suggests that it's not about mastering specific strategies but about cultivating a mindset and lifestyle that naturally inspires and guides others. We’ll first explore the two core components of this way of life: self-sacrifice and caring for your workers.

Leadership Requires Self-Sacrifice and Care

Leman and Pentak assert that great leadership inherently involves sacrifice. This sacrifice could take the form of time, energy, or even personal comfort or gain. Each of the strategies and...

The Way of the Shepherd Summary Part 2: Build Trust With Your Team

Leman and Pentak explain that one of the most important sacrifices leaders make is investing the time and effort to build trust with their team. Teams with high levels of trust will be more engaged and productive, less prone to conflict, and more likely to listen to your instructions and feedback. A trusting team will follow its leader willingly, just like a flock of sheep follows its shepherd. In this section, we'll cover three trust-building strategies: knowing and understanding your workers, creating a sense of safety, and staying visible to your workers.

(Shortform note: Research has found that trust between team members can be just as important as trust between workers and their leaders. A review of over 112 independent studies on over 7,000 teams found a positive correlation between intra-team trust and performance. This not only supports Leman and Pentak's high valuation of trust, but also suggests the importance of working to cultivate a culture of trust across your entire organization.)

Know Your Workers

**According to Leman and Pentak, your workers will only trust you if they feel like you know...

The Way of the Shepherd Summary Part 3: Organize Your Team

Leman and Pentak argue that in addition to building trust and relationships with their employees, every effective leader puts in the necessary time and effort to organize their team for efficient coordination and productivity. Here we'll discuss their strategies for clarifying roles, infusing them with importance, and matching the right worker to their role.

Clarify the Boundaries of Each Role

Leman and Pentak advise you to create clear boundaries for each role. By clearly defining roles and responsibilities, employees have a precise understanding of their duties and how they fit into the larger organizational structure.

However, the authors also stress the importance of granting team members autonomy within their roles. Granting autonomy within these defined boundaries empowers employees to make decisions and take initiative in their areas of responsibility. Striking a balance between these goals is part of your task as a leader. For example, you might delineate responsibilities so that there's no overlap between roles, but then give workers freedom in how they carry out those responsibilities. This is analogous to how a shepherd keeps their flock within a...

The Way of the Shepherd Summary Part 4: Direct Your Team

Finally, Leman and Pentak argue that just like a shepherd keeps their flock moving together, great leaders must invest their time and energy into directing their teams to get the most out of their workers. Here we’ll discuss several facets of the authors’ approach, including the importance of leading by example, communicating regularly with your team, and how to keep your workers on track without losing their trust.

Lead by Example

Recall that Leman and Pentak advised leaders to set an example when it comes to demonstrating company values. Leading by example also applies to all other areas of management. For instance, you might demonstrate the correct methods of performing tasks to workers who are learning them for the first time, or you might be the first to adopt new standards and protocols. Leman and Pentak stress the importance of leading employees rather than merely giving orders, just like a shepherd who walks out in front of their flock.

(Shortform note: In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell highlights that [your workers will naturally copy your behaviors—good or...

Shortform Exercise: Reflect on Leman and Pentak’s Principles of Leadership

Leman and Pentak emphasize that leadership requires self-sacrifice and care for one's workers. They also focus on the importance of building trust and getting to know your workers individually. In this exercise, you'll reflect on these principles and practice applying them to your own leadership.

Reflect on a leader you’ve known in your career or personal life who you deeply trusted. Why did you find this leader so trustworthy?