Jesus, CEO

January 2, 1995
Jesus was able to motivate his staff of 12, ergo, there is much to be learned from his teachings, stresses California management consultant Jones, whose sentiments as expressed here ring with sincerity. Her thoughtful use of Jesus's biblical sayings on belief, boldness, discipline and the like add to her credibility. However, one wonders about the practical value of certain of her anecdotes, like the one about a ``phenomenally successful'' executive recruiter who imagines that God is on the line every time her office phone rings, which inspires her to do her utmost to serve the caller. And one questions Jones's notions regarding the Alpha, i.e., masculine, style of management and Beta, or feminine, use of power, as well as her Omega hypothesis, which incorporates both the Alpha and Beta approaches. Readers might do well to refer to the Bible on their own to glean the messages Jones presents.

April 29, 1996
Management consultant Jones draws on the leadership techniques of Jesus Christ to provide guidance tips on inspiring and managing others.

February 1, 1995
The author, the owner of a marketing, advertising, and business development firm, examines the life of Jesus and gleans from it useful advice for leaders of businesses and other formal organizations. She observes that Jesus was particularly strong in three areas: self-mastery, action, and relationships. Using each of these strengths as a title for a section in the book, she reflects on various aspects of his life and teachings. Although some Christians might be surprised by some of her theological interpretations, e.g., one chapter is titled "He Kept in Constant Contact with his Boss," others will find this book a novel approach to the old problem of making Christian teachings relevant to modern organizational life. A similar but nonreligious approach to encouraging humane leadership is Keshavan Nair's A Higher Standard of Leadership: Lessons from the Life of Gandhi (LJ 12/1/84). Recommended for public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/94.]-Andrea C. Dragon, Coll. of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J.

January 1, 1995
This book may surprise many readers, who, from the title, might expect one more contribution to the genre of religious handbooks for corporate success (meaning, how Jesus can make you wealthy). But the book delivers an often insightful series of meditations on Jesus' interpersonal style, focusing on what set him apart as a leader. In a nonacademic way, Jones has contributed to an academic tradition of leadership studies that focus on characters from the so-called great books. To my knowledge, Jesus has not been a popular subject for such studies, but the success of the movement with which he is associated makes him a plausible candidate. This book's strength lies in its ability to surprise two very different groups of readers: those put off by a title slanted toward corporate success and those attracted by the title's promise of a step-by-step guide to such success. To the extent that Jones comes from left field to surprise both groups, she practices what she preaches. Along the way, she dispenses practical and pithy advice for anyone (whether CEO or not) who works with other people to get things done. ((Reviewed January 1, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)