Allen Jr.'s Reviews > Leadership Jazz: The Essential Elements of a Great Leader

I'll highlight the weakest point of this book first: the 'jazz' image presented in the title isn't developed as an overarching theme or image of leadership. DePree occasionally references some aspect of jazz music and musicians, but overall, it's hardly a unifying principle for the book's content.

But that's really the only negative I found.

As an author on the topic of followership, I truly appreciate the excellent way that DePree acknowledges and values the role of follower and also the emphasizes the importance of the leader-follower relationship.

The chapters are short and readable. He often includes lists of various suggestions or characteristics; some of these are developed well, and others less-so, but they serve to give you an idea of his perspective and stimulate further thinking.

His experience at Herman Miller (furniture manufacturer) was an excellent forum for him to learn and practice leadership, I appreciated the regularly glimpses into how his principles were displayed in their organizational culture and operation. DePree comes across, not as an ivory tower know-it-all, but as a humble practitioner who sought to create the best environment he could for his employees and customers.

I easily recommend this book to leaders and followers alike.