I am always reading books on leadership. That’s what I do. I find that most of the books I read are written by men. So, I am always on the lookout for leadership books authored by women. I know I have some male blind sides and biases and I want to be well rounded in the help I provide to other leaders. As a result, I am always asking female leaders what books they have found helpful to them. That is how I learned about this book.
The book begins with a great endorsement in the Foreword by Patrick Lencioni who declares that it is one of the best books he has read (xv). That is impressive! I love Lencioni’s writing. Unfortunately, though I enjoyed this book, I don’t believe I would list it on my all-time favorite short list. Nonetheless, there are some helpful contributions here.
Catron focuses on clout and explains: “You have ‘it’ too. You were made to wield your God-given influence in such a way that makes others say, ‘she was made for that!’ (xviii). She adds: “Something inside each of us longs to count. We want to matter in the world” (xviii). Catron defines clout as: “Clout is the influence that God has given to you and to no one else. You are specifically designed to impact the world in a way that no one else can. Discovering your clout is an essential part of unleashing your purpose” (xix). She further explains: “Your God-given influence defines your purpose. Your purpose establishes your leadership. Your leadership makes a mark on the world” (xix).
Although I like much of what Catron says here, there is something inside me that pushes back a bit on this. Certainly each person is unique, and therefore they will have to discover the leadership style that authentically matches who they are. However, I am not sure that the power of our clout comes from our uniqueness. Much of leadership is basic and relatively common to leaders. Often it is not being a unique leader that impacts people but practicing good leadership techniques. In the Bible, there are certainly plenty of interesting characters, but often you discover that they are pretty ordinary people. It was not their uniqueness that gave them influence over others, but their God. It was the active working of the Holy Spirit within them that gave them power and influence over others.
Catron identifies seven “clout killers” that stifle our clout. These are: fear, comparison, jealousy, scarcity, insecurity, pride, and control. Again, perhaps it is just the way the book is laid out, but I might have resonated better with it if she began by demonstrating what positive clout looked like in a healthy leader. Instead, the book immediately launches in to seven ways that clout is quenched. I appreciate Catron’s candor as she confesses her own shortcomings and insecurities. Clearly she is a successful leader. Yet she suffers from insecurities that have harmed her leadership in the past. From the way the book is laid out, it might well have been titled, “The Insecure Leader” or “Overcoming Insecurity in Leadership.” I must confess that insecure leaders have been one group of people I have struggled to know how to help. Catron identifies ways that insecurities from fear or jealousy or pride can hinder leaders in their effectiveness.
Again, this may be my own limited perspective. But the book strikes me as if the author has dealt with insecurities which she has overcome, so because that has been a major aspect of her leadership journey, she assumes most leaders encounter the same issues. While all of these issues may well confront leaders at various times, I work with high level leaders and many of them are quite comfortable in their own skin and many have a humble confidence in their own ability. Many would not necessarily view their leadership as particularly unique. Rather, they would view themselves as ordinary people that are placed in a leadership role by an extraordinary God. So, while I feel that these clout killers certainly can be an issue for some leaders, I am unconvinced that every leader travels down these particular roads.
Catron has some good quotes and insights on fear. She notes that “Every leader at one time or another gets to the point of feeling paralyzed” (10). This may be a bit of an overgeneralization, but I would agree that leaders will eventually face a challenge that appears to be bigger than they are. I liked her perspective on insecurity. She claims that “. . . insecurity makes you selfish and self-centered” (73). I have certainly found this to be true! While it can appear that insecure people have a low view of themselves, the reality is that they have themselves constantly in view! She adds, “We believe we’re not thinking about ourselves because we have such an unhealthy view of ourselves” (75).
Concerning pride, she notes: “I have yet to meet someone who is truly prideful without his pride being triggered by the core fear that continually impacts clout—the ‘I am not enough’ fear” (82).
Catron suggests four ways to cultivate clout. These are through identity, confidence, mission, and passion.
She notes of clout: “I define God-given influence as ‘the collection of nuances that make you unique’ (145). Again, I challenge this definition. My influence as a leader is based on far more than my unique nuances. In fact, I think if you focus too much on your uniqueness, you are focusing too much on yourself. You may be a very ordinary person, but if you will embrace humility and confidence in God, God can do amazing things through your life. We certainly should be comfortable in our own skin. But searching for our uniqueness may take us far down a path of introspection that distracts us from the assignment at hand. I am not aware of a time in scripture when God called someone into His service as a leader and He highlighted the person’s uniqueness as why they were being called or how they were to exert influence. In Scripture, it was always the presence and working of the Holy Spirit that gave leaders their influence, not the uniqueness of the leader.
Catron also mentions that we should develop a personal mission statement. Again, this is not a bad thing. However, in her list of seven steps to developing that statement, she does not mention prayer until step #6, when she advises people to pray for God to affirm or clarify what you have developed (166-167). I would suggest that you begin with God when considering what your mission in life is. Don’t develop your mission statement and then run it past God. Begin with God and let Him confirm it in your experience.
This book covers some significant issues with leaders. It seems to take something of a negative spin, however. There are many ways to consider how to positively exert clout on other people. It seems a peculiar way to discuss this by first listing seven ways that limit your clout. Nevertheless, this book does cover some significant issues that leaders face. The author is very honest about her personal struggles and insecurities and many may readily identify with her.
This book seems to me to be written from the author’s own experience. She obviously has learned valuable lessons that have enriched her life and leadership. However, for those who have not had these experiences, you may find less in this book that is directly helpful to you. Since at some point in our life, most of us have dealt with fear, comparison, jealously, scarcity, insecurity, pride, and control, then most of us should find something in this book that applies to us. Hopefully you can read this book with the same honesty and candor as Catron used to write it.
Rating: 3
