Book review: Through Colored Glasses

Ben Marshall Aug. 18, 2019

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What if you were wrong? What if your perspective was skewed? What if you made that decision from a motive much deeper and darker than you want to admit?

Tom Harper, author of the book Through Colored Glasses, tackles some of the hardest leadership lessons we must deal with head-on. He writes, “Our points of view are shaded by our personalities, ambitions, fears, and experiences” (viii). 

Seeing things clearly and from someone else’s perspective requires good self-knowledge and introspection. We need to know what is influencing us as leaders and the decisions we make.

This short book is skillfully written as a fable where the reader sees the leadership principles lived out in practical application. That is one of the draws to a story like this. It is simple, straightforward, and easy to read but contains strong leadership principles all current and potential leaders need to learn. These principles include the work-life balance, including your spouse in big decisions, being the new person in a senior leadership role, how to navigate transitions and change, and more. 

If you are a new leader, an experienced leader, a struggling leader, a successful leader, there is something here for you. I would encourage you to grab a copy of this book, a pen and a notebook. Take some time to work through the book and especially the Afterword and Discussion Questions section. This has the potential to jump-start your leadership and bring you into a new season of effective, healthy leadership.

When you as the leader are at your best, your organization is at its best and your people are at their best. The health of the leader determines the health of what is being led. This is true of soccer or football teams, bands, churches, businesses, etc. The health of a leader is essential. 

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Ben Marshall is a Pastor at Pathway Church in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He works with teenagers and young adults. He is passionate about leadership and raising up the next generation of biblical leaders. He is a blogger, guitar player and sports enthusiast. Ben currently resides in Beaver Falls with his wife Connie and their two daughters, Aliya and Sophie Learn More »

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