Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley. Simple Truths of Leadership. Berrett-Kohler, 2022.

Wow! The first book we’ve reviewed with a 2022 copyright date, and it’s not even quite 2022.

Author Ken Blanchard is well known for his bestselling The One Minute Manager and his business consulting. Reading Simple Truths of Leadership shows why his material has remained popular and why his consulting business has been successful.

I must say directly this is not the usual positive thinking type stuff that so many motivational works seem to take on. This is specifically about leadership. Yes, there is a focus on leadership, but it can apply to any type of organization, even the family.

I have prayed for our government leaders for forty years, regardless of their political affiliation. Recently I have felt I should specifically pray that those in power see themselves as serving the people, not as their lords or masters. As Jesus said, “Whoever will be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)

This is precisely the tone and message of Simple Truths of Leadership. Yes, leaders must have a vision and understanding. But leadership involves other people. The success of leaders depends so much on how they relate to the people they are leading. Indeed, the subtitle of this book reads 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust. Ah, a true leader gains the trust of his followers.

This is a very simple and direct read. Each of the fifty-two entries mentioned in the subtitle consists of a page with a simple proverb or saying. Usually it is a single sentence. Such adages include “You get what you expect” and “The best use of power is in service to others.”

On the facing page is a single page analyzing or explaining the saying. Often there are examples from experience. I could not help think of Benjamin Franklin, perhaps the originator of motivational writing. He wrote how he picked thirteen virtues to work on by focusing on one each week. After one year, he would have worked on each one for four weeks and, hopefully, had improved his character.

So Blanchard and Conley pick fifty-two ideas with the idea that the reader could focus on one a week for a year, and, hopefully, be a more successful leader. The progress in the fifty-two entries is interesting. Most of the early ones are things that most people would agree on and many people would affirm that they follow that rule pretty well. Pretty much everyone would at least attempt “Don’t work harder, work smarter,” for example.

But as the “weeks” go on, the observations get more challenging. One that stood out was “The opposite of trust is not distrust—it is control.” That can be hard. Yielding control to those to whom you’ve given responsibility shows that you trust them, but it also makes you vulnerable. But, above all, leaders must be trusted. That is the sign of a good leader. Indeed, trust is important in any relationship.

Some readers may look at the title and say to themselves, “That book sounds good, but it is not for me. I don’t lead anything.”

Yes, some of the entries orient the reader to business operations, but most are really practical advice for any relationship. Are you a parent or a grandparent? Well, then you are a leader of some kind. Are you a store clerk? You are leading the customers you are helping. That relationship is also based on trust.

When I worked at the book store, the store owner had posted a sign that said, “Two rules of this business: 1. The customer is always right. 2. When in doubt, see #1.” So Simple Truths of Leadership notes that not only does a good leader give responsibility to subordinates, but the true leaders of any business are its customers.

The toughest part may come at the end. There the book speaks of what we should do when we make mistakes or when others we trust make a mistake. To sum it up, confess and forgive. That is how trust is maintained.

True leaders serve. This book clearly, directly, and succinctly shows us how. No wonder Mr. Blanchard has been so successful. He is for real.