Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
This book review is the first installment in a bimonthly series Hardware Retailing is running to highlight books, podcasts and other resources retailers recommend to fellow business owners in the industry.
Brian Kabat operates four stores in the Pheonix area and recommends books to his staff as part of their professional development. He asks employees in leadership positions to read “The Servant” by James Hunter to help them grow in how they treat and lead people.
“If you’re into leadership and management, this book is off the grid a little bit. It applies to more than business and is relevant to family life.” — Brian Kabat, Kabat’s Ace Hardware Stores, Arizona
Kabat’s Key Takeaways From the Book
Leading Is Different From Managing
“The Servant” is important because it focuses on leadership. Since we are all mainly in the people business, we manage things, but we lead people.
Relationships Are Key to Doing Work Well
Leadership is about getting things done through people. There will always be two dynamics involved in achieving success through a team of employees—the task and the relationship.
Everything You Do Impacts Other People
Reading “The Servant” gives all our store team leads fresh insight into how their position impacts the people around them, not just at work but in their personal lives, as well.
Grow as a Leader for a Lifetime
This book gives a very unique perspective on what it takes to be a great leader and evolve over a lifetime. You can immediately use the content to improve your team.
