Del Suggs is a musician, a singer, and songwriter. Several years ago, his career took a turn  in a direction he had not expected. Suggs focuses his performing on playing college and university campuses, and at conferences and retreats for college administrators. While he was playing at a leadership gathering, one of the organizers suggested that he should lead a workshop too.

“I don’t know anything about leadership,” he said.

“I’ve seen your resume,” the organizer replied. “I think you do.”

Suggs took up the challenge. Drawing on the experiences which created that resume, from years working as an independent touring musician, to a master’s degree in education, to service on the boards of non profits, to volunteering in community organizations, he put together a presentation on the basics of leadership -- and it turned out to be the first of many. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge in this way, he found, and soon expanded into writing for college leadership publications, and to speaking on related topics such as time management and developing a personal mission statement.

Ideas on those subjects, as well as how to inspire others, how and when to delegate responsibility, how to recruit people to your organization, setting personal goals, and similar areas, form the substance of Truly Leading: lessons in leadership. Many of the chapters are based on Suggs’ writing and speaking for college audiences, so if you work with -- or are -- a university student, his points will be most directly relevant to you. If that’s not where you are, though, you’ll still find what he has to say accessible and written in a straightforward style.

It’s thought-provoking, too. My ways of setting goals and managing time are for the most part different from what Suggs offers here, but I found it useful to compare his suggestions with how I do things. His leadership points will resonate for comparison and contrast whatever your situation. The writing is clear, and the ideas well thought out.

Suggs maintains a thriving speaking and workshop career alongside his music these days. There is more about both at his site, saltwatermusic.com 

Kerry Dexter is  Music Editor for Wandering Educators

You may find more  of her work at Strings, Perceptive Travel, The Encyclopedia of Ireland and the Americas, Music Road, and other places.  You may reach Kerry at music at wanderingeducators dot com