Practical Leadership Book Review Guidance

Thank you for supporting the launch of Practical Leadership! This guide is designed to make writing your book review quick, easy, and authentic. You’ll find three sections below to choose from to help you write the review:

Human Prompts – Simple questions you can answer directly.
AI Prompts – Fill-in-the-blank templates you can paste into ChatGPT or another AI tool.
Sample Reviews – Examples you can edit and adapt to your own experience.

Pick whichever approach feels easiest for you. Reviews don’t need to be long - 2–5 sentences is perfect, but longer reviews are welcome too.

Thank you so much for being part of the Practical Leadership community! Your review, no matter how long or short, helps other leaders discover these practical tools and strategies. I appreciate your help!

If you have still have questions, please feel free to schedule a time with me here.

~Janet

Ready to write your review of Practical Leadership? Visit this link.

Section 1: Human Prompts

What is one idea, framework, or tactic from the book that you’ve already used (or plan to use) in your leadership?
Before reading this book, how did you feel about leadership? What shifted for you after reading Practical Leadership?
Which chapter, story, or example resonated most with you - and why?
If you were recommending this book to a colleague, how would you describe who would benefit most from it?
In one or two sentences, sum up the impact Practical Leadership had on you or your view of leadership.
What is the most practical tactic or tool you took away from this book that you can put to use right away?
What surprised you most about the book - something you didn’t expect to learn or a myth it busted for you?
How would you describe the author’s style (clear, practical, relatable, inspiring, no-nonsense, etc.) and how did it affect your reading experience?
How does Practical Leadership compare to other leadership books you’ve read - what makes it stand out?
If you had to sum up this book in one word or short phrase, what would it be - and why?

Ready to write your review of Practical Leadership? Visit this link.

Section 2: AI Prompts (Fill-in-the-Blank Templates)

If you’d like to use AI (ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, etc.) to help you write the book review, the simple prompts below will help you with that. In each prompt, a place holder is provided for you to put in your specific take-away from a tactic, chapter, or overall book.

Write a short Amazon review of Janet Ply’s book Practical Leadership. My biggest takeaway was [insert one idea, tactic, or framework]. Keep it under 4 sentences.
Draft an Amazon review of Practical Leadership. Before reading, I felt [insert how you felt about leadership]. After reading, I now [insert how your perspective shifted].
Help me write a book review highlighting my favorite chapter or story from Practical Leadership, which was [insert chapter/topic]. Explain why it stood out to me.
Generate a 3-sentence Amazon review that explains who would benefit most from Practical Leadership, especially [insert audience you think would gain value].
Create a concise review where I describe the one tactic or framework from Practical Leadership that I plan to put into practice right away: [insert tactic].
Write an Amazon review that mentions what surprised me most about Practical Leadership: [insert surprise].
Draft a quick review of Practical Leadership where I describe the author’s style as [insert: clear, no-nonsense, relatable, etc.] and how that affected my reading experience.
Help me write a review that compares Practical Leadership to other leadership books. What makes it different is [insert difference].
Create a short review of Practical Leadership where I sum up the book in one word or phrase: [insert word/phrase]. Explain why I chose that description.
Write an Amazon review in 3–4 sentences describing how Practical Leadership gave me clarity on [insert leadership challenge].

Ready to write your review of Practical Leadership? Visit this link.

Section 3: Sample Reviews

If you’d rather use one of the sample reviews below, please edit the review you select into your own words so we don’t run the risk of the same reviews being submitted.

Practical Leadership delivers exactly what leaders need: clear tactics you can actually apply. The framework for running effective one-on-one meetings stood out for me - it’s simple, structured, and I can use it immediately with my team. Too many leadership books inspire but don’t tell you what to do next. This one is different. I feel like I now have a playbook I can keep coming back to when things get messy.
I’ve read a lot of leadership books, but this one stands out because it’s no fluff and all action. Janet doesn’t waste time on abstract concepts. Instead, she shows you what to say, what to do, and how to do it. I wish I had this book years ago when I first started leading. It would have saved me countless hours of frustration and second-guessing myself.
The chapter on feedback alone is worth the price of the book. Giving constructive feedback has always been stressful for me - I either sugar-coat too much or come across too blunt. Janet’s framework gave me language I can use that balances honesty and respect. I’ve already tried it once and the conversation went so much better than usual. That’s real value.
Before reading, I was working long hours but not moving the needle with my team. I’d go home drained, wondering what I had actually accomplished. This book helped me see the importance of setting clearer expectations and holding people accountable. The tactics are straightforward and easy to implement, even if you’re not a “natural leader.” I feel more confident leading now, and I’m already seeing results in how my team responds.
What surprised me most was how approachable this book felt. I’ve read leadership books that feel like textbooks, full of theory but little application. This one was relatable, filled with examples that made me nod my head and think, “That’s exactly what I’m dealing with.” It gave me not just insight but also practical tools to deal with it. That’s rare.
Janet’s style is clear, no-nonsense, and encouraging. It feels like she’s sitting across from you, coaching you step by step. She doesn’t overcomplicate things or make you feel like leadership is reserved for a chosen few. I plan to keep this book on my desk as a daily reference. Every time I flip through, I pick up another tactic I can apply immediately.
I loved the story about leaders being promoted for technical success but not given training. That’s my exact experience - promoted for my results, then left to figure out leadership alone. Reading this book felt like someone finally understood my struggle. More importantly, it gave me tools and processes to lead effectively without the guesswork. I’m relieved to know that leadership isn’t about being born with it, but about learning the right tactics.
Practical Leadership compares favorably to other leadership books. This one is more tactical - it tells you how to do things. That makes it stand out in a crowded field of leadership books. I’ll be recommending it to my colleagues who want something they can apply now, not just think about.
The time management habits chapter was my favorite. Meetings were eating up all my time and I felt powerless to change it. Janet’s tactics gave me permission and structure to reclaim my calendar and stop wasting hours in unproductive conversations. I’ve already cut down on unnecessary meetings and my team has noticed. It feels like I got time back in my day, which is priceless.
This book is for anyone who feels overwhelmed in a leadership role. When I was promoted, I kept asking myself, “Am I really cut out for this?” After reading Practical Leadership, I realized I don’t have to figure it all out alone - there are proven tactics and frameworks that make leadership doable. It gave me confidence and clarity. Every leader who feels like they’re drowning should read this book.
I appreciated that the book focused on respect as well as results. Too often leadership advice is about driving performance at all costs. Janet shows that earning respect and building trust is what actually drives results. The balance between people and performance is what makes this book feel real and sustainable.
Practical Leadership is like a toolbox. Every chapter has something you can pull out and use immediately. I especially liked the parts on communication and listening -those hit home for me. I’ve already highlighted half the book and know I’ll come back to it again and again. It’s not a book you read once and put away. It’s a book you keep close and use regularly.
The hiring section hit home for me. I’ve made a few bad hires in the past and never really understood why. Janet explains the importance of hiring A-players and shows how to build a system for it. It’s not about luck - it’s about process. That alone will change how I approach hiring going forward.
What makes this book different is how it strips away the “mystery” of leadership. Too many books make it sound like you either have it or you don’t. Janet proves that leadership isn’t art - it’s a set of learnable tactics. That message is empowering. It made me feel like I can actually grow into being the leader my team needs.
I summed up this book in one phrase: “doable leadership.” That’s exactly what it feels like. It takes big, intimidating concepts and breaks them into simple, manageable actions. I no longer feel like leadership is something out of reach. Instead, I feel like I have a roadmap I can follow.
I especially liked the section on active listening. I realized I wasn’t as good at listening as I thought I was. The techniques Janet shared - like paraphrasing, summarizing, and showing empathy - gave me ways to be better in every conversation. I tried them with my team and immediately noticed a change in how people opened up. It was eye-opening.
I wish I had this book when I was first promoted into leadership. I spent years stumbling, learning by trial and error, and making mistakes that hurt both me and my team. This book would have saved me so much pain and frustration. It’s clear, direct, and grounded in real experience. Every new leader should get this as part of their onboarding.
The chapter on biases opened my eyes. I never realized how much similarity bias and confirmation bias were affecting my decisions. Janet explains them in a way that’s easy to understand and gives practical ways to counteract them. It’s humbling, but it also made me feel like I can improve. I know my team will benefit from me being more aware of these blind spots.
What I loved most was that it felt like a mentor in a book. Janet doesn’t sugar-coat the challenges of leadership, but she also doesn’t leave you feeling hopeless. She provides clear, tactical steps that make leadership manageable. I felt encouraged and supported as I read. It’s the kind of book you can return to anytime you feel stuck and need a push forward.
Clear, concise, and useful. I’ve already put two frameworks into practice - one on accountability and one on meetings - and my team has noticed the difference. The book doesn’t just talk about leadership, it helps you do leadership. That’s the best endorsement I can give.