Leadership Lessons From The Military

Military veterans have had some of the most intensive leadership training available. Many return to their communities seeking to apply what they have learned. Those who enter the world of public affairs--where colleagues are increasingly less likely to have served in the military--may encounter a popular misconception: that military leadership is all about exercising authority and giving orders. In fact military leadership is based on interpersonal dynamics, often learned through trying circumstances. Effective management of civil emergencies--as shown by 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina--calls for the same official demeanor, decisiveness and trustworthiness as does combat. Good leadership is fundamentally the same in ordinary day-to-day challenges as well. This book describes how the principles and methods of military leadership are effective for public service. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

POWERFUL LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM A TRAILBLAZING FEMALE COLONEL IN THE U.S. ARMY When Jill Morgenthaler arrived at boot camp in 1975 as part of the inaugural class of women in the Army, she was one of 83 female cadets . . . on a base of 50,000 men. So she knows a thing or two about conquering obstacles. In The Courage to Take Command, Colonel Morgenthaler provides invaluable leadership lessons drawn from her three decades of military service--from her first days in ROTC to combat in some of the world's most dangerous war zones. Ironically, the military taught her that leadership isn’t about "command and control." Rather, it requires a fine balance of reason and emotion, distance and familiarity, hard and soft power. Learn how to lead your team to success by: Being true to your vision--but being open to new ideas Tackling obstacles head-on--but using finesse to arrive at solutions Focusing on the mission--while protecting your people Projecting strong leadership presence--but serving every member of your team, especially the weakest and most vulnerable Maintaining team spirit--but refusing to tolerate mediocrity Accepting and embracing your fears--but never letting them control you Always having a plan--but also trusting your gut Expressing a healthy self-confidence--with a side of humility It took both a spine of steel and a smart sense of people for Morgenthaler to get where she did. Now she draws on the wisdom garnered from her experience to help you develop an authentic brand of leadership and succeed at all levels of any organization. The Courage to Take Command provides the strategies and tactics you need to follow through with your leadership vision, inspire your team, and execute your mission—even when the odds may seem overwhelming.

'Leadership Lessons from the Military' articulates what lessons from military leadership can be applied to the business context and how to go about it. The book shows how executives can leverage time-tested military practices to create lasting competitive advantage. Business leaders can learn how military leaders tie individual goals with the organizational goals, resulting in a highly motivated and committed workforce

A year's worth of management wisdom, all in one place. We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review to keep you up-to-date on the most cutting-edge, influential thinking driving business today. With authors from Michael E. Porter to Katrina Lake and company examples from Alibaba to 3M, this volume brings the most current and important management conversations right to your fingertips. This book will inspire you to: Ask better questions to boost your learning, persuade others, and negotiate more effectively Create workplace conditions where gender equity can thrive Boost results by allowing humans and AI to enhance one another's strengths Make better connections with your customers by giving them a glimpse inside your company Scale your agile processes from a few teams to hundreds Build a commitment to both economic and social values in your organization Prepare your company for a rapidly aging workforce and society This collection of articles includes "The Surprising Power of Questions," by Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John; "Strategy Needs Creativity," by Adam Brandenburger; "What Most People Get Wrong about Men and Women," by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely; "Collaborative Intelligence: Humans and AI Are Joining Forces," by H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty; "Stitch Fix's CEO on Selling Personal Style to the Mass Market," by Katrina Lake; "Strategy for Start-Ups," by Joshua Gans, Erin L. Scott, and Scott Stern; "Agile at Scale," by Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, and Andy Noble; "Operational Transparency," by Ryan W. Buell; "The Dual-Purpose Playbook," by Julie Battilana, Anne-Claire Pache, Metin Sengul, and Marissa Kimsey; "How CEOs Manage Time," by Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria; and "When No One Retires," by Paul Irving.

“Drawing universal truths from urgent battlefield crises, the author provides a terrific guide and training tool for leaders at all levels” (Ralph Peters, New York Times–bestselling author). The odds were against the Allies on June 6, 1944. The task ahead of the paratroopers who jumped over Normandy and the soldiers who waded ashore onto the beaches, all under fire, was colossal. In such circumstances, good leadership can be the deciding factor of victory or defeat. This book is about the extraordinary leadership of seven men who led American soldiers on D-Day and the days that followed. Some of them, like Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and Lt. Dick Winters, are well known, while others are barely a footnote in the history books. This book is not a full history of D-Day, nor does it cover the heroic leadership shown by men in the armies of the Allies or members of the French Resistance, who also participated in the Normandy assault and battles for the lodgment areas. It is, however, a primer on how you can lead today, no matter what your occupation or role in life, by learning from the leadership of these seven figures. A critical task for every leader is to understand what leadership is. Socrates once said that you cannot understand something unless you can first define it in your own words. This book provides the reader with the means to define leadership by telling seven dramatic, immersive, and memorable stories that the reader will never forget. “Nobody tells a story better than John Antal and nobody knows better how to root out the lessons of history.” —James Jay Carafano, author of Wiki at War

A comparison of nine leaders who led their nations through the greatest wars the world has ever seen and whose unique strengths—and weaknesses—shaped the course of human history, from the bestselling, award-winning author of Churchill, Napoleon, and The Last King of America “Has the enjoyable feel of a lively dinner table conversation with an opinionated guest.” —The New York Times Book Review Taking us from the French Revolution to the Cold War, Andrew Roberts presents a bracingly honest and deeply insightful look at nine major figures in modern history: Napoleon Bonaparte, Horatio Nelson, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, George C. Marshall, Charles de Gaulle, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Margaret Thatcher. Each of these leaders fundamentally shaped the outcome of the war in which their nation was embroiled. Is war leadership unique, or did these leaders have something in common, traits and techniques that transcend time and place and can be applied to the essential nature of conflict? Meticulously researched and compellingly written, Leadership in War presents readers with fresh, complex portraits of leaders who approached war with different tactics and weapons, but with the common goal of success in the face of battle. Both inspiring and cautionary, these portraits offer important lessons on leadership in times of struggle, unease, and discord. With his trademark verve and incisive observation, Roberts reveals the qualities that doom even the most promising leaders to failure, as well as the traits that lead to victory.

This unique anthology collects personal stories and leadership lessons from six highly-ranked officers across all branches of service. In Breaching the Summit, six senior enlisted advisors to the joint chiefs of staff share their stories, experiences, and lessons learned from a lifetime of military service. In their own words, each tells how they got their start, how mentors encouraged them along the way, and how they eventually became the highest-ranking enlisted member in their respective services. Their personal stories illustrate battle-tested principles of successful leadership that are applicable in all walks of life. The authors include Ken Preston, 13th Sergeant Major of the Army (retired); Mike Barrett, 17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (retired); Rick West, 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (retired); James Roy, 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (retired); Denise Jelinski-Hall, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the National Guard Bureau (retired); and Skip Bowen, 10th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (retired). “Books on leadership are many, but none are as practical, clear, and proven as Breaching the Summit.” —Adm. Gary Roughead, US Navy (retired)

Discover the military’s keys to excellent leadership and team building training The Program: Lessons From Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High Performing Leaders and Teams offers a hands-on guide to the winning techniques and tactics of The Program, the acclaimed team building and leadership development company. Drawing on the actual experiences of The Program’s instructors from their personal combat stories to working with world-class athletic teams and successful corporations, the book clearly shows how The Program’s training operations can help to achieve life goals and ambitions. The Program offers a road map that contains illustrative examples, ideas, and approaches for improving teammates and leaders at all levels within an organization of any size or type. Bring your organization to the next level of success Discover how to hold your leaders and teammates to the highest standards Understand how accountability increases effectiveness Learn to communicate effectively This important book explores the military’s leadership and team building concepts that can be implemented to ensure an organization creates and sustains performance that adheres to the highest standards of excellence.