The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell

From Publishers Weekly
Even before the events of last fall, Powell was well regarded by the military and civilians around the world. Now, as secretary of state during the war against terrorism, Powell's intelligence and skills as manager, negotiator and leader are even more visible. Harari, a management professor and consultant, met Powell several years ago, but wrote this book without his cooperation. The author has used Powell's own words, from his autobiography and presentations, to create a primer of Powell's leadership secrets. The book reads much like an introductory textbook, explaining key phrases, quotes, anecdotes and principles. Powell's style is somewhat unusual for a military leader. He believes in listening, not just to superiors, but to the people who serve under him; he pushes people to ask hard questions and to approach problems in creative ways; he is solution-oriented and wants answers to problems to be original, not simply tried-and-true methods. While a book by Powell himself on his leadership style would obviously have great appeal, Harari has done an admirable job of distilling the essence of Powell's leadership style. The chapter summaries ("Powell's Principles") are especially clear (e.g., "Hire on talent and values, rather than resumes"; "Don't clock hours for hours' sake"). This is a solid if basic book about leadership that should interest a wide range of readers, especially less experienced managers. Agent, Lynn Johnston. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Prior to September 11, Colin Powell was considered "odd man out" in the Bush administration and had even begun to receive criticism in certain media outlets. After the attacks, Powell stepped up and, with his calm demeanor, played a key leadership role as he has done on many previous occasions. Several biographies have been written about Powell, but this book centers on his personal leadership philosophy and is organized into 17 chapters of "leadership secrets," each one summarized into three or four of "Powell's Principles." Some of his principles are surprising, considering his conservative inclination: he likes to challenge authority and promote a clash of ideas, and he maintains an open-door policy because he believes that the higher one goes up the hierarchy, the more important it is to stay in touch with real people and real data. A key Powell trait is flexibility in action, as he does not believe in formulaic solutions but lets the situation dictate the strategy. He is, above all, a people person and seeks out those with optimism and drive. This is a "battle-tested" leadership book, and although the author has shown how to apply these principles in the corporate venue, you don't have to be a CEO to benefit from the words and wisdom of Colin Powell. David Siegfried
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, New York Times, and USA Today Business Bestseller!

WORDS, WISDOM, AND INSIGHTS FROM ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST COMMANDING FIGURES

Inspiration from the man who went from humble beginnings in Harlem to the office of Secretary of State

Colin Powell is the classic American success story. Born in Harlem to immigrant parents, Powell rose through the ranks of the U.S. military to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a soft-spoken, steel-willed Desert Storm hero. Always seemingly one step ahead of both allies and competitors, he quickly became one of America's most trusted and beloved public icons, acknowledged for his courage, his compassion, and his ability to forge victory under the most trying circumstances.

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell recounts Powell's core beliefs on leadership, negotiation, self-knowledge, and more. Based on an article written by Oren Harari after Harari met Powell and heard him speak, an article so compelling that it became the subject of a front-page feature in the Wall Street Journal, this leadership primer reveals the secrets and insights that made Colin Powell the success he is today. Short, snappy, and packed with Powell's depth and spirit, it will help readers inspire anyone to achieve extraordinary performance.

COLIN POWELL ON:COMMUNICATION
"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them." LEADERSHIP
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand." RESPONSIBILITY
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."


Download Description
The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell recounts Powell's core beliefs on leadership, negotiation, self-knowledge, and more. Based on an article written by Oren Harari after Harari met Powell and heard him speak, an article so compelling that it became the subject of a front-page feature in the Wall Street Journal, this leadership primer reveals the secrets and insights that made Colin Powell the success he is today. Short, snappy, and packed with Powell's depth and spirit, it will help readers inspire anyone to achieve extraordinary performance.


Book Info
Inspiration from the man who went from humble beginnings in Harlem to the office of Secretary of State. Colin Powell is the classic American success story.


From the Back Cover

"The Performance of the Organization is the Ultimate Measure of the Leader."

Colin Powell has established an entirely new paradigm for leadership excellence. Through four U.S. presidents and countless world crises­­including the current high-stakes campaign against global terror­­the blunt-spoken four-star general has grown to become one of the world's most effective, bottom-line leaders.

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell goes beyond other books to take an honest look into the foundations of Powell's compelling leadership style. Practical yet penetrating, it examines: Powell as Provocateur­­Techniques Powell uses to encourage group debate­­and consistently arrive at the best solution The Powell Character­­The Powell model for assuming the role of leader, and setting a positive tone throughout any organization Powell's Principles­­Concise yet powerful credos that have guided Powell through times of triumph and doubt

Sparked with insights and observations that are as refreshingly honest as they are grittily realistic, The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell is the first in-depth exploration of Colin Powell's goal-driven approach to leadership. Whether you are currently a business leader or one who aspires to leadership, it provides a blueprint for inspiring anyone­­including yourself­­to achieve extraordinary levels of performance.

"This book is about leadership­­the kind of practical, mission- and people-based leadership that Colin Powell has practiced, and which throughout his career has translated into performance excellence and competitive success. Whether you run a small family business, a large corporation, a National Guard unit, or your local Parent Teachers Association, you'll benefit from looking at leadership the way Powell himself has looked at leadership."­­From the Prologue

Though born and raised in the hardscrabble streets of the Bronx, Colin Powell has learned to operate with skill and ease in the world's most exclusive, exacting corridors of power. Comfortable and confident in today's bare-knuckles geopolitical arena, the self-effacing Powell has always been willing to deflect credit if it meant achieving his stated goals.

But make no mistake. Colin Powell is­­and always will be­­in command.

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell reveals the deep-seated wisdom and rock-solid foundation beneath Colin Powell's leadership success. Drawing striking parallels between Powell's military and political skills and their value in today's no-quarter world of business, this timeless resource reveals insights into: Powell on Leadership­­"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them." Powell on Integrity­­"Untidy truth is better than smooth lies." Powell on Perseverance­­"You cannot slay the dragon every day. Some days the dragon wins."

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell takes us inside the man Newsweek calls "...the most respected figure in American public life." Whether revealing Powell's ability to make individuals perform, or demonstrating his uncanny knack to articulate vivid goals and values, this one-of-a-kind book reveals the man's techniques in a voice that is crisp, clear, and unmistakable in its resolve.

Change before you are forced to ... Put people over plans ... The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell provides no-nonsense, proven leadership solutions. It examines the principles that motivate Colin Powell­­nobility in purpose, credibility of leadership, integrity in organization, and victory in performance­­and shows how they can help to guide you through virtually any situation. Just as important, it paints a portrait of leadership that is vintage Colin Powell­­short on talk, long on action, and guaranteed to succeed when failure is not an option.


About the Author

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Born in Harlem, raised in the Bronx, the son of immigrant parents, a Vietnam veteran, the recipient of many military and civilian awards, and one of our highest-ranking government officials, Colin Powell epitomizes the American ideal of the self-made individual. Several years ago, Oren Harari used his monthly column in Management Review to distill Powell's many speeches and ideas into 18 leadership principles that could enable any person, no matter how large or small their role in life, to further their quest for success. Passed from reader to reader, disseminated over the Internet, and eventually covered by The Wall Street Journal in a front-page story, Harari's article was an undisputed success -- and led to the creation of this engaging and informative book. While Harari was completing his manuscript, the devastating attacks of September 11th occurred, prompting him, after a period of grief, to revise his principles so that they could accommodate everything he learned while watching Powell assemble a diverse international coalition. The resulting book, therefore, contains a detailed expansion of the original journal article, as well as much new material gleaned from Powell's senior role in the global struggle to eliminate terrorism. If you're looking for leadership advice, you will appreciate the many sound and sometimes counterintuitive insights that Harari presents throughout this book.

If I had to choose a single word to suggest a common theme underlying all of the principles Harari has gathered, I would select "integrity." Whether encouraging people to "dis-organize" accepted procedures, insisting on accountability throughout all levels of an organization, or never failing to pay attention to the details, Powell emerges from this book as a leader who invests whatever he does with a deeply personal sense of integrity. Although this book isn't a paean to its subject (Harari does discuss the criticisms of Powell that have been recently advanced), it is an inspiring look at the ideas and habits of a man whose accomplishments are nothing short of amazing. (Sunil Sharma)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

WORDS, WISDOM, AND INSIGHTS FROM ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST COMMANDING FIGURES

Inspiration from the man who went from humble beginnings in Harlem to the office of Secretary of State Colin Powell is the classic American success story. Born in hardscrabble Harlem to immigrant parents, Powell rose through the ranks of the U.S. military to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-and a soft-spoken, steel-willed Desert Storm hero. Always seemingly one step ahead of both allies and competitors, he quickly became one of America's most trusted and beloved public icons, acknowledged for his courage, his compassion, and his ability to forge victory under the most trying circumstances.

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell recounts Powell's core beliefs on leadership, negotiation, self-knowledge, and more. Based on an article written by Oren Harari after Harari met Powell and heard him speak- - -an article so compelling that it became the subject of a front-page feature in the Wall Street Journal this leadership primer reveals the secrets and insights that made Colin Powell the success he is today. Short, snappy, and packed with Powell's depth and spirit, it will help readers inspire anyone - * including themselves to extraordinary performance.

SYNOPSIS

More than 100,000 copies sold in hardcover!

The New York Times, Business Week, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller—Now in Paperback!

The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell goes beyond other books to take an honest look into the foundations of Colin Powell's compelling leadership style. Sparked with insights and observations that are as refreshingly honest as they are grittily realistic, it provides a blueprint for inspiring anyone—including yourself—to achieve extraordinary levels of performance.

Praise for The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell:

"Management professor Oren Harari adopts Colin Powell's rise into the upper ranks of American power as a model for decision makers in the private sector. Harari hails Powell's character as the essence of a host of supple executive virtues..."

—The Washington Post

"Powell appears to be a natural born leader with an intuitive sense of strategy for advancement in war and politics. For those of us who are not so lucky to have such diplomacy inherently, Harari's book can teach us how to lead effectively following Powell's example."

—USA Today

"This is a 'battle-tested' leadership book and although the author has shown how to apply these principles in the corporate venue, you don't have to be a CEO to benefit from the words and wisdom of Colin Powell."

—Booklist

"Colin Powell's leadership secrets are not secret anymore. Management professor Oren Harari has packaged them in a handbook that can be put to good use by anyone who is in a position of leadership or aspires to be."

—Dallas Morning News

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Even before the events of last fall, Powell was well regarded by the military and civilians around the world. Now, as secretary of state during the war against terrorism, Powell's intelligence and skills as manager, negotiator and leader are even more visible. Harari, a management professor and consultant, met Powell several years ago, but wrote this book without his cooperation. The author has used Powell's own words, from his autobiography and presentations, to create a primer of Powell's leadership secrets. The book reads much like an introductory textbook, explaining key phrases, quotes, anecdotes and principles. Powell's style is somewhat unusual for a military leader. He believes in listening, not just to superiors, but to the people who serve under him; he pushes people to ask hard questions and to approach problems in creative ways; he is solution-oriented and wants answers to problems to be original, not simply tried-and-true methods. While a book by Powell himself on his leadership style would obviously have great appeal, Harari has done an admirable job of distilling the essence of Powell's leadership style. The chapter summaries ("Powell's Principles") are especially clear (e.g., "Hire on talent and values, rather than resumes"; "Don't clock hours for hours' sake"). This is a solid if basic book about leadership that should interest a wide range of readers, especially less experienced managers. Agent, Lynn Johnston. (Mar. 25) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Soundview Executive Book Summaries

Guiding Principles for The 21st Century Leader
Citing the spirit of leadership of Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., Dennis Romig, author of Side by Side Leadership, offers leaders and followers ways they can work together and create outstanding performance gains. His ideas are rooted in seven leadership principles, which include the following: Interaction Fields - leaders create new resources by pulling in and creatively combining resources from outside interaction fields; Focused Creativity - new ideas allow people to increase quality and productivity without working harder or longer; Proven Knowledge - knowledge and experience can help select the best of the proposed ideas for improving performance; Transferred Authority - when workers have the authority to make the improvements they see in their work area without waiting for upper-management approval, the benefits are realized faster.

Two-way communication, shared visionary goals, participation from all team members in decision-making and delegated authority round out the seven Side by Side Leadership principles.