Synopses & Reviews
Peter F. Drucker, the "father of modern management," promoted the concept of Heroic Leadership throughout his long career, saying, "The Army trains and develops more leaders than do all other institutions togetherand with a lower casualty rate." In Heroic Leadership, leadership expert and retired general William Cohen, a former student and personal friend of Drucker, reveals what Heroic Leadership entailsleading a group with absolute integrity while raising individual performance to a personal best, and building a team spirit of sacrifice for the common good. It requires tough standards, but as Cohen shows you, achieving those standards is not impossible.
Heroic Leadership examines military leadership principles as they apply to business and life, and draws on Cohen's research with more than two hundred leaders from the military, who after leaving the military went on to very successful careers in civilian life. In this book, Cohen maps out the eight universal laws of leadership, and explains why Heroic Leadership has worked so successfully and ethically for thousands of years despite severe conditions of risk, uncertainty, and hardship. He also shows how to implement Heroic Leadership to attract fellowship; use influence tactics; develop self-confidence; build, coach, and motivate a team; take charge in crisis situations; and take action.
Throughout the book you will find:
Real-world examples from business as well as battle, chosen to give you the knowledge and confidence to lead in any situation you may confront
Proven strategies and results-oriented techniques to apply the principles of Heroic Leadership and multiply the productivity of any group or organization
New ideas for motivating people and helping them achieve new heights of personal and group performance
Little-known but highly effective methods for building teamwork and esprit de corps
Methods for developing yourself as a leader and reaching your full potential
Based on Cohen's early best-selling books on leadership, now out of printThe Art of the Leader, The Stuff of Heroes, and The New Art of the LeaderHeroic Leadership is a timeless guide on what it takes to be an authentic, high-performing leader. This book will challenge you to apply the principles of Heroic Leadership, and in turn enable your organization to dare the impossible and achieve the extraordinary.
Synopsis
Proven leadership strategies used by combat and business leaders to accomplish impossible goals
Heroic Leadership examines military leadership principles as they apply to business and life. Leadership expert and retired general William Cohen describes the eight universal laws of leadership and explains why heroic leadership has worked so successfully and ethically for thousands of years despite severe conditions of risk, uncertainty and hardship. He also shows how to implement Heroic Leadership to attract fellowship, use influence tactics, develop self-confidence, build, coach, and motivate a team, take charge in crisis situations, and take action.
- Includes real-world examples from business as well, as battle, that follow the eight universal laws
- Contains proven strategies and techniques to apply the universal laws and multiply the productivity of any group or organization
- Suggests little-known, but highly effective methods for building teamwork and esprit de corps
- Based on the classic, bestselling books on leadership The New Art of the Leader and the Stuff of Heroes
- With a timeless approach to leadership, Heroic Leadership offers innovative ideas for motivating people and helping them to achieve new heights of personal and group performance
Synopsis
Praise for Heroic Leadership
"Heroic Leadership is relevant and timely. Cohen illustrates the application of many sound leadership principles, established through experience in both peace and war, in the form of universal laws, tools, and competencies by presenting an outstanding collection of contemporary and historic examples. Heroic Leadership should be on the reading list and in the library of every leader and student of leadership today."General Peter J. Schoomaker, U.S. Army (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief, United States Special Operations Command, and former Army Chief of Staff
"Once again Bill Cohen brings forth a must-read manual for present and future leaders. His ability to connect the leadership traits necessary to lead in our complex society is remarkable. The virtues of leadership are highlighted, and this is a must-read for those who are inspired to lead. He has given a gift to future leaders, and I am humbled by his work."Harry N. Walters, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and Administrator of Veterans Affairs for President Reagan, 19811987
"General Cohen's book is a major contribution to the literature of successful leadership. He has clearly demonstrated through this distillation of 30 years of study and practice that the successful Heroic Leader must, first of all, be a servant to those being led. Heroism involves sacrifice of one's own interests in favor of others. The hard decisions of leadership invariably require sacrifice of comfort, personal gain, ambition, and even one's life so that others might survive and succeed. Heroic Leadership is a superb guide to understanding and applying this concept of leadership."Major General John Grinalds, USMC (Ret.), former President, The Citadel
"You must read this book! It will help leaders in and out of uniform to do what needs to be done to lead their organizations to success."General Thomas G. McInerney, USAF (Ret.), former Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Chief Executive Officer, Business Executives for National Security
About the Author
William Cohen, Ph.D., is president of the Institute of Leader Arts and the first graduate of Peter Drucker's executive Ph.D. program. About him Drucker wrote: "My colleagues on the faculty and I learned at least as much as we could teach him." Cohen served as major general in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, has held executive positions in several companies, and was president of two universities. He is the author of many management books, including The Art of the Leader, A Class With Drucker, and Drucker on Leadership. For more information, please visit: www.stuffofheroes.com
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Concept of Heroic Leadership.
Part One: The Eight Universal Laws of Heroic Leadership.
1 Maintain Absolute Integrity.
2 Know Your Stuff.
3 Declare Your Expectations.
4 Show Uncommon Commitment.
5 Expect Positive Results.
6 Take Care of Your People.
7 Put Duty Before Self.
8 Get Out in Front.
Part Two: The Eight Basic Influence Tools.
9 Direction.
10 Indirection.
11 Redirection.
12 Deflection.
13 Enlistment.
14 Persuasion.
15 Negotiation.
16 Involvement.
Part Three: The Eight Competencies of Heroic Leadership.
17 How to Attract Followership.
18 How to Develop Your Self-Confidence.
19 How to Build a Heroic Team.
20 How to Build High Morale and Esprit de Corps.
21 How to Motivate When Times Get Tough.
22 How to Take Charge in Crisis Situations.
23 How to Develop Your Charisma.
24 How to Solve Problems and Make Decisions.
Epilogue.
Notes.
About the Author.
Index.