Building Leaders the West Point Way: Ten Principles from the Nation's Most Powerful Leadership Lab

By Joseph P. Franklin

Book Overview

Major General Joseph P. Franklin (ret.) believes almost everything that he is as an adult can be traced back to his days at West Point, where he was not only a cadet but an instructor, football coach, and eventually Commandant of Cadets. U.S. Military Academy graduates are found at the highest levels in every walk of life: military, education, business, medicine, law, and government. "But," says Franklin, "you don't have to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy to embrace its ideals or to benefit from the wisdom that is taught there. Competent, even inspiring, leadership is within the grasp of nearly everyone." The principles of leadership-including Duty, Honor, Faith, Courage, Perseverance, Confidence, Approachability, Adaptability, Compassion, and Vision-can be internalized and polished to one's own level of expertise and ambition. "I have known Joe Franklin, since the late 1970s, when I coached at West Point and he was the Commandant of Cadets. General Joe is well-known by the many people whose lives he has touched as a truly thoughtful, approachable, and compassionate human being. He has written a very readable book using examples drawn from his personal experience to illustrate key principles of leadership, a subject I have studied and practiced for most of my adult life. His simple, honest, easy to understand text is a welcome addition to the references available to leaders, young and old alike. This book will definitely help you become a better leader. The General is one of the best ever " - Mike "Coach K" Kryzewski, Duke University Basketball Coach

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0785221646
• ISBN13: 9780785221647
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Another great Leadership Book.

I was reading Leadership: Past, Present & Future by Carlos M. Rivera and he talks about West Point, so I wanted to know more about West Point and Leadership and this is a great book. Every Leader should get both books. 5 Star book. A keeper.

The foreword by General Norman Schwarzkopf is impressive!

The foreword by General Norman Schwarzkopf is impressive (I would have put his name on the cover) and the author's declaration that, "everything I have accomplished and learned, successes earned and disappointments endured--can be traced back to my days at West Point" alerts readers, right from the start where this book is going. What surprised me--having known a few generals in my time--is the candor with which Major General Joseph P. Franklin, former Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at West Point, writes this. Who will benefit from it and why, is the broader question. As an entrepreneur and author of a book on marketing, I know that business leaders don't take the time they should to read. When they do it is books with bulleted points, single page self-evaluations and faddish, over-simplified directives. One of the best ever, "In Search of Excellence," benefited from in-depth analysis of what worked in a variety of existing corporations. Here we are limited to Franklin's service experiences and the one or two top-level executive positions he has held since retirement. Would a young buck scrambling up the corporate ladder in these Enron/WorldCom days ask, "What are we doing...and why are we doing it?" or rather, "How can I get more, faster?" I don't doubt the General's earnestness for a moment, only wish our politicians and current military leaders would at least appear to practice what he says. For example, while discussing honor he states: "What if there's a problem and they (company leaders) are asked to cover it up? The right person to step up to leadership will always answer: 'If that's the case, don't ask me to be in charge.'" The chapter on "Faith" was the hardest for me to swallow. I understand what the General means when he says, "Those dedicated volunteers and their leaders (in Iraq) have two choices: they can be bitter and question their service and the leadership above them, or they can faithfully serve their leaders our country, and the assignments given them." It would be hard to follow someone who you didn't believe had faith in the mission and faith does play the major role in controlling fear, but as a Vietnam vet, I have to say, "yes, but..." And maybe he heard me because the next chapter begins with the quote: "It takes real courage to admit you're wrong." On the other hand his chapter on "Compassion" reveals the man as well as the true meaning of leadership. His distinction between leadership and management is also useful. (There are callouts throughout the book that reinforce its message. Someone--probably the publisher--marked each of these with three stars. Their content stands on its own without an appeal to rank and, anyway, shouldn't it be two stars for a major general?) But talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Franklin's decision to measure the high radiation levels of a nuclear power plant at the Greenland ice cap by himself rather than put a subordinate in danger is truly inspirational. My ne

Superb Primer on Leadership from a proven Leader of Character

This is an excellent, no nonsense primer on leadership. General Franklin doesn't pontificate or preach; he presents practical, easy to read essays on ten key principals of leadership, principals that apply in every walk of life, not just the military. One would expect nothing less from a former Commandant of Cadets at West Point, the individual charged with turning America's finest young men and women into commissioned Leaders of Character who will lead our nation's Army and indeed, the nation itself, through the 21st century. Evryone has something to gain from this book; much of what he says is timeless.

Shades of Gray

Joe Franklin's book is first and foremost an excellent tretis on what comprises leadership. It has two strengths not usually found in leadership discussions. First, General Franklin does not talk in absolutes, freely admitting and giving examples of where divergence from an accepted principal is not only acceptable but the right thing to do. Second, the book discusses leadership both in the military and in corporate America in a manner that freely admits the necessary difference in how the principles are applied in each environment. Both military and civilian leaders will profit from reading this book.

I Loved It!

What a great book for future and current leaders. Easy to read and full of practical examples as well as thoughtfull insights