The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell

By Oren Harari

Book Overview

One of Booklist's Top 10 Business Books of 2002 and a BusinessWeek, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today business bestseller

"Management professor Oren Harari adopts Colin Powell's rise into the upper ranks o

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 007141861X
• ISBN13: 9780071418614
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A great book on leadership!

In "Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell," Oren Harari distills and expounds upon the leadership style of one of the most well respected leaders of our time. It is not a biography about or tribute to Powell, neither is it a book written by Powell. Rather, Harari has drawn from a wide range of sources such as personal communication with Powell, magazine articles, books, speeches, etc. The result is a powerfully motivating and thought-provoking book."Leadership Secrets" has 16 chapters divided into 3 main sections:Section 1-Powell as Provocateur-jumps right in with "Know When to Piss People Off." The other chapters in include "Promote a Clash of Ideas," "The Ego Trap," "Don't Go Looking for No," "The Chief Dis-organizer," and, "When to Challenge the Pros."Section 2-Powell on Strategy and Character-is milder but just as thought provoking with, "Close With the Enemy," "People Over Plans," "Vigilance in Detail," "Situation Dictates Strategy," "Powell's Rules for Picking People," and, "Trust Those in the Trenches."Section 3-The Powell Character-dwells on some of the less concrete aspects of leadership with "The Powell Way," "Optimism Is a Force Multiplier," "Take Leave when You've Earned It," and, "Prepare for Loneliness."The book moves along at a good pace. Harari does a nice job of presenting concepts without feeling the need to spell things out in excruciating detail. Each chapter is self-contained making the book easy to pick up and read in spurts. Finally, each chapter ends with a nice summary of the main concepts."Leadership Secrets" is certainly on the upper end of the bell curve of business and leadership books. I give it an unequivocal endorsement.

A Change Of View

I must admit that Colin Powell was not an autobiography that I would pick up and read. In my fast-paced life even I have formed a mental picture of what Powell is or isn't. I swept through the pages with vigor, as I formed a new image of Colin Powell. I never looked at Powell as a leader. I had stereotyped Powell as just another success story of a son of immigrant parents born in Harlem, New York and a decorated Vietnam veteran that has become on of the United States highest ranking government officials. The author Oren Harari, a business management professor, did a great job highlighting 18 leadership principals of Colin Powell, before and after September 11, 2001. This book is definitely a clear and well written keeper. I really respect Powell's independence, leadership, and his ability to challenge traditional methods of leadership, and unknowingly created his own style. What set the pace is how the author explained what the book isn't. I feel that it set the stage for an unbiased and scientific look at Powell's leadership qualities. This book is a good tool for entrepreneurs, business professionals, military personnel, and young people.Harari is truly a gifted writer, I look forward to adding his books to my library.

Highly Recommended!

Perhaps no political leader in the United States is more widely respected than Colin Powell, decorated soldier, architect of the 1991 U.S. victory over Iraq, former presidential contender and current Secretary of State. Using anecdotes and quotations from Powell's life, management professor Oren Harari distills leadership philosophies and methods that can be applied to business. The book is written in a short, pithy style, reflecting Powell's own direct approach. While the principles Harari uncovers are not innovative, they are comprehensive and practical. Charged with maintaining an international coalition in the ongoing war on terrorism, Powell has been thrust into one of the world's most important leadership roles. For this reason alone, we from getAbstract recommend Harari's book for its insight into the man's leadership philosophies, which have had a profound influence on U.S. military and government organizations.

Inspiring and captivating

This is an excellent leadership book for military members and corporate managers. If you were in any way confused about how to lead units, build confidence in organizations or improve yourself.....get this book! I can't put it down. I'm pouring over it in preparation for my next military assignment. I originally purchased the book to learn about the "Powell Way", but I quickly realized it could also be "my way" as well. I'm a LCDR in the U.S. Navy and also a freshly minted MBA--what a great book to prepare me for the upcoming challenges in my career. The book is packed full of cogent examples of problems and how Secretary / General Powell executed his plan to quickly resolve them. I wish, however, the book contained more failures or unsuccessful exploits and the lessons Powell learned. I believe that kind of insight is also just as valuable in leadership....how to deal with failure. Overall, I highly recommend this book be made required reading for every MBA, officer candidate, cadet and midshipman--Simply put, this is good stuff.