The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell

"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.

Oren Harari, Ph.D.,is a professor of management at the McLaren Graduate School of Business, University of San Francisco. A prominent author, speaker, and consultant in the areas of competitive advantage, organizational change, and transformational leadership, Harari is the author or coauthor of six previous books, and has contributed to Harvard Business Review, California Management Review, Industrial Relations, Small Business Reports, and numerous other professional publications.