Leadership Reading Recommendations

CrewDad

CrewDad

DS USNA 22 - Naval Aviator / DD UCLA 25 - SWO
5-Year Member
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Jan 7, 2018
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My Mid is required to read Leadership Books this semester at Annapolis. Can you suggest few great books to read! Like to recommend perspective coverage from the military and management leadership. So far I recommended the following books:

Turn the Ship Around, by David Marquett
Extreme Ownership, by Bred Lomenick
H3 Leadership - Humble Hungry Hustle
Principles Life and Work, by Ray Dalio
Lead Like Ike - from the CEO of D-Day

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https://www.usni.org/store/books/holiday-catalog-2017/no-higher-honor

The story of the USS Samuel B. Roberts when she struck a mine in the Persian Gulf. The captain and crew saved the badly damaged ship from sinking only after Captain Rinn realized the copious amounts of fire fighting water was close to putting the ship under. He ordered the P-250 pumps off so as to concentrate on de-watering. My best friend, Master Chief Jim Lambert, then an HM1, was the Sammy B’s Independent Duty Corpsman and he saved many lives. Sick Bay and the battle dressing stations were damaged so Jim and the junior HM set up triage and treatment stations top side using supplies from portable medical lockers and 50 gallon emergency water tanks which we are required to maintain and inspect quarterly.

The ship was taken home on a lift ship for repair. Captain Rinn went on to lecture on the leadership actions which saved the ship. Jim and I followed each other around to various duty stations such as shore duty in Florida, Camp Lejeune, and BUMED. He and I were fortunate enough to be gainfully employed in real world ops before and after 9/11. He bumped me out of a sweet trip to the ME when we were in Florida, but it wasn’t his fault so I finally forgave him.

This story will educate a Mid with lessons on leadership at all levels. The obvious is the CO and other ward room members, but a Senior Chief Engineman was awarded a bronze star with V for his efforts. What about the medical supplies? Sure, Doc is the one who maintains them but what if he didn’t? The board of inquiry would have blistered Rinn because he didn’t maintain sufficient war fighting materials and sailors died needlessly. I haven’t looked at the curricula from SWO or CO/XO school lately but the only thing they used to teach about medical was how the IDC can get you fired. The reality is, the CO is responsible for the health of the crew. Doc is just the one who carries out the tasks. Leadership and trusting but verifying ensures those tasks are completed. The same goes for all the other ratings and departments but they get more attention. If tin can can’t go boom or fire missiles, things get tense. If the ship can’t get underway though, the captain’s daddy the commodore will pay a visit. Anyway, this book may fit your midshipman’s need.
 
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Anything by ADM James Stavridis, in particular “Destroyer Captain” and “The Leader’s Bookshelf.”

GEN Mattis’ reading list:
https://taskandpurpose.com/30-books-mattis-thinks-every-good-leader-needs-read

From the civilian world, look for articles and books from the Senn Delaney consulting group, the ones about “the shadow of the leader” and creating a culture focused on success, but in a healthy way.

And for fun and many worthwhile nuggets, “Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun,” Wess Roberts.
 
I second General Mattis' reading list. My mid has been counseled to first think WWMD* when faced with a test or dilemma.



* What Would Mattis Do?
 
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Any of VADM James Stockdale’s books, but I always liked “Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot” best. He was an admirer of Epictetus and Stoicism, and used that to lead and survive during his POW experience.

Anything by GEN Colin Powell, but my favorites include “It Worked For Me.”

By Gen Ann Dunwoody, first female 4-star, “A Higher Standard.”

“Reflections of a Servant Leader,” Major General Alfred Flowers. I had never heard of him until I was given this book. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Chief of Naval Operations pro reading:
https://www.navy.mil/ah_online/cno-readingprogram/
 
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Some good suggestions above...I'll only comment on one of the books above --the Extreme Ownership re: Seal Leadership. One of my cousins saw them at a book signing and bought it for me. Let me preface my comments that I deeply respect the SEALS, both their training program and their accomplishments during GWOT. However, I don't think SEALS have a cornerstone on leadership, and frankly am disappointed in the use of the SEAL name to sell everything from guns, watches and leadership books.

I read the book solely because my cousin bought it for me...and while its been a couple years and forget the details, I remember it was a painful experience. Very repetitive and full of SEAL hooyah. Most of the leadership "lessons" were in the Preface, the rest was just filler.

On the topic of Leadership books....I've read a few from time to time, and my overall impression is to steer away from any book that includes "leadership lessons" in the title. Many are written by wannabees that tell anecdotal stories and their conclusion of the moral. There are many , many good books that tell a story, and leave it to the reader to interpret the leadership principle to be garnered. General Mattis' list is a good example, and Devil Doc's recommendation of No Higher Honor looks like something up my alley. Along a similar note, I would recommend ADAK - The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586, which tells the story of the ditching of a P3 Orion off Alaska in the late 70's. That should be required reading for anyone interested in Maritime Patrol Aviation.
 
Capt MJ said:
Anything by ADM James Stavridis, in particular “Destroyer Captain” and “The Leader’s Bookshelf.”

GEN Mattis’ reading list:
https://taskandpurpose.com/30-books-mattis-thinks-every-good-leader-needs-read

From the civilian world, look for articles and books from the Senn Delaney consulting group, the ones about “the shadow of the leader” and creating a culture focused on success, but in a healthy way.

And for fun and many worthwhile nuggets, “Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun,” Wess Roberts.
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Captain MJ and I must share similar backgrounds, in leadership experiences, and reading interests...she named a book I was about to name!
(I'll also add another)



Books on Leadership.gif
 
I admit to always trying to notice what book was in a senior leader’s office or in a pocket of their gym bag to be read while on the treadmill or bike at 0430.
I always have a pro book on my phone or iPad, along with recreational reading, to read whenever I can.
I started reading more professional books when I was tapped to be the XO for a major naval homeport accelerating from a 5-year to a 3-year BRAC closure deadline. I needed insights on managing the scale and the human change element.

I always enjoy these threads, because there are always more good reads out there.
 
@Old Navy BGO in much agreement with your SEAL comments. The commercialization of their deeds in recent years has become embarrassing. We don’t need to know every time DEVGRU nabs or pops somebody. It’s gotten to where I wonder if ST1-10 still exist since every news story and book claims ST 6 as the heroes.

I’ll now have to sleep with one eye open waiting for the front door to be breached at Oh Dark Thirty.
 
Lots of great recommendations here but (blushing here), the best I've seen is a privately printed/limited edition Book titled
"Along the Way" which is a book of leadership essays that a good friend published as a graduation gift to his son when he
commissioned out of NROTC.
.
{Cough Cough} a "frequent poster" from this site wrote one of the chapters. If you come across a copy, it is a great
collection on leadership with essays from many established leaders in the military and civilian world.
.
The publisher was a great leader in his own career as a very highly regarded NFO with dual quals - F14 and EA6B and
a great career in the USN/USNR/Corporate world.
 
MidCakePa said:
“Influence,” by Robert Cialdini. Because truly effective leadership is simply that: influence.
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Very true. Positive influence or negative influence matters not. The result is positive or negative results. Leadership nonetheless.
 
Thank you for the incredible list of leadership Reading. I agree some are hit and miss including relevant application to your environment. I’m but disappointed with Extreme Ownership feedback as I saw 5 stars on Amazon. Sometimes you have to pick up the book read few pages through chapters to get the fee of the book to see if the book is right for you. Again thank you for the amazing quick responses from everyone! I will check out Mattis reading list.
 
Art of War by Sun Tzu. Great book, does not only provide war advice by leadership advice. Very good book. Would recommend. 10/10.
 
So I always think military leaders usually get plenty of military leadership examples but rarely step outside their comfort zone to read information from other realms so I like to go outside the box a little and pull most of my suggestions from the business world. Many of the topics and suggestions are translatable to military themes, so without further ado (and in no particular order):

The Five dysfunctions of a team: A Leadership Parable by Patrick Lencioni. - will assist in recognition of the different “players” on a team and how they interact (or don’t) and what types of “players” make up a functional team. (Eg You don’t want all “Yes” people)

Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. By Daniel Pink. Discusses motivation and how motivation has evolved over time from a “do what needs to be done to survive” to a “carrot & stick” methodology to what we have today. Talks a lot about a desire for autonomy, but doesn’t necessarily mean do what I want, when I want. Will help you understand how to motivate those around you.

Leaders eat Last: why some teams pull together and others don’t. By Simon Sinek. Discusses a “circle of safety” and discusses how people need to feel “safe” before they are truly able to turn themselves to the outward “threats” to allow the group to excel. I have used this book when I discuss sexual harassment and assault training as a direct example of when people are worried about their fellow coworkers causing them harm how in the world can they put their full energy into making the ship ready to fight. An easy read.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek. It’s been a bit longer since I’ve read this one, but it discusses that groups who have a good understanding of “why” they do what they do excel compared to those who simply discuss what they do. It’s probably a bit simplific, but I found this to be extremely helpful in setting up my personal vision and mission which I now describe as “I remove roadblocks so that others may excel.”

And one somewhat off the wall suggestion:

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In. By Roger Fisher & William Ury. As a military officer you are going to be in innumerable situations where you need something from someone else or you want a particular course of action taken. We typically learn negotiating from watching others and in the military many have little to no training in this skill. This book will help at least give you the framework and basics on a way to negotiate in many different types of situations. It was written quite a while ago, but still appears to hold true.

And one last suggested reading. Until he is no longer in office I feel it important to read the Commander in Chief’s book: The Art of the Deal. You will almost certainly never get an opportunity to sit down with the person who sets the overall strategy for your work, but reading this book gives you much insight into President Trump and how he attempts to achieve his goals. Whether you agree with him or not is not the point to this suggestion, but rather to give you an idea of how he thinks.

For practical advice: many of the books I and others have suggested are available free via either ebook or audio book download to those on active duty (and possibly Reserves, ROTC, etc I’m just not 100% sure on that) through the Navy Digital Library program. Once you sign up via CAC you can login without CAC from anywhere. One of the included programs also includes digital access to what seems to be every magazine out there. Highly recommend signing up for an account. Can’t beat free!
 
This has nothing to do with the military, but offers insights into business and healthcare leadership. “If Disney ran your hospital”. It is a great read.
I especially liked the part about empowering your staff with the ability to say yes. I was a Disney college summer intern. For example, let’s say a bird pooped on a guest’s shirt. As a 19 year old summer temp, I had the authority to go to the nearest gift shop and give the guest a new shirt. No supervisor permission needed. Any employee has the ability, and is encouraged, to see a problem and fix that problem. The ability to tell a guest yes. Imagine a hospital with that level of customer service.
 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hammes

I linked the Wiki page for one of my COs at CBIRF. Col Hammes has an Oxford PhD and has written numerous articles and books on warfare and leadership. One day before he took command, the outgoing colonel brought him to my office to introduce me. He and I had a casual, joking type of relationship when times allowed. I shook Col Hammes’ hand and said something like, “Thank God, sir. This place needs an upgrade.”

I can’t write here what the outgoing CO said/told me to do. I started laughing as he stormed out the door and Hammes looked at us like we were crazy. Anyway, he’s a smart dude with some written and spoken works which might be of interest to the members here.
 
FutureMarine07 said:
Art of War by Sun Tzu. Great book, does not only provide war advice by leadership advice. Very good book. Would recommend. 10/10.
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Yes. Have this already. I read it 25 years ago and had DS to read in 2016. Good read for anyone interested in strategy and tactics. It is timeless!
 
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