[August 16, 2015] A special treat for my readers today! A new book on my recommended list is by a writer who is a 4-star U.S. Army general; no surprise but in this case it’s the Army’s first female general. This is a new book, only recently published and comes out at a time the women running for U.S. president should pause and read. We’ve all been bombarded with an early presidential campaign cycle plagued with scandals, gutter politics, a biased media, and a hot summer. Why not a book that applies to leadership. Anyway, the hot summer at least gives me a chance to get away from all the campaign commercials while I walk my new dog in the park.
A Higher Standard: Leadership, Strategies from America’s First Female Four-Star General, Ann Dunwoody, 2015.
Ann Dunwoody makes an early point in her new book; that a good leadership philosophy can help you in your career but also in your life. She also shows how she is able to balance being a committed, dedicated, hardworking Army general but also a wife, friend, coach, and still maintain her non-work relationships. What do I like about this book? Two things stand out. First General Ann Dunwoody (Retired) is really good at summarizing some of the key attributes of leadership. She does this in unexpected ways that makes you think. Second, she doesn’t use her gender as a crutch or an excuse for anything; something many female leaders are quick to do these days. What she has to say is applicable to any leader or manager and the title of her book has direct application to how we conduct ourselves daily – a higher standard. One of her lessons is a leader should never walk by a mistake because that would set another standard; a lower standard. Personally I liked best her Chapter 5 on “courage” which to her means doing the right thing for the right reason. I’m placing the book on my recommended reading list.
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