LEADING THE CHARGE: Leadership Lessons From the Battlefield to the Boardroom.

Retired Marine General Tony Zinni, together again with co-author Tony Koltz, has provided us with a simple but powerful blueprint for leadership in our ever-changing and complex world. First, this is not another “how to” book on effectively transitioning military leadership to the boardrooms of international conglom­erates—although Gen Zinni is superbly qualified to focus on that angle. This book is much, much more and one that will make you nod your head and shout, “He’s got it!”

Like many concerned Americans, the general had become dismayed with an alarming state of national and international affairs and our seeming lack of leader­ship. Our newspapers abound with stories of failure on the local, national and global landscape. He asks: “What went wrong?” And, “What happened to our leaders?” Today, he observes, we are in urgent need of passionate, precise and visionary leadership.

In “Leading the Charge,” Gen Zinni has offered us his best thinking on the vitally important topic of leadership and leadership responsibilities. And, beyond doubt, he is qualified to address this subject. He retired after nearly four decades of distinguished service as a Marine officer. He served as a platoon leader in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. During the war, he also served as an advisor to the Vietna­mese Marine Corps. In later years, Gen Zinni served as Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, the commander for the joint task force during the withdrawal of U.N. forces from Somalia—Operation United Shield—in 1995, and was Deputy Commander and later Commander, United States Central Command (CENTCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Since his military retirement, Gen Zinni has served on the advisory boards of several major U.S. companies and taught courses in ethics and leadership at Virginia Military Institute, University of California and Duke University. Gen Zinni also has acted as the U.S. special envoy for the President on various diplomatic missions in the Middle East. In June, Gen Zinni was appointed chairman of the board for BAE Systems Inc., and appointed as acting president and CEO of BAE Systems in North America.

Of his vast experience as a leader, Gen Zinni writes, “Sixteen years of Catholic education and thirty-nine years in the Marine Corps have imprinted positive character traits that continue to make me, the nuns, and the drill sergeants proud.” With a half century of enthusiastic leadership experience, “Leading the Charge” represents Gen Zinni’s third published work.

Becoming a successful leader, according to Gen Zinni, starts by defining oneself. Knowing your personal values is indeed important, but living up to those values is essential. A successful leader must continue to challenge himself and never com­promise his integrity or principles. The effective leader must also learn to share power. For the overuse of authority, he notes, should be a last resort. The leader must create a positive environment, one that promotes success, for the team.

Gen Zinni suggests that understanding and utilizing one’s skills as a teacher and mentor are especially important. First, you must listen carefully to those around, for only then can you provide needed vision and direction to your organization. Whenever possible, he notes, create the feeling of ownership within your team. Master both time and technology; however, never allow time or technology to master you. Throughout the book, Gen Zinni warns: The failure to change is often the root of an organization’s downfall. And importantly, the willingness of a corporation to adapt holds the key to managerial success.

“Leading the Charge” is clearly written and easy to understand. It will speak forcefully to our current and future leaders. For within the book’s pages, both the “strategic corporal” looking up and the captain of global industry looking down will discover the fundamentals of successful leadership.

Perhaps as never before, America is in need of leadership. “Bugler, sound the charge!”

LEADING THE CHARGE: Leadership Lessons From the Battlefield to the Boardroom.

By General Tony Zinni, USMC (Ret) with Tony Koltz. Published by Palgrave Macmillan.

256 pages. Stock #0230612652.

$22.50 MCA Members. $25 Regular Price.