The Leadership List

John Eades, author of “Building the Best,” discusses eight proven methods for elevating others to higher levels of performance and success. A difficult discussion with a coworker made Eades realize his shortcomings as a manager. That moment inspired him to discover the secrets of effective leadership. Patrick Lencioni, author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” calls Eades’ book “…a treasure trove of practical wisdom.”

Taylor Baldwin Kiland and Peter Fretwell, authors of “Lessons From the Hanoi Hilton Six Characteristics of High Performance Teams,” tell how prisoners-of-war (POWs) not only survived, but THRIVED in the most infamous camp of the Vietnam War. Led by then-Navy Commander James Stockdale, the prisoners created a “POW culture” which fought efforts to make them propaganda tools. Their weapons of choice… creative resistance while loving and caring for each other. The story of the Hanoi Hilton remains one of the most inspirational chapters in U.S. military history and their ethos can be applied to any organization to build high-performance teams. Their POW culture helped the prisoners overcome brutal torture and prolonged isolation with only 4% suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder….the lowest rate among all American combat veterans. While in captivity, Stockdale thought he might be court-martialed for his interpretation of the Code of Conduct and his endorsement of this POW culture, but he stayed on course because he believed it was the right path. In the end, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Dr. James Bond Stockdale II, son of Admiral Stockdale, says most books on this subject “struggle to comprehend” the “breadth and depth” of the POW experience. He added, the real value of this book is the “distillation of life lessons for those seeking practical application.” Kiland and Fretwell spent seven years interviewing and researching the POWs and their experiences in the Hanoi Hilton as well as their return home.

Retired Marine Corps General Richard “Butch” Neal, author of “What Now, Lieutenant? Leadership Forged From Events in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Beyond,” says one evening in combat during the Vietnam War shaped his entire career…all the way to Assistant Commandant. He shares his tales of serving with a Medal of Honor recipient while fighting on Hill 70 in Vietnam, working with the press as Defense Department spokesman during Desert Storm, and taking the lead on implementing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the Corps during the 90’s. Neal’s story begins on Hill 70 in the Republic of Vietnam on the evening of March 30, 1967 while serving with the Third Battalion, Ninth Marines. They were overrun by the North Vietnamese Army that night and Neal soon found himself in command. His decisions saved the lives of many Marines and Neal earned the Silver Star for his actions while serving alongside 2Lt John P. Bobo, Medal of Honor recipient. Lieutenant Bobo lost his right leg below the knee, but refused to be evacuated and continued the fight until he was mortally wounded. They lost 15 Marines on Hill 70 that evening. Neal calls it his ultimate ‘What Now, Lieutenant?’ moment. One that would shape the rest of his career. Now retired and living in Washington, D.C., Neal still visits those 15 Marines a few times each week at the Vietnam Memorial.

Patrick Lencioni, author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” says organizational health should be the top priority on every team because it’s the foundation for collective success. Without it, every task and detail becomes exponentially more difficult. First published in 2002, The Five Dysfunctions provides a roadmap for creating a positive culture in any organization. With millions of copies sold, the book remains one of the world’s leading resources on team building. Hosted by George Maurer, Ed.S., THE LEADERSHIP LIST is a production of the American Forces Radio Network and the Defense Media Activity.

Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, co-author of "Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World," explains why conventional tactics weren't working against Al Qaeda in Iraq during 2004 and how his team turned the tide by pushing decision-making down to the frontlines. These lessons then became a five-step plan for success in a dynamic, ever-changing world...regardless of industry. General McChrystal's book resides on the professional reading lists of the Army Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Hosted by George Maurer, Ed.S., THE LEADERSHIP LIST is a production of the American Forces Radio Network and the Defense Media Activity. Transcript: https://dvidshub.net/r/zvl7r9

Rod A. Beckstrom, author of "The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations," explores the challenges and advantages of leaderless organizations. If you cut off a spider’s head, it dies; if you cut off a starfish’s leg it grows a new one, and that leg can grow into an entirely new starfish. Traditional top-down organizations are like spiders, but now starfish organizations are changing the face of business and the world. In the wake of 9/11, Beckstrom was appointed as the founding Director of the U.S. National Cybersecurity Center and a Senior Advisor to the Director of National Intelligence as the U.S. military sought new strategies to fight an unprecedented enemy. His book resides on the professional reading lists of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Hosted by George Maurer, Ed.S. A production of the American Forces Radio Network and the Defense Media Activity. Transcript: https://dvidshub.net/r/sjv8xx