Good Critical Thinking On The Overview Of The Book

Introduction

Perry M. Smith is a retired US Air Force major general born to a military family in 1934 in west Point New Yolk. He did a lot of travel around the world during his youthful age. He lived in Italy following the World War II. After graduating from Highland Fall NY, He attended the United States Military academy where he graduated in 1956 and proceeded to Colombia University where he earned his PHD in international relations. His dissertation has worn the Helen Dwight Reid award given by the America political science Association. He has published 6 books. Such books include Assignment Pentagon, Rules and Tools for Leaders (updated in 2013, co-authored by General Jeffery Foley) and A Hero among Heroes: Jimmie Dyess and the 4th Marine Division. Perry M smith has a great deal of experience in military planning and execution, media and leadership which seem confined to the perspective of an army man. He is also a man of honor and can be trusted especially considering his resignation from CNN following an alleged bogus nerve special; the valley of death. His contribution to leadership is a great deal. Having risen through the ranks in the US army Jeffery Foley is a worthy contributor to this book. After graduating from United States military academy, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the signal corps. He has held several command and staff positions in different unit around the world. He took the office of the Director of Architecture, Operations, Networks, and Space in 2005.

Thesis

 In this paper a will analyze Perry M. Smith’s and Jeffery Foley’s positions to contribute to dynamic leadership and whether their advice can be applied in different social organizations. I will also discuss the relevance of this book to specific social organizations including the business, government sectors and the military. Perry M. Smith and Jeffery both have a great deal of experience in practical leadership and this review will reflect on his experience in leadership as a base of rating this book. I will also discuss the applicability of the so called advices given by the authors in contemporary leadership.

This book was originally written by Major General Perry M. smith. This current edition published in 2013 co-authored by General Jeffery is the advancement of General Perry’s perception of leadership. This book has been considered by Ken Blanchard as the most insightful and relevant advice that could be practiced. In Perry’s words, the book is unique and focuses on practical issue and void of speculation. This book is a classical management handbook that has been reorganized, updated and improved to suit the changing nature of management and improving literacy. Although Perry’s and Jeffry’s perception of management is considered improved classical, they emphasized in their book that leadership should be narrowed down to an individual level- understanding oneself and advancing to one on one leadership that build trust. Approach of leadership advocated by this book are old, they could be reliable for they have been tested over time.
The flow of ideas and prioritization of issue relating management in this is a good one. The Authors begin by defining qualities of a good leader. Such qualities will not mean anything if not put into practice, so the book gives an elaborate outline of how to put management skills into practice. This book focuses on the personal approach to solving problems brought by leadership.
The most interesting part of this book is the way leadership is reduced to individual realization and advanced to building a community. According to Perry Smith and Jeffery Foley, leadership is a step by step process that begins with an individual self realization that will advance one to one on one leadership. One on one leadership will help one build trust hence being able to advance to team leadership and developing community. The ultimate step is to organize leadership in a manner that creates a performance culture and to maintain it. Those that are in leader could still use the book to solve leadership problems that are dynamic and inevitable

Relevance of the book

Leadership is the topic of interest for many authors and readers. Leadership is a dynamic aspect of humanity that calls for new or improved approach. Humans are social and gregarious animals and the aspect of leadership in all social organization will always persist. Ken Blanchard the co-author of “Leading at the Higher Level” and “one minute manager” describes this book as the most thoughtful leadership guides that are practical and covers all aspects of leadership. This book in my opinion has made a relevant contribution to leadership by introducing the aspect of self realization as the first step which will influence how we will relate with our subjects there after. Perry and Jeffrey got it well from the title to the focus on development of personal skills to meet leadership challenges and become a better leader. This book is practical and focuses on the skills of the leader not the weakness of the subject. Although is very much inclined to classical leadership, it is a book for modern organization with unlimited scope.

Contribution

Despite prejudiced critics of the book to be a general’s handbook, it has gained recognition across business community. It has been applied by leaders in social organizations and business.
The entire book is based on practical matters that touch on leadership; it is void on impossible theories. Perry and Jeffry themselves being successful leader in the army mean their contribution to leadership is important. The army is an example best coordination of efforts by humanity. Although some elements of autocracy still persist, the success of the authors in their carries cannot question.

Strengths

Most leadership books have fell short of applicability but this book has simplified the view of leadership to training oneself to reflect on him/herself amid advancing to one on one engagement will develop trust. This step is basic thing that anyone can decide to advance their leadership skills anytime. It goes on to deal with the organization and coordination of effort to ensure that a common good is achieved. This work covers all aspects of leadership from personal development, team building and community development.

Where it is fit

This management hand book suits all leadership aspects like community, teams, and military groups.  It however falls short of a typical business leadership. This book focuses on a leadership style that is no longer common with the sector. Businesses are advancing to strength based leadership rather than building strength from people and correcting their mistakes because leaders are paid to produce results that are almost immediate. A typical; business environment call for success oriented leaders who will ensure that the entire organization is aimed achieving a common goal. Leadership just like any other aspect of business is undergoing rapid improvement and customization to suit the current business environment. Considering competition that is dynamic, the cost of running a business is important, following through Perry’s and Jeffry’s proposals are slow and require projects that are on government pay cheque or non-profit oriented. Leadership in a business environment may involve many other aspects like management and execution of other duties this makes it difficult for an already employed manager to find time go through steps advocated for by Perry’s and Jerry’s handbook.

Weaknesses of the book

Although the books title states that it is a practical handbook for leaders at all levels, it has not recognized common managerial challenges like communication. This book gives much attention to those who are aspiring leaders. It explains from step one on how to be a leader. It however gives little advice to those who are leaders already and are facing leadership huddles already. Leadership is dynamic and I thing every sector should customize its leadership tactics to suit problems that are unique to them. For instance problems faced by a military commandant are different from those faced by a retail market manager. Some businesses may be willing o retain autocratic leadership style while some may prefer free will. Perry’s and Jeffry’s approach to leadership is not putting to account time and cost which determine whether a business is viable or not and therefore business cannot rely on it. Other proposals like the above stated by strength based leadership that put someone to work immediately based on his or her strengths and talents.
Another weakness of the book is its failure to recognize psychological aspects of the subjects which is a point of consideration whenever a leadership decision is involved. The book should have dedicated some space for subject analysis and how it might affect leadership decisions. When the focus of a manager is to develop his leadership skills, they may end up ignoring the talent and abilities they already have that could be utilized.

Golden nugget quotes

The language used in this book is simple and flawless. Although it lucks golden nugget quotes, it is inspiring as it is motivating. It is based on practical matters and is therefore void of motivational quotes that are obvious to the reader.

Conclusion

Perry M smith and Jeffery Foley have presented a suitable topic in the best manner that best suit the time and work force generation that they represent. In my opinion this handbook is applicable and an important contributor to the leadership topic. It however doesn’t capture the entire dimension of leadership because different institution have different objectives and ignoring the fact that all sectors can have a classical approach to leadership is to not true. From the beginning of time, leaders have existed and they succeeded because they blended into their environments, understood their subjects and above all concentrated on their strengths. I believe every book concerning leadership including “tools for leadership” have contributed to advancement of leadership but no single book will ever solve the riddle of leadership. Time come with good ideas but when it passes such ideas are obsolete and they remain non practical work remaining in libraries to be cited and reviewed. In my opinion leadership is a skill that works with a talent and this may mean that, that which works for one may not works for everybody. I perceive leadership as a psychological game that makes team member to willingly put in their contribution to ensure that a common objective good or bad is achieved. In order to influence someone, the leader must touch on issues that matter to people like family, money, friends, well being and other things. What matters to people is relative and so is leadership. This book is insightful and will in my opinion offer much help to aspiring leaders in the governmental institution and community organization but insufficient to businesses.
 
 

Reference

Smith, P., & Foley, J. (2013). Rules & tools for leaders: From developing your own skills to running organizations of any size, practical advice for leaders at all levels (4th ed., revised Perigee trade pbk. ed.). New York: Perigee.