Publisher's Synopsis
Broadly applicable, hard-won lessons on smart leadership and effective institutional reform from former secretary of defense and #1 bestselling author Robert M. Gates. From a first-time manager to a seasoned CEO, this book is for anyone interested in learning to lead better. For many Americans, bureaucracy is a code word for inertia. Robert M. Gates understands-but also knows that it doesn't have to be that way. Having led change successfully at three sprawling, monumental organizations-the CIA, Texas A&M University, and the Department of Defense-he offers the ultimate insider's look at how large organizations and companies can be transformed. With stunning clarity, Gates shares how simple plans, faithfully executed, can cut through the mire of bureaucracy to reform organizational culture, to effect change within committees, to embrace the power of compromise, and to listen and respond to your team. Gates advises his readers with the full weight of his wisdom, candor, and devotion to duty. This book will empower leaders at any level to effectively implement his managerial strategies and witness the profound results.
