The best scholarly discusion on PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH is this. The title says it all.
The Leadership Genius of George W. Bush
10 Commonsense Lessons from the Commander in Chief
By Carolyn Thompson and James Ware
But Charlie also likes The Right Man.
toms.homeip.net
Review by Brian Jeffries
The history books and newspapers are full of successful businessmen that have turned their careers to politics and been quite successful. So full, in fact, that there is no need to mention them, but the evolution is natural. Successful businessmen, rising to prominence in their respective communities, seek to "give back" by running for office. Or, they may be approached by prominent members of the community who will support them if they run for office. While there seem to be more career politicians and lawyers who have done well in the political arena than any other occupational group (which is to be expected, since legislators make law, and judges by necessity must be lawyers), those with a background in business have done well as legislators, mayors, and governors.
What is surprising is that out of the 43 men that have held the highest executive office in our nation, only one, the current sitting president, has a background in business. George W. Bush is our first MBA President. This background serves as a unique study that seeks to explain The Leadership Genius of George W. Bush.
More of a 'how-to' than an intensive biography, personality study, or platform exposé, The Leadership Genius of George W. Bush: 10 Commonsense Lessons from the Commander in Chief illustrates ten lessons in leadership, using examples from not only the President's life but from others' who have been successful in business as well. It relies on studies, quotes, and books relevant to the lessons to help the reader apply these qualities. And for the reader that is especially keen to apply these principles, exercises are provided as well. As such, it not only serves to give insight into the life and personality of our President, but also to encourage the reader to develop his own "leadership genius." While the book can seem heavy in relying on outside examples, the authors are business consultants, so this isn't surprising, and it may also be intentional to serve a wider audience than your typical political junkie.
For example, in Chapter One, "What Do You Stand For? Identifying Core Values," the reader is given a list of 100 values and asked to "circle 10 of them that appeal to you personally." From there, the reader is asked to reconsider those values and choose less than six, so as to keep in line with Bush's number of core values, which is only three. (To discover those, read the book!) And for those of us who aren't able to step into a situation and decide what our organization's values will be, methods are outlined for discovering what your group's might be. Consider these two statements by President Bush:
"You can enter the political arena, serve with distinction, absorb the slings and arrows and emerge with your dignity and integrity intact."
"My family would love me, my faith would sustain me, no matter what."
One would be hard pressed to find other such clear statements by other widely known but lesser politicians. This book if full of great nuggets like these, as well as little-known anecdotes, that help one to understand the President's life, personality, and leadership.
While there might be those who question the "leadership genius" of George W. Bush, one must only have a slight grasp of current events to understand that our President is a leader who acts based on values. In stark contrast to those who would hire a Dick Morris to advise them how to set policy and triangulate to win re-election or surge ahead in polls, or hire an image consultant to the tune of thousands of dollars a month to strut the campaign walk Alpha Male style, George W. Bush is a man who has his center, knows what's right, creates a vision and allows his carefully selected troops to do their job, while holding them accountable for results. This leadership style springs from his personality, which is on display in those policies he endorses, from school choice to his current stance on terrorism.
President Bush confronted world terrorism against the shrill cries of the anti-war, anti-American voices, both at home and abroad. While many believed he was committing political suicide, the President is currently enjoying widespread support both at home and among those whose thirst for freedom will soon be slaked. Why? Because he seeks first to promote his values. He leads and people follow. Should one be looking for lessons in leadership, this book is an excellent guide to the leadership style of a man whose revered place in history is assured.
Brian Jeffries is a molecular biologist, struggling musician, and a budding real estate investor in Southern California. |
