By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
April 22, 2009 - When it comes to strategic leadership, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan boils his philosophy down to four basic tenets: Get the big ideas right. Educate – and if necessary, sell -- your subordinates on those ideas. Execute them together. Then identify lessons learned and best practices to improve the whole process. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, described his leadership philosophy yesterday at the John F. Kennedy School of Government on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
During the forum, "21st Century Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Military," Petraeus shared the process of strategizing, communicating and refining that he said guided his watch as commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and more recently, at Centcom.
The first responsibility, he told the group, is "to get the really big ideas right."
Petraeus pointed as an example to his experience in Iraq, where violence was soaring before the United States implemented a new strategy in early 2007 that deployed more troops into the communities they were protecting.
"We realized that we had to change some of the big ideas," he told the Harvard audience. "We had to focus on securing and serving the people -- that was No. 1. And you could only do that by living with them. ... You cannot commute to the fight."
After the "big ideas" are established, Petraeus emphasized the importance of educating subordinate leaders about them to ensure so everyone shares a common command vision.
"Ideally, they are so compelling, so convincing, so powerful that the leaders embrace them," he said. But if they don't, "sometimes there has to be a little help," he said. "You might have to hold their arms around them ... so they then can take these on as their own."
Once everyone is on the same sheet of music, the next step is to work together as a team to put those big ideas into action, Petraeus said, but the process can't stop there.
"There's a very important final element," he told the group. "You have to identify lessons learned. You have to feed them back in to refine the big ideas -- which then have to be transmitted to the subordinate leaders to change the way you are executing."
Petraeus said it's also critical to capture and share best practices. That "has to be an enormous part of this," he said.
Serving as the point man in Iraq, Petraeus also cited the importance of holding true to the principles of honesty and other closely held American ideals. He called the information operations campaign – the public affairs effort – "of enormous importance" to the operations in Iraq.
"We explicitly said, 'We are going to be first with the truth," he said. "We want to beat the bad guys to the headlines, but it has got to be the truth. If you have a bad day, we are going to step up to the mike and say we had a bad day. If you make a mistake, you are going to acknowledge it and say what we learned from it and how we are going to try to minimize the chance of such mistakes happening in the future.
"We are not going to put lipstick on pigs," he said. "If it was bad, we are going to say it was bad."
Not everyone agreed with this approach, Petraeus conceded. Some "very senior people" who visited him in Iraq told him, "Dave, you have a messaging problem over here," he said.
In the early days of the surge, Petraeus said, he "would look them in the eye and say, 'Sir, we don't have a messaging problem. We have a results problem. And we have to let the results speak for themselves.'"
People will recognize when the results start turning around, Petraeus said he told the naysayers. "The idea should be to under-promise and over-deliver."
As they conducted their operations, Petraeus said, he insisted that U.S. forces stay true to basic American principles. When they have strayed from these principles – as at the Abu Ghraib detainment facility in Iraq – "we have paid for it enormously," he said.
"We have fought for centuries for certain values we hold very dear," Petraeus told the Harvard audience. "We must continue to live those values."
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Leadership Conference
The mission of the Leadership Conference is to provide a balanced program that meets the variety of skill levels and interest levels of the conference audience. The workshop speakers are of the highest quality and represent the diversity of the leadership arena in our region.
In collaboration with a number of community associations, businesses and programs, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce presents a full-day conference that brings together the business community, leadership program participants and graduates to continue the leadership journey. The conference endeavors to aid participants in finding new ways to inspire and motivate themselves to higher levels of personal and professional development, and to achieve deeper commitments to leadership development.
This conference is held in the spring of each year. It is regional in scope and includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties. The conference is designed to deliver relevant personal and professional development programs to its participants that will improve knowledge, skills, and abilities. These workshops will provide in-depth content regarding hot topics that are related to emerging leadership issues.
The Leadership Conference achieves these purposes through the effective implementation of the following objectives:
To learn about emerging Leadership issues from experts in the field;
To learn about ways to strengthen one’s sense of personal well being (self/personal development);
To rejuvenate and renew (mind and spirit);
To refresh existing professional relationships and develop new ones; and,
To network with colleagues (intra and inter discipline and industry).
The conference audience is typically made up of private (Business); public (Government) and independent (Nonprofit) sector individuals; seasoned as well as novice leaders/professionals from all industries and disciplines; students in higher education; and leadership (i.e. Leadership Albuquerque; Leadership Sandoval) program participants and alumni.
The Leadership Conference curriculum is generally directly related to the above mentioned goal and objectives and includes but is not limited to those areas of interest which reflect:
Emerging and requisite Leadership skills, knowledge and abilities;
Leading-edge information as it relates to training, learning, and performance;
Trends in the workplace learning and performance fields; and,
Leadership case studies, innovations, best practices, and research strategies for performance improvement.
MORE INFORMATION
www.abqchamber.com
In collaboration with a number of community associations, businesses and programs, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce presents a full-day conference that brings together the business community, leadership program participants and graduates to continue the leadership journey. The conference endeavors to aid participants in finding new ways to inspire and motivate themselves to higher levels of personal and professional development, and to achieve deeper commitments to leadership development.
This conference is held in the spring of each year. It is regional in scope and includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties. The conference is designed to deliver relevant personal and professional development programs to its participants that will improve knowledge, skills, and abilities. These workshops will provide in-depth content regarding hot topics that are related to emerging leadership issues.
The Leadership Conference achieves these purposes through the effective implementation of the following objectives:
To learn about emerging Leadership issues from experts in the field;
To learn about ways to strengthen one’s sense of personal well being (self/personal development);
To rejuvenate and renew (mind and spirit);
To refresh existing professional relationships and develop new ones; and,
To network with colleagues (intra and inter discipline and industry).
The conference audience is typically made up of private (Business); public (Government) and independent (Nonprofit) sector individuals; seasoned as well as novice leaders/professionals from all industries and disciplines; students in higher education; and leadership (i.e. Leadership Albuquerque; Leadership Sandoval) program participants and alumni.
The Leadership Conference curriculum is generally directly related to the above mentioned goal and objectives and includes but is not limited to those areas of interest which reflect:
Emerging and requisite Leadership skills, knowledge and abilities;
Leading-edge information as it relates to training, learning, and performance;
Trends in the workplace learning and performance fields; and,
Leadership case studies, innovations, best practices, and research strategies for performance improvement.
MORE INFORMATION
www.abqchamber.com
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Military and Police Books of the Year
January 9, 2009, (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press, the publishers of www.military-writers.com and www.police-writers.com, announced the results of their annual recognition.
About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books. Currently, the site lists nearly 800 servicemembers and their more than 2,400 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books. Currently, the website lists more than 1,000 state or local police officers and their more than 2,200 books. Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book. Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.
About the Awards
The Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year.
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the police officer. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a police officer in the previous year.
The Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, United States Marine Corps (ret.) was awarded the Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year for his book, Once a Marine.
On April 7, 2004, during the First Battle of Fallujah, Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch “was wounded in action. During a firefight with enemy insurgents, he was struck in the head by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade, fired from a rooftop into the commander’s hatch of his tank. He received numerous shrapnel wounds.” His injuries necessitated the removal of his right eye; and, “his remaining eye was legally blind. His right ear and nose sustained significant damage and an implant was placed in his skull.”
In his book, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery, Nick Popaditch describes how at first he “fights to get back to where he was in Iraq - in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick Popaditch fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick Popaditch fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way - the Marine way.”
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr., Oakland Police Department (ret.) was awarded The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 for his book BeatCop.
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr. was born and raised in the City of San Pablo, California, a suburb within the San Francisco Bay Area. His desire to be a police officer was formulated early in life. He became a police explorer scout, and later a reserve police officer with the City of San Pablo Police Department. At age twenty-one Jack Lundquist was drafted by the United States Army, and served as a Military Policeman at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Upon being honorably discharged, Jack Lundquist returned to the San Francisco Bay area. After a brief stint as a Reserve Police Officer he was hired by the Oakland Police Department. During his tenure he attended the University of San Francisco, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. His love for basic patrol work kept him in a marked police car for two separate periods, totaling twelve years. The remainder of the time was spent as criminal investigator, ending with a seven-year period in Vice.
According to the book description, BeatCop is “a book filled with stories from the career of a BeatCop working the perilous streets of a dodgy city. The author is a retired Oakland Police Officer, who patrolled the streets for twelve years. His stories cover the good, the bad, and the oh-shits, as well as the humor experienced by a BeatCop working a large city police department.”
American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books. Currently, the site lists nearly 800 servicemembers and their more than 2,400 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books. Currently, the website lists more than 1,000 state or local police officers and their more than 2,200 books. Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book. Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.
About the Awards
The Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year.
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the police officer. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a police officer in the previous year.
The Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, United States Marine Corps (ret.) was awarded the Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year for his book, Once a Marine.
On April 7, 2004, during the First Battle of Fallujah, Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch “was wounded in action. During a firefight with enemy insurgents, he was struck in the head by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade, fired from a rooftop into the commander’s hatch of his tank. He received numerous shrapnel wounds.” His injuries necessitated the removal of his right eye; and, “his remaining eye was legally blind. His right ear and nose sustained significant damage and an implant was placed in his skull.”
In his book, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery, Nick Popaditch describes how at first he “fights to get back to where he was in Iraq - in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick Popaditch fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick Popaditch fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way - the Marine way.”
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr., Oakland Police Department (ret.) was awarded The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 for his book BeatCop.
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr. was born and raised in the City of San Pablo, California, a suburb within the San Francisco Bay Area. His desire to be a police officer was formulated early in life. He became a police explorer scout, and later a reserve police officer with the City of San Pablo Police Department. At age twenty-one Jack Lundquist was drafted by the United States Army, and served as a Military Policeman at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Upon being honorably discharged, Jack Lundquist returned to the San Francisco Bay area. After a brief stint as a Reserve Police Officer he was hired by the Oakland Police Department. During his tenure he attended the University of San Francisco, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. His love for basic patrol work kept him in a marked police car for two separate periods, totaling twelve years. The remainder of the time was spent as criminal investigator, ending with a seven-year period in Vice.
According to the book description, BeatCop is “a book filled with stories from the career of a BeatCop working the perilous streets of a dodgy city. The author is a retired Oakland Police Officer, who patrolled the streets for twelve years. His stories cover the good, the bad, and the oh-shits, as well as the humor experienced by a BeatCop working a large city police department.”
American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Friday, January 09, 2009
Leadership Writer's Advice on Writing
I think that a book is like a child. Conception is conception - you get the idea. The book is born with the final manuscript. Production is the toddling years.
READ ON
http://bubblecow.blogspot.com/2009/01/raymond-foster-gives-advice-on-how-to.html
READ ON
http://bubblecow.blogspot.com/2009/01/raymond-foster-gives-advice-on-how-to.html
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Different Kind of Leadership Book!
I write police promotional textbook exams and assessments for a living [...]. I'm always seeking out new and cutting edge books in the fields of police supervision, management and leadership. So, I was very pleasantly surprised after I finished reading this unique leadership book. It presents an impressive amount of information on leadership in a fun and interesting format - with liberal use of relevant and humorous quotes, experiences and analogies. Your retention of the material will be extremely high because of the author's unique writing style and the attention-grabbing format. Both authors are highly qualified and experienced to present this material - but that's not the primary reason you should consider this book. If you are in law enforcement, entering law enforcement or looking to advance your law enforcement career, this book not only covers the basic leadrship experience in a way that is lively and interesting, it makes you relate to and almost experience the hardcore, daily struggle all law enforcement supervisors and managers have with how to select, train and "grow" quality law enforcement personnel. It took a lot of guts to write a leadership book in such a unique format. And guts is what you'll need in Poker .. and in Leadership ... and this book, if nothing else, will make you see how you can embody these leadership skills.
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