Mark R. Grandstaff, PhD and Georgia Sorenson, PhD, editors

Think Like a General…Lead Like an Executive

“At their center, great organizations such as America’s armed forces are the product of great leaders. This fantastic book reveals the keys to success within the military culture, as well as relevant and practical application tools for creating strong leaders today.”
—Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

What distinguishes strategic leadership? According to top U.S. Army generals, the difference lies in the discipline of thinking. Because the problems strategic leaders face are often multi-faceted and can involve ethical dilemmas, these leaders must move beyond thinking tactically and take a longer term, broader approach to finding solutions. Through the U.S. Army War College and other senior-service colleges, the Army teaches strategic thinking to its officers, developing some of the most esteemed leaders of our time.

Strategic Leadership: The General’s Art provides aspiring leaders with an understanding of the behavior and competencies that make a good strategic leader. In line with the curriculum followed by senior officers attending the U.S. Army War College, this book teaches leaders how to think strategically in a volatile, uncertain environment and thereby to provide transformational leadership and shape outcomes.

With contributions from senior military leaders as well as experts in the fields of strategic leadership, systems and critical thinking, and corporate culture, this invaluable reference shows readers how to move from mid-level manager to strategic-thinking senior executive.

Strategic Leadership: The General’s Art offers:

• Strategic thinking and leadership processes taught by the military to its senior leadership
• Strategic leadership theories and practical exercises to help put those theories into action
• The valuable knowledge that Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations gain through U.S. Army War College workshops

Table of Contents:

Creating a Culture of Leadership Development • Self-Awareness: Enhancing Strategic Leader Development • Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking • Systems Thinking and Senior Leadership • Strategic Leaders and the Uses of History • Creative Thinking for Individuals and Teams • Visioning, Environment Scanning, and Futuring for Strategic Leaders • Strategic Leadership and Organizational Culture • Cultural Diversity and Leadership • The Strategic Leader as Negotiator • Leading Change • Gettysburg: A Case Study in Strategic Leadership

About the Editors

Mark R. Grandstaff, PhD, an award-winning writer and lecturer, has worked with the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Air War College, Joint Special Operations Command, and other organizations to educate their senior officers and executives in strategic leadership and thinking and to analyze and prescribe solutions for organizational problems. He holds a PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and is currently a professor of History at Brigham Young University. Dr. Grandstaff is also a Senior Fellow of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership and a Fellow of the Inter-University Seminar for the Study of the Armed Forces.

Georgia Sorenson, PhD, served as Inaugural Chair and Professor of Transformation at the U.S. Army War College. She is a research professor and founder of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Maryland. An architect of the leadership studies field, Dr. Sorenson has lectured extensively on leadership in more than 30 countries and serves on the editorial board of several leadership journals.

Reviews

“My experience in the Army fortified my basic theory of leadership: leaders should mobilize followers so the followers themselves become leaders. Strategic Leadership: The General’s Art shows readers how to fulfill this theory of leadership.”
—James MacGregor Burns, author of Leadership and winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award

“This outstanding book looks beneath the platitudes about leadership and shows us conceptually and pragmatically how to build leaders. The conceptual models and practical tools offer a marvelous compendium of why military leadership is so successful.”
—Dave Ulrich, Professor of Business, University of Michigan
Partner, The RBL Group

“This book engages you at every turn with examples taken from national and world events. You’ll find in this remarkable book the best practices that can transform you, your organization, and your community. I’ve never seen a leadership book like it. It is a must-read in this time of transformation.”
—Michael L. Ray, Professor of Creativity and Innovation, Emeritus, Stanford University, Author of Creativity in Business and The Highest Goal

RELATED TRAINING COURSES

• From Tactical to Strategic Thinking
• Advanced Leadership Skills and Techniques
• Decision Making
• Overcoming the Status Quo: New Approaches to Solving Problems
• Strategic Planning and Performance Measurement

©2009, 6" x 9"
Hardcover, 335 pages
ISBN: 978-1-56726-236-0
Product Code B360, $49