Do you think good leaders actually have to read books on leadership?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:40:52 -0400

Recently working on a Director's desk and I came across these books. Mind you have only been working with this man for about 3 months and given all the books he has I though he would be a much better leader. Unfortunately there have been instances with him where he is very temperamental, short with those under him and yelling at people on the call center floor.
Is this a leader or just someone with power?
This got me thinking about some of the people I got to work under and analyze my relationship with them. Most of the people that I have admired did not have any such books. They it seemed that they just knew what needed to be done and how to do it.
Not saying that such books are a waste, but have the good/great leaders you know every used such books?

Response by CPT Bob Moore made Apr 14 at 2015 7:44 PM

CPT Bob Moore — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:44:55 -0400

I think the whole leaders are born idea is wrong. I think the best leaders are born and brought up in environments that help them learn to be great leaders and definitely give them a head start when the are older.

As far as your questions, the best leaders I have seen have traits that allow them to be good leaders and are students of leadership. Without both, a person can never reach their full potential.

Response by SGT Michael Touchet made Apr 14 at 2015 7:47 PM

SGT Michael Touchet — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:47:18 -0400

I seen it both ways, some develop skill through books while others through experience.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 14 at 2015 7:48 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:48:08 -0400

I'm actually familiar with some of these books.

In particular, "One Minute Manager" is given away in the corporate world like candy, as kind of a door prize. My wife has 3 copies sitting in the house.

I've read it, and although it has "some" value (I've read it), it's "infomercial level" in many regards. By that, I mean that some corporate consultant got paid a tidy sum, and pawned it off, and this was a "product" of that consulting. I'm willing to bet that 25% of those books fall under the same heading. Likely never been touched, let alone read.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 14 at 2015 8:03 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 20:03:26 -0400

I am adamant good leaders in a non war scenario love and care, treat with respect and dignity, demand tough training and hard work, is organized and communicates future operations, fights for the troops, says thank you and has fun with them. I wont mention the tactical leader.

I really do think it is odd to have 40 books to verify you are a good leader. It's about taking care of soldiers, organization, and how it fits in the bigger picture. I have to dumb this down so I can remember.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 8:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 20:07:47 -0400

You can be born with great Charisma... and that is certainly very helpful when it comes time to lead, however the rest has to be learned. There is nothing worse than someone in a leadership position who has great charisma, but has no clue what he's doing and no real interest in learning.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 14 at 2015 8:37 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 20:37:33 -0400

I have learned a lot about leadership by first seeing great leaders in action, but I have also benefited from some great literature on the matter. However, I would never display a bunch of leadership books across my office. That to me is somebody trying to signal that you want to convey to your visitors how versed they are in leadership, vice actually displaying it through action.

I also wouldn't interpret his display of such books as equal to him actually reading them, let alone internalizing their message.

Response by SPC David S. made Apr 14 at 2015 9:24 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:24:42 -0400

I think if an individual does a self assessment and finds an area of opportunity for improvement they might engage in a little reading. I think good leaders are driving by design to seek out ways to address their weaknesses. This could come from a variety of sources such as books, experts on the subject matter, or through trail and error. However Good leaders understand that one individual can't know everything and thus create a rather large diverse network of individuals that are exerts in the fields. The ability to foster and maintain relationships with all sorts of people having all different types of personalities and tap into this mental capital is what I feel makes a good leader a great leader.
The Digesting, applying and articulating are thing any one can do with some success. Maintaining hundreds or thousands of personal and professional relationships is a feat few can execute.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 15 at 2015 8:51 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 08:51:07 -0400

Books give you access to the experience, intelligence and wisdom of mankind. If you're not availing yourself of them you are choosing to learn only from your own mistakes, and not those of others.

I agree with LTC Yinon Weiss the display of such books does not always mean the reading of them. The reading of them doesn't always mean the application of them. The application of them doesn't always mean the proper or effective application of them.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 10:36 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 10:36:50 -0400

In honesty, I have read very little books on Leadership. Why? because their aspects of leadership may not work for me. So, what I do is incorporate the advice one of my old squad leaders gave me....."Take all of your previous Leaders traits. Their good. Their bad. Take all of that information and make your own style of Leadership. And remember to never forget what it was like as a Junior Enlisted." Thus far, after all of these years, that advice has not failed me.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 4 at 2015 9:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 04 May 2015 21:24:05 -0400

Some folks who get power become ends justify means tyrants. They don't care about relationships.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 10:57 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 May 2015 10:57:36 -0400

I am split on this...I tend to lean towards that it's good to read up on leadership....however I will lean against it in my response to see if anyone wants to debate.

Leadership -
1: the office or position of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group:
2: capacity to lead
3: the act or an instance of leading

This is an individual trait at the core (as opposed to a group of leaders being "the leadership"), which means that leadership is unique in each person based on one's collective experiences and personality. I view leadership books as best practices based on one or a few leaders, it's what worked for them given their specific situations. Their experiences may give you insight/other points of view to work from, but it doesn't make someone a good leader.

It's kind of like "self help books". You can read all of them but it's not self help, you're getting help from another person. If you do it yourself, you don't need help. I see it similarly with leadership books, you can read them all but it doesn't make you a leader, or qualify you as a good or bad leader. You have to actually go out and lead and see your strengths/weaknesses and learn from those experiences to determine one's quality.

Response by MSgt Brian Welch made May 5 at 2015 11:16 AM

MSgt Brian Welch — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:16:42 -0400

Books on the subject can show leadership traits in a different light and could help to improve on even the best leaders skillset. Personally, I've only read one cover to cover, and only browsed over a handful of others. The great thing about the military is we (enlisted) all start at the bottom rung of the ladder with more weight on followship than leadership. During that stage all you have to do is pay attention to the leaders you come across. In some ways I learned more from bad leaders. Some leadership traits came from childhood and shouldn't be dismissed; sports, boy/girl scouts, helping to maintain a home. I some up good leadship to two simple traits (not so simple in application): A focus on mission balanced with a compassion for people, you don't need a book for that.

Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made May 5 at 2015 11:27 AM

SPC Nate Lamphier — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:27:54 -0400

In terms of leadership....I have learned a lot from the greatest of leaders I have worked with. But I have learned even more from the poor leaders I have worked with.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 11:30 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:30:27 -0400

Have to? No. Recommended? Absolutely. A good leader should always look into finding new tools to add to their skillset. If you are a "good" leader - why settle if you can be better? You won't be made into a good leader by just reading a book. Lot's of ingredients go into making a good leader.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 5 at 2015 11:35 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:35:07 -0400

There can be a debate between causation and correlation. Whether it’s the reading that instills something, or whether or not the best out there are just more inclined to read is debatable. All I know is I don’t want to serve under anyone who doesn’t have a library at home. I want smart, thoughtful leaders capable of systemic thought and critical analysis. I’ve never met a soul who met that criteria that wasn’t a reader…

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 4:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 16:58:12 -0400

I have "Strength Based Leadership" and "The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey" and I suggest them for any leader.

Response by SCPO Stephen Ibanez made May 28 at 2015 9:55 PM

SCPO Stephen Ibanez — Thu, 28 May 2015 21:55:14 -0400

Do good leaders have to read books on leadership? Of course not. But it never hurts to continue learning about something even when you're the expert (or think you are).

Why do professional baseball players take regular batting practice? It's certainly not to learn how to hit - they had that skill long before they made it to the pros. It's to hone their skills and keep themselves sharp, always searching for improved performance.

Good leaders do well to continue to hone their skills and search for improved performance. None of us is a perfect leader; there is always room for improvement. Reading good leadership books (the definition of which is a whole different discussion) can give you a new insight that helps you become that much better leader.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made May 28 at 2015 10:01 PM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Thu, 28 May 2015 22:01:05 -0400

I'd be inclined to think that this guy is aware of his limitations and might be trying to learn how to better himself.

Response by SFC John Trujillo made May 28 at 2015 10:45 PM

SFC John Trujillo — Thu, 28 May 2015 22:45:52 -0400

Ambition is not a leadership trait. Our system, nevertheless puts the ambitious in leadership positions. This penis you're referring to may have been trying to self improve but learning leadership from a book is similar to learning karate from a book. You may know the poses but eventually you'll get your ass kicked into embarrassment.

Leadership can only be learned from positive role models and tested in crisis.

Response by SSG Sean Thoman made Jun 5 at 2015 6:39 AM

SSG Sean Thoman — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 06:39:37 -0400

Sometimes books are like a pipe in a fools mouth, just something to stick in their mouth to make them look wise, serving no other purpose. You can say the same thing about books on somebody's desk or bookshelf.