Review of IT WORKED FOR ME by Colin Powell with Tony Koltz
The reason I picked up this book, It worked for me, is I remembered, as a teenager, Colin Powell was the Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. I knew he was a US Army general and that he served under a republican administration. However, this was all I knew of him. I was pleased to find out more information about him personally, his career, where he has served and his leadership philosophies. That is what this book brings to the table.
I have some military experience in my life, so the stories he presented and his leadership style was very familiar to me. I caught myself reflecting on my own habits and the practices of my superiors. One of his stories talked about having to get silly military training complete for his unit and complete the mission at hand. This is even more common in today’s military. His philosophy was to get the small tasks done first to move onto the mission and keep his superiors happy while defending our nation.
Reflection:
Diving into that last thought I can think of two responses. Either we need to fix the silly requirements or comply and move on quickly. I believe it comes down to time and that both of these responses can be accomplished. If there is time before the mission, project or quarterly plan, leaders should be able to throw up a red flag to fix the larger issue at hand. If we are on a tight schedule then move to complete the task then carry out the mission. Once the dust settles give the feedback to you leaders that the task needs to change.
Don’t forget to add in your recommendation on how to change it for the better.
A couple of other key points from the book: be where you are most effective as a leader. Colin Powell made sure to hire in people that had strengths that would complement his weaknesses. Turn minor corrections into positive learning experiences. I personally enjoy this one, I detest yelling and demeaning in the military without a valid purpose. If you want a drone to follow you, buy one and program it yourself. If you want an effective worker, team member, or soldier treat them like a human with a certain amount of respect.
Wrap up:
The last bit that I really enjoyed was learning about the different administrations Colin Powell served in and the people he met. He talks about his time with Princess Diana, President Reagan and various people of the press. It’s those little insights that help round out the picture for me. Instead of just the former Secretary of State, Colin Powell becomes more personable. I’m glad I took the time to look back at his experiences and leadership style.
The book can be bought here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Worked-Me-Life-Leadership/dp/0062135139
Check out my last book review here.
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