Beach reads: From Dr. Seuss to Nelson Mandela

With Labor Day ahead of us and many folks heading out of town, I thought it would be the perfect time to share the leadership books recommended by some of the federal leaders I've recently interviewed. What's your favorite leadership book? Please send your suggestions to fedcoach@ourpublicservice.org.

My top pick -- Bill Shore's The Cathedral Within -- is one book that continues to resonate with me. Shore uses the construction of cathedrals, including the National Cathedral, as a metaphor for the long-term view that those looking to make a difference must adopt. The idea is that the person who lays the foundation rarely gets to see the finished product, but they have started something spectacular.

Here is a broad and interesting selection of books from federal leaders:

1. National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman said, "My favorite book is Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. I think what Dr. Seuss reminds us is that the basic lessons about being a leader are listening to other people and listening to your heart. And in the end, those might be some of the most important things."

2. Patricia Adams, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for civilian human resources, recommends Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace by Mark Perry. It's Eisenhower and Marshall writing back and forth to each other in the Second World War but Marshall's actually mentoring Eisenhower through this process. It's a great book, and it helps me understand a little bit more about the military, she said.

3. Dave McClure, associate administrator of the General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies, said, one that I use repeatedly in conversations that I have with people, which is The Heart of Change by John Kotter. I think in my area, the technology area, it's just so relevant. Because we tend to think about arguing for rational, process-driven solutions, whereas Kotter says, "You've got to really get people to see and to feel the impact of what you're proposing to change," - an emotional touch to leadership, McClure added.

4. Anh Duong, director of the Borders and Maritime Security Division in the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, recommends It's Okay to Be the Boss by Bruce Tulgan. According to Duong, it advocates all leadership. High expectations inspire people to achieve, but at the same time, the willingness to apply what you call tough love at bad attitudes and underperformers.

5. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas said he draws the greatest motivation from great biographies of Abraham Lincoln. Because what many people don't realize is all that we know of Lincoln's great accomplishments what he is most remembered for, he achieved in the last six years of his life. It speaks to the power of each day, and the power of making everything of each day.

6. Doug Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, likes What it Takes: The Way to the White House by Richard Ben Cramer. "It's the best book I think on political campaigns ever written. The other is The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army by Greg Jaffe. It's a book about four current generals who I think represent the new generation of Army leadership at a new time and in a new context of war. It's a really interesting examination of how each of these individuals not only represents this new framework, but helped to shape it," Wilson said.

7. U.S. General Services Administration Administrator Martha Johnson says the one that she has read over and over again is All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. According to Johnson, it's a beautifully written book that in the political scene teaches you how complex everybody is when they enter into these arena's of power.

8. Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams noted that Nelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom is an outstanding book, because it's one of these unique situations where someone who's in prison for a long time comes out with a positive view of what needs to be done in that society. He has a plan of action to carry it out and doesn't allow the past to be baggage that impedes his way to progress in the future.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

By Tom Fox

 |  September 2, 2010; 3:51 PM ET |  Category:  Ask the Federal Coach Save & Share:                 
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