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Leadership Rules and Tips

Articles with leadership wisdom that has proven to be highly effective in government.

Performance Leadership [PDF]

In this terrific report for the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Bob Behn outlines 11 leadership practices that public managers can use as a framework for improving performance. Superbly organized and full of great examples, this paper provides many insightful--and actionable--suggestions. Even the end notes are a good read.

Quotations from Chairman Powell: A Leadership Primer

This article, by Oren Harari, was originally published in the December 1996 issue of Management Review. It became an instant classic and has been widely disseminated (including as a well-known PowerPoint presentation). The response to this article prompted Harari to write the book Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell, in which he significantly expands on the 18 principles outlined in this article.

Doing a Job

Admiral Hyman Rickover (1900-1986), the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” was one of the most successful—and controversial- public managers of the 20th Century. His accomplishments are the stuff of legend. For example, in three short years, Rickover’s team designed and built the first nuclear submarine--the Nautilus—an amazing feat of engineering given that it involved the development of the first use of a controlled nuclear reactor. The Nautilus not only transformed submarine warfare, but also laid the groundwork for a whole fleet of nuclear aircraft carriers and cruisers (which was also built by Rickover and his team). This article is an excerpt from a speech Rickover delivered at Columbia University in 1982, in which he succinctly outlined his management philosophy. His determination, clarity of purpose, emphasis on developing his people, high standards, and willingness to give his people ownership of their work had to have been very inspiring to his people. He was known to take some of his strengths to extremes, however, which no doubt led to his reputation in some circles as being difficult to work for.

Excerpts from Old School is Good School
During his nearly 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant Kevin Slater wrote up numerous inspiring leadership lessons and anecdotes and circulated them to his peers and subordinates. Old School is Good School organizes his anecdotes around the Air Force's core values: Integrity First, Service-Before-Self, and Excellence In All We Do. CMSgt Slater has kindly agreed to let GovLeaders.org post three excerpts from his book.

The Essence of Leadership

Pete Smith, the (now former) President and CEO of the Private Sector Council, delivered this inspiring speech on leadership before the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration on April 28, 2004. Includes numerous quotes, stories, and astute observations from his decades of observing senior leaders in the public and private sectors.

Learning to Lead, Part I

This terrific article by MajGen Perry M. Smith (USAF, Ret.) outlines 30 insightful tips for leaders at all levels. Includes such refreshing ideas as "Criticize Up, Praise Down," "Protect Innovators," and "Squint with your Ears." Many of the tips presented here are included in the author's book Rules & Tools for Leaders. This article was originally published in the January 1997 issue of the Marine Corp Gazette. Reprinted by GovLeaders.org with the kind permission of the author.

Learning to Lead, Part II

This article has 30 more excellent leadership tips from MajGen Perry M. Smith. Includes ideas like "Don't Spend too Much Time with the Malcontents," "Don't Allow Yourself to Become a Wind Chime, and "Be a Blame Acceptor." This article was originally published in the December 2001 issue of the Marine Corps Gazette. Reprinted by GovLeaders.org with the kind permission of the author. Make sure to check out "Learning to Lead, Part I" as well.

We Are the Key to Reform HTML PDF

This column, first published in the April 2002 issue of the Foreign Service Journal, argues that mid-level managers at the State Department are vital to the success of Secretary of State Colin Powell's reform efforts. It outlines seven simple management principles that managers can use to help make the State Department a more effective organization--and a better place to work. Reproduced by GovLeaders.org with the consent of the American Foreign Service Association.

Tactical Management

Public managers often complain that they don't have time to think about the long-term goals of this organization because they are so busy fighting fires, dealing with daily crises. This useful series of articles from Managing the Skies magazine outlines strategies that managers can use to work towards long-term goals while dealing with the press of day-to-day operational issues. Posted by GovLeaders.org with the kind permission of the authors and Managing the Skies.