Rules & Tools for Leaders: From Developing Your Own Skills to Running Organizations of Any Size, Practical Advice for Leaders at All Levels

I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for practical, down-to-earth ideas covering various phases or chronological events (accepting a new position, hiring, firing, counseling, etc.) in the leadership continuum. This is not fluff, theory or high-level stuff, but practical chapters, well-arranged, that can, in a 15-20 minute read (per chapter), provide you with a number of things you can implement immediately. Lots of common sense, checklists, to-dos, techniques ideas, etc. I have used many, and shared them with members of my staff. I have recommended this book to many and will continue to do so. More than worth the price of the book and the time to read.If you are a seasoned, leadership professional, you will find some good reminders, fresh ideas, and things you can use. If you are new to leadership, just got promoted, or aspiring to management, you have got to have this book. It will get you started quickly, and moving and thinking in the right direction. It is in my office 24X7 and I make it a point to reread every few months at least parts. I wish I would have had this book 20 years ago.

As a Performance Development Specialist in the automotive components field, I am always looking for ways to enhance the leadership programs I am associated with. I read the reviews of this book first and then read four chapters randomly to determine if the negative reviews were valid in any way. My conclusion is that the critics of this book do not have an understanding of what leadership is. There is more hard data and usefull information packed into this less than 300 page book than any other single source I have found. Page 108 should be mandatory reading for all Americans. I can only conclude that the few negative reviews were from people who are naturally inclined to be against anything associated with the military or authority figures in general. We in the business community would be much better off if we practiced some of the skills and characteristic behaviors that obviously were acquired through years of sacrifice and contributions. Wisdom is indeed paid for.

This book advises you on the day to day basics and the long term requirements to being a good leader. Basics include things like how to hire and fire people and how to keep a pulse on those who work for you. The author advises that being a good leader must also include continued self development. I am reminded of Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" when Covey talks about the URGENT vs. long term ("Sharpening the Saw").

This is a very accessible and useful book--for those who teach and study leadership and management, as well as for those who practice one or both in government, the military, or the private sector. Perry Smith combines a wealth of experience as a leader, a manager, and a teacher of both skills, with a smooth, easy writing style. The result is the best one-volume introduction to leadership and management that I know. Two chapters I found particularly useful were #14 "Creating a strategic vision" and #13 "Teaching and reading." The former reminds leaders of their continuing need, indeed almost an obligation, to remember where they are headed, where they want to be headed, and where they should be headed--and how to keep their organizations on track. The latter encourages leaders to remain open to and actively to search out the best new ideas available, and to inspire those who work for and with them to do likewise. Also especially helpful is Smith's suggested reading list in the appendices. This book is an ideal starting point for someone in the leadership business, not, as Smith continually reminds the reader, the end point. I recommend it highly to colleagues and friends in the field.

Perry Smith has written a well-organized, easy-to-read book that will undoubtedly assist anyone in a leadership or managerial position, from major CEOs to lower-level managers. The reason I like this book is that it presents invaluable, "common-sense" information in a manner designed to enable the reader both to think and to learn. The author includes numerous concise check lists (meetings, hiring, risk taking, etc.) that provide managers with exactly what they need. The beauty is that one can use or not use what is included in those checklists while resting assured nothing consequential will be forgotten. Another strong point is the number of actual case studies included in the book. What stands apart here is that in the appendix following the case studies appendix contains what really happened in each of the case studies. This is the type of book which should be read and reread many times, because the reader will get something new and worthwhile out of each reading.