Be * Know * Do, Adapted from the Official Army Leadership Manual

The United States Army is one of the most complex, best run organizations in the world, and central to the Army's success are strong leadership and exceptional leadership development. Army leaders must be able to act decisively and effectively in challenging situations. But the Army, despite its organizational structure, does not train leaders in a hierarchical manner. Dispersed leadership is the key to the success of the Army leadership model.

Now, for the first time, you can have access to the Army's successful leadership philosophy and the principles that are outlined in Be Know Do the official Army Leadership Manual. Be Know Do makes this critical information available to civilian leaders in all sectors--business, government, and nonprofit--and gives them the guidelines they need to create an organization where leadership thrives.

Foreword xi
Richard E. Cavanagh

Introduction xiii

1. What a Leader Must Be, Know, and Do 1

2. The Character of Leaders 23

3. People Are at the Core 45

4. Leading from the Front 69

5. It Takes a Team 85

6. Managing Complexity, Leading Change 107

7. Building and Leading Learning Organizations 131

Conclusion 153

Notes 161

Index 167

Be Know Do

The United States Army is one of the most complex, best-run organizations in the world, and central to the Army’s success are strong leadership and exceptional leadership development. Army leaders must be able to act decisively and effectively in challenging situations. But the Army, despite its organizational structure, does not train leaders in a hierarchical manner. Dispersed leadership is the key to the success of the Army leadership model.

Now, for the first time, you can have access to the Army’s successful leadership philosophy and the principles that are outlined in the official Army leadership manual. Be, Know, Do makes this critical information available to civilian leaders in all sectors—business, government, and nonprofit—and gives them the guidelines they need to create an organization in which leadership thrives.

At the heart of the book is the Army’s leadership framework, a clear and expressive description of what leaders must be, know, and do in order to fulfill their responsibilities. This framework is adapted to fit the work of leaders in private, nonprofit, and public organizations who grapple with new and diverse challenges on a daily basis. Be, Know, Do also shows you how to put into place the three levels of leadership: direct, organizational, and strategic.

Be, Know, Do will be your handbook for developing a vital organization in which everyone is a ­leader and leadership is dispersed through every level of the organization.

“The Army trains and develops more leaders than all other institutions altogether—and with a lower casualty rate. Be * Know * Do shows how this is being done—and how it can be adapted by the nonmilitary: businesses, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and churches.” --Peter F. Drucker