Customer Reviews

So You Want To Be A Leader?

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Very inspirational. Easy to read with lots of memorable quotes cited to correspond with chapters. Short chapters so you can read under any schedule. Would make an excellent reference book for any leader's library. Col. Benson has a strong grasp of what it takes to be the most effective leader possible and does a good job of translating his experience into guidance for both novice and seasoned leaders. Makes references to many of the techniques and strategies from a number of America's premier experts on leadership so this one book gives a glimpse into a diversity of writings.
Written from a military (Marine Corps) point of view so the advice stresses ethics, honor, discipline, and getting the maximum results with the simplest of efforts. Col. Benson is now a college president and also has some interesting observations on academia.
We passed this book through our family and every one of us found it to be a rewarding read.

While this is truly a book for young leaders, there is much in it for even the most seasoned warrior. Colonel Benson does a masterful job helping the reader understand the challenges and opportunities a leader faces and how to best cope with them. While the book is a great vehicle for learning about the "principles of leadership," it also is very instructive about the two other aspects of team building, followership and membership. I like the way the author integrates quotes, short vignettes, and personal experiences and relates them to key attributes of successful leadership in this very readable book. If you are training or mentoring young leaders you should encourage them to read this book as part of their professional development. It will be a great investment in their future.

This is a great book to read for anyone striving to become a great leader. It teaches us a lot more than just being a military leader, but a successfull leader in everything we do. Great book!

I write this as the holiday season approaches. This book would be a wonderful gift to yourself or a loved one. It is a relatively quick read and is organized into 47 short chapters. Each chapter is well named to enhance a quick reference of a precise leadership skill. Colonel Benson has spent 40+ years in a leadership role: teacher, coach, military officer,and college administrator. He is now the President of Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. Colonel Benson alludes to the leadership mistakes he observed and made along the way. We all can learn from the mistakes of others and not repeat them.

I especially enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, e.g. "Good leaders are intense; real good leaders are passionate; but great leaders are predators when it comes to winning on the battlefield, the gridiron, or in the workplace." -- Jim Benson.

Thanks for the wisdom shared from a career soldier who "has been there and done that"

-5 Stars.Easy to read & great insight into what it takes to be successful. Focuses on leadership style , decision making process and importance of well defined core values. The author is right on target! A must read for all aspiring leaders at all levels.

Col Benson has done an outstanding job in sharing his experience as a combat marine, regimental commander, vice president of bridgwater college and president of marion military institute and the relationships these positions had in developing leadership qualities. Col Benson uses a common sense approach that "deals with personal experience and observations as an officer in the USMC" this quote taken from his introduction is why one would buy the book. Col Benson IS A LEADER, not only that but a man that leads by example and above all holds himself accountable for developing leaders under his charge. i highly recommend this book to military personnel, school teachers, coaches and anyone else wanting information on what it takes to be a leader in today's world!!!

This book was very insightful, I would recommend it to anyone who would like to try for the distictive title of military leader.