Leading to Win: The Model for Great Leadership as Demonstrated by Military History and the Messiah

"If you want good results on a task, then assign the right person to do it!"

That insightful remark made by a senior mentor to the author when he was a young Air Force officer became the basis for the leadership philosophy he developed over the next several years. In Leading to Win, retired Air Force Colonel Chris Pike shares with the reader his own journey of discovery, describing those moments throughout his military career when he learned important lessons that shaped his thinking about leadership. Starting from the premise that the key to great leadership is knowing how to assign the right people to the right task, the author defines a set of supporting principles that will enable readers to develop this talent. The end result is a model that can guide any leader in any organization down the path to mission accomplishment.

In addition to providing clear descriptions of the essential Leading to Win concepts, the author draws upon his extensive knowledge of history to include within each chapter a series of entertaining and relevant stories from the past. These stories demonstrate how well-known military figures such as Robert E. Lee and Dwight Eisenhower -- as well as some lesser-known characters whose anecdotes are just as inspirational - applied or mis-applied each principle. And just to demonstrate the universal applicability of this model, the book includes an on-going case study of Jesus Christ, the "Messiah," as he employed the Leading to Win principles to form his global church.

The core purpose of Leading to Win is to help leaders cultivate the mindset that enables a leader to consistently deliver on critical tasks and accomplish important missions. By the time they have finished this book, all readers will know a little bit more about history and a lot more about how to lead effectively, and in no time they'll be leading to win, too.