Leading from the front
General Danatt has become a very outspoken Chief of General staff. As he says himself he has set out to describe his views in this book. It so happens that that to explain those views it has been necessary to go through most of his life experiences that have shaped those views.
Apart from a fascinating career and an amazing life, the thoughts the come out in this book for me:
- The operation level sitting between the strategic view and the tactical day to day activities is very important. It’s impossible to exceed in achieving the strategy without having the plans in place as to how the individual tactical actions move us closer to it. To have this one must know the strategy, know the operational level and only then the tactical decisions start moving us in the right direction. This is a communication mostly on the part of leadership, but individuals are there to take initiative as well
- One of the most important questions the army is asking all the time: how should we prepare for the future challenges. Is it just the army? I don’t think so. The main points here would be defining what the future will require from us. Another is to adjust the current investment and development to be relevant. The criteria of relevance is of uttermost importance.
- The leadership that sir Danatt has shown throughout his career has been laid down from very early on. It is this leadership, caring about the Army as a whole, his particular unit and doing his work as best as possible that has led him. Even during his first deployment the future general was already thinking that handling the peace effort in Northern Ireland required a more though-through and comprehensive approach than the “muddle through” advice he’s received.
On the whole it’s an amazing book, definitely worth reading. Especially because of the integrity in the generals views on all of the conflicts he’s been involved in. On how he tries to not blame the politicians for their poor choices.
The combination of personal views, historical realities seen through the eyes of a military man and the leadership lessons is very honest and quite invigorating – you just want to go away and make things better!
