Among the notable leadership accomplishments to JFK’s credit, says Barnes, was that he made it look effortless. That is in addition to making his own rules, starting his campaigning early, mastering TV, making friends of the press corp and policy makers of the White House staff
By J Barnes
McGraw-Hill Australia, 2005
$36.95
Among the notable leadership accomplishments to JFK’s credit, says Barnes, was that he made it look effortless. That is in addition to making his own rules, starting his campaigning early, mastering TV, making friends of the press corp and policy makers of the White House staff.
This book identifies eleven core principles via concept-based chapters and each draw on the life and presidency of JFK. Among them: vision, breaking the rules, resilience, communication, speechwriting, learning, team building and decision making.
And of course, the all important charisma, part of that seductive Kennedy cocktail that ensures the topic is as perennial with publishers as the grass.
Barnes presents a balanced Kennedy tome so there are chapters dedicated to miscalculations and misjudgements, crisis management (how to be the coolest man in the room was our personal favourite) and, finally, faults and failings.
Nonetheless, the anecdotal and reference material is well set out in each chapter.
For anyone with entrepreneurial, political or lofty ambitions, this is a very interesting read.
