Book Review: January 2011
The Power of Four
The Power of Four�by Joseph Marshall III �(Sterling, 2009) is a quick yet powerful short read for leaders. Marshal presents core leadership lessons of the great Lakota chiefs, including Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. He identifies the 4 lessons, or maxims of great chiefs: Know Yourself; Know Your Friends; Know the Enemy and Lead the Way. He further identifies that Lakota leadership offers us character based leadership considerations for standards in ability and integrity of our leaders. He presents that the great chiefs led through influence not authority, and that influence is built upon one's character and core attributes in selflessness, morality, experience (that is, wisdom through time and experience — which values age), honesty, responsibility, confidence and compassion. In a compelling manner, he convinces readers that authority and position can be taken away or lost, and that personal power – 'character based influence' – remains steadfast. Great quick lessons for any leader to take to heart.
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