Strock, James M. Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership: Executive Lessons from the Bully
Pulpit. New York, NY: Three Rivers, 2003. Print.
SUMMARY
The book “Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership” by James M. Strock highlighted the structure of President Roosevelt’s leadership ideologies. The book was separated into four parts: In the Arena, Leadership in Action, Building the Bully Pulpit and Achieving Integrity.
The Leadership in Action portion of the book was centered upon two goals, building a great team and being a great leader. To build a great team, Roosevelt highlighted tactics to follow. For example, “Hire people more talented than oneself, spend the time necessary to evaluate and acculturate prospective team members and ruthlessly replace individuals who do not meet the standard.”
He was a strong believer in developing leaders within his team and having great faith in each individual’s capabilities. His leadership goals correlate to those of Follet and Deming in that he believed in horizontal leadership. He desired to work with his team instead of simply directing them.
Roosevelt’s ideas on the characteristics that are the nature of a great leader coincide with Warren Bennett’s beliefs. A leader must have a great vision and take any necessary steps to obtain their bottom-line. He also believed that a leader must keep up with appropriate markets, publics and audiences in a passionate and knowledgeable manner.
In the part of the book entitled, “Building the Bully Pulpit,” Roosevelt consistently focused on the good of the public he served and staying tough within the external environment. He believed that the most important aspect of dealing with adversity is advancing the goal of the people he served. He was strategic in delivering his message at the right time, to the right people and as honestly as possible. He did this to maintain a positive public perception. He believed a leader should have thick skin and confront the critics who wrongfully attack him or her. Roosevelt continually showed that, “Example is the most potent of all things.”
The last portion of the book entitled, “Achieving Integrity,” pointed out a major flaw in present day leaders. Roosevelt knew that the journey to becoming a leader correlated to the journey of becoming “a fully integrated human being.” He took being a formal opinion leader seriously by believing that being a leader also means being a great man.
REVIEW
The book all in all created a concise skeleton of the tricks to becoming a great leader. Roosevelt would have never stood for the common “Get Rick Quick” approach to the American dream excessively used today. After reading the book I felt motivated and capable to become a leader in a way particular to me as an individual. That is the most exceptional thing about this book is that it shows there is no one formula for becoming a leader. That we are all capable of becoming leaders in a way specific to the inherited strengths we have received.
It was also gratifying to know how Roosevelt legacy will be remembered mainly because his tenacity in his actions. He had a vision and would not rest until that vision was completed. This is especially applicable to the Public Relations field considering that our job is based around setting objectives and achieving them.
RECOMMENDATION
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to be encouraged in his or her ability to lead. It is a compelling story of a man’s conviction in his abilities without fear of any additional factors. Public Relations students will be inspired through this book to never give up reaching their highest goal in their career. By following Roosevelt’s steps to becoming and remaining a great leader, we will produce a strong and well-respected generation of managers, CEO’s and directors indeed.
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