Mentoring By Proxy

An excellent leader’s memoir is a valuable gift for other professionals.   Most of us will never have the opportunity to mingle with, much less be mentored by, those who have found themselves at the top of their fields.  These books provide an opportunity to obtain an inside perspective on the personal values and insights that lead to an extraordinary level of success. 

General Colin Powell's My American Journey stands out to me as one of these memoirs.  As he shares about learning to command his troops, much of his advice fully applies to management situations common to any field.  For example, it was a story he shared that broke through to me and gave me confidence when deciding how to handle difficult employees. 


Tony Dungy, coach of the 2007 Super Bowl champions Indianapolis Colts, offers another insightful autobiography with Quiet Strength.  A man heralded for his impeccable character, his mild-mannered style appeals to those who gravitate toward humility, kindness, and respect.   Imagine a tough, trash-talking football coach, and you’ve got the exact opposite in Dungy.  He led HIS way, which landed him with a Super Bowl ring!

Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, and President Jimmy Carter also wrote thought-provoking memoirs peppered with anecdotes, advice, and lessons learned throughout their years as high-profile leaders.  All of these books have shaped me and helped me to avoid spending time in the “school of hard knocks”.

Whose memoirs would you recommend?