The Petraeus Way

Another good book out on General David Petraeus - - All In: The Education of General David Petraeus (2012) by Paula Broadwell and Vernon Loeb.  The book details "The Petraeus Way" in the context of strategy development.  He feels that strategic leaders and thinkers need to engage in four strategic tasks.  These are:

1. Getting the big ideas right - - Counterinsurgency in Iraq was the big idea, and the big idea was right.
2. Effectively communicating the big ideas - - Petraeus is a master of communicating via all the media mediums and with Congress.  To quote the General - - "The enemy has to know we have the will to prevail."
3. Overseeing the implementation of the big ideas - - Execution, Execution, and more Execution.  "Those on the ground must have all the support they need when they are in a tough situation."
4. Capturing best practices and lessons and cycling them back through the system to help refine the big ideas - - Sort of the three "Ls" - - Listen, Learn, Lead.  Then you recycle.