A book recommendation from Dan Beaulieu:

The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership: Classical Wisdom from Modern Leaders

By M.A. Soupios and Panos Mourdoukoutas

Copyright 2014Amacom

Price $15.95

Pages: 128

Learning from the world’s greatest thinkers

This is a little book that packs a big wallop. Where else can you get leadership tips from Plato and Aristotle and Antisthenes? This is not the kind of book that you read for entertainment although it is pretty entertaining but rather a book you keep on your desk as a kind of business sampler made up of the most important guidelines for not only business but for life itself. A book you can refer to every so often to remind yourself of what is truly important. Personally I plan to keep it around for just that.

Despite the fancy names of the thought leaders quoted in this book the advice is simple, clear, precise and very down to earth.

From the chapter titled, Character is Destiny for example you get these gems:

• Personal values, priorities, and life code determine the quality and substance of life.

• Personal and professional relations reflect the character of those involved.

Now that to me spells out what character is really made of. Too often in business we let these things, the important things slip by. We often substitute the rewards of the end game for what really matters.

I chose this section as an example because it illustrates what character means; what character is made up of and the importance of what it is to have good character.

From the same chapter:

What shapes the character of a true leader?

• Acknowledgement and respect for the rights of others.

• Courage to accept responsibility for one’s own shortcomings.

• Deep self-understanding-knowing thyself.

All of the other chapters other guidelines pertinent to being a great leader from “Know Thyself”, to “Always embrace the Truth”, to “Live By a Higher Code”, to Never Understate the Power of Personal Integrity” are based on the teachings of one of the world’s great teachers, thinkers and philosophers.

One final thought for great leadership from the book, “The character of an organization’s leadership determines a company’s destiny.”

I think that about says it all.

If you are serious about being a great leader then take the advice of some of the world’s greatest leaders. Buy this book and keep it around for those times when you’re not really sure where to go next because like a true north compass it will always help you to find your way.