Empowering Reform Is the Key to Robert Gates’ Leadership Approach

Robert Gates’ new book on leadership has powerful lessons for how American institutions, both public and private, are inspired and managed. At a time when U.S. citizens despair of ever fixing the country’s political system, he conveys some hope that positive change in political and bureaucratic behavior is possible. And beyond the U.S., Gates’ approach to leadership could also be applied to how Washington engages with democratizing countries struggling to build new social contracts between their leaders and citizens.

Gates’ third book since leaving public office, “A Passion for Leadership,” draws from his 50 years of public service under eight presidents of both parties, including as the head of the CIA and the Department of Defense. Added to that mix are his experiences as the president of Texas A&M University, as a member of various corporate boards and as national president of the Boy Scouts of America, one of his current affiliations. Gates uses the range of these leadership positions to illustrate his belief that there are more similarities than differences in the talents needed to be a good leader, whether in large public administrations, corporate settings or the nonprofit sector. ...