Born to Jamaican immigrants who came to the South Bronx –
From 1987 to 1993, he served as the National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, under presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In January 2001, he was selected by President George W. Bush to be the Secretary of State, the first African American to ever hold such office. As Secretary of State in the Bush administration, Powell was perceived as moderate.
Powell's great asset was his tremendous popularity among the American people. Over the course of his tenure he traveled less than any other U.S. Secretary of State in 30 years.
Powell’s “Laws of Power,” which guided him in his decision-making, have helped him to become a trusted man. “Dare to be the skunk”, is his way of saying to dare to ask the tough, unpopular questions.
“Head for the trenches”, reveals the value he places on the “common person”, an important source of information. He warns that “experts often possess more data than judgement.”
Powell, rarely advocated military intervention as the first solution to an international dispute, and instead usually prescribed diplomacy and containment.
As an officer, he valued loyalty very highly, and as a result, did not usually "undermine force" to achieve a military objective while minimizing
Powell’s ruthless definition of leadership causes him to be even more trusted. He contends that leadership “is not rank, privilege, titles or money... its responsibility!”
In one of his laws of power, he reveals why people trust him. “Never let ego get so close to your position that when you position goes, your egos goes with it.” Holding onto life’s honors and positions with “an open hand” enhances trust.
Source: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Tested By Time, James L. Garlow.
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc.
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