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Rumbo: The Leadership Secrets of Donald Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld is commonly believed to be a man who likes running toward the smoke.

He ran the Ford White House after the trauma of Watergate and turned GD Searle around after it had racked up eight losing quarters.

And, as the 13th and 21st US Defense Secretary, he's been both the youngest and oldest person to hold that office.

In the 1970s, Rumsfeld published a long list of bland aphorisms under the title, Rumsfeld's Rules

Now, author, Jeffrey Krames, has built a book around them. It's called The Rumsfeld Way: The Leadership Wisdom of a Battle-Hardened Maverick.

Midge Decter has also written about Rummy. Her book's entitled, Rumsfeld: A Personal Portrait. And, according to Deborah Kalb

One gets a picture of a supremely self-confident man, one who is perfectly capable of charging into a situation and changing it to his liking, while in the process alienating some of those around him — but remaining so convinced that what he’s doing is right that he’s able to sail through situations that might undo more insecure beings.

Apparently, he's always been that way. So, what does that mean? That he's got leadership genes? And, if so, can other people learn what he knows automatically?

Here's a blog by a Rumsfeld-Hater
And here's one by a Rummy-Lover

And, here are some of Rumsfeld’s Rules:

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
If you develop rules, never have more than 10.
Learn to say, “I don’t know.” If used when appropriate, it will be often.
It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.
If in doubt, move decisions up to the president.

Don’t accept the post or stay unless you have an understanding with the president that you’re free to tell him what you think ‘with the bark off,’ and you have the courage to do it.

Develop a personal relationship with the chairman and each of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a time of crisis, those relationships can be vital.