Stanley McChrystal Books

As commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), General Stanley McChrystal discarded a century of management wisdom and pivoted from a pursuit of mechanical efficiency to organic adaptability. In this book, he shows how any organization can make the same transition to act like a team of teams - where small groups combine the freedom to experiment with a relentless drive to share their experience. Drawing on a wealth of evidence from his military career and sources as diverse as hospital emergency rooms and NASA's space program, McChrystal frames the existential challenge facing today's organizations, and presents a compelling, effective solution.

As commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), General Stanley McChrystal faced a dire situation in the War on Terror in 2004, with Al Qaeda outmaneuvering America's elite forces despite their superior resources. He recognized that the conventional military hierarchy was ill-suited for a rapidly changing world. Al Qaeda's decentralized network allowed it to strike swiftly and effectively, necessitating a radical shift in JSOC's approach. Under McChrystal's leadership, JSOC transformed itself into a new model that integrated centralized communication with decentralized authority, enabling them to counter Al Qaeda effectively. This book illustrates how the military's transition can serve as a blueprint for other organizations, from corporations to nonprofits to government entities. In an unpredictable environment, the most successful organizations operate like a "team of teams," fostering small groups that encourage experimentation while maintaining a commitment to sharing insights. Drawing on extensive experiences from his military career and diverse fields like healthcare and space exploration, McChrystal outlines the critical challenges facing contemporary organizations and offers a compelling solution for navigating complexity and fostering adaptability.

Leaders rexamines old notions of leadership - especially the outdated view that history is shaped by great men going it alone. General McChrystal shows us that leadership can take many forms, leaders often have different strengths, and great leaders can come from anywhere SHERYL SANDBERG COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org

Retired four-star general Stan McChrystal has navigated the high-stakes world of combat and leadership, from West Point to Afghanistan and beyond. In his latest work, he examines why individuals and organizations often fail to manage risk effectively. The common mistake lies in focusing solely on the probability of risks rather than the mechanisms available for managing them. McChrystal, along with coauthor Anna Butrico, presents a battle-tested system for identifying and responding to risks. They argue that risk should not be merely predicted but understood through ten dimensions of control that can be adjusted at any time. By monitoring these controls, we can maintain a robust Risk Immune System, enabling us to anticipate, identify, analyze, and act on unforeseen challenges. Drawing from military history and business examples, McChrystal provides practical exercises to enhance preparedness. He demonstrates that these ten factors are always at play and that by considering them, individuals and organizations can master the various risks they encounter. While the future remains uncertain, McChrystal's insights offer a pathway to strengthen our defenses against known and unknown threats.

Explores the major episodes and controversies of author's career. In this book, the author paints a vivid portrait of how the military establishment turned itself, in one generation, into the adaptive, resilient force that would soon be tested in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the wider War on Terror.