In "Leadership 101," author Eric Garma delves into the essence of leadership,
unraveling its intricacies and offering a roadmap for personal and professional growth.
Through a blend of personal anecdotes, historical references, and practical advice,
Garma elucidates the fundamental principles of effective leadership.
The book opens with a poignant reflection on the essence of human potential,
emphasizing the importance of determination and adaptation in overcoming perceived
limitations. Drawing inspiration from historical figures like FDR and Stephen Hawking,
Garma underscores the transformative power of resilience and perseverance.
Central to Garma's philosophy is the concept of continuous growth and self-
improvement. He outlines a series of rules and standards aimed at fostering personal
development and cultivating a positive mindset. From prioritizing self-growth to
embracing challenges as opportunities for learning, Garma provides actionable insights
for individuals striving to unlock their full potential.
Moreover, Garma explores the dynamics of team leadership, emphasizing the
importance of effective communication and fostering a supportive environment. He
advocates for clarity, transparency, and empathy in interpersonal interactions,
highlighting the role of leaders in empowering their teams to thrive.
Throughout the book, Garma encourages readers to envision their goals and
aspirations, both individually and collectively. He offers practical exercises and prompts
for reflection, empowering readers to chart their own paths toward success.
In conclusion, "Leadership 101" serves as a comprehensive guide for aspiring leaders,
offering a blend of wisdom, inspiration, and actionable strategies for personal and
professional growth. Garma's insights resonate with readers seeking to unlock their
leadership potential and make a meaningful impact in their respective spheres.
Many people, myself included, have seen or maybe even had a supervisor who
did not have or attempt to cultivate a leadership skill or style. Moreover, this lack
of skill is reinforced by societal toxic standards such as: “It’s lonely at the top” or
jokes, “To be in charge, you have to be an asshole.” After I had gotten out of military contracting, I personally witnessed somebody higher up in a factory where
I worked at the time publicly chastising and humiliating an employee. And I
distinctly remember thinking to myself, if that was me, I would calmly pull him
to the side and tell him how this is not an acceptable behavior. Additionally, if
that was one of my soldiers, one of my people, I would not bother pulling him
to the side to explain it to him. It took me a while to realize that civilian life is
not a culture of leadership juxtaposed to the military. Well, adjusting to civilian
life can be too difficult; however, service members make that transition every
day. Then, I started running into toxic leadership that directly affected me. One
of the not-so-toxic supervisors who actually knew me and recommended that I
write a book on leadership.
Subsequently, another one that was not toxic at all recommended that I do
public speaking about leadership. More recently, knowing that leadership was
one of my fortes, a friend of mine who was recently promoted to supervisor
called me and asked me what books he should read and what he should do to be
a better leader and groom himself into the role. I gave him a list of books to read,
only to find out that reading puts him to sleep. I recommended audiobooks. But
he is always on the phone conducting business. So, I thought to myself, what
would help people in all the scenarios? When I say the scenarios, I mean people
who go to sleep from reading, people who have never been cultivated into a leadership role, and even toxic leaders because they do not know that leadership does
not involve being an asshole. And so, this workbook was written.
