Conquering crisis Ten lessons to learn before you need them

Retired admiral McRaven (The Wisdom of the Bullfrog) draws on his 40-year military career for this sound guide to crisis management. Outlining 10 key lessons, he discusses the importance of notifying a supervisor immediately when a situation goes south, citing a 2008 incident when he notified Gen. David Petraeus that an operative had accidentally killed the cousin of the Iraqi prime minister; since it was the middle of the night, they were able to do basic damage control before morning. He contrasts this choice with the Reagan administration's denials and obfuscation when details of the Iran/Contra affair came out, an approach that cost Reagan "the trust of the American people," McRaven argues. Elsewhere, he emphasizes the value of transparency (the public will give leaders more latitude to resolve things if they feel they're getting honest progress reports) and having multiple options for action ready in case of rapidly changing situations. Such solid guidance and case studies are effective even if some tips, like soliciting advice from a trusted group of advisers willing "to speak truth to power," are vaguer and may be harder for the average reader to apply. Still, leaders looking for an edge in high-pressure situations will find value here. (Apr.)