Women & Leadership Australia eNewsletter

July 2010

Book review: Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

Book author: Rebecca Shambaugh

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Australia

If you can, possibly let go of any pre-conceived notions you may have about someone who is certainly one of the most powerful and influential women in the world. Through determination, luck and hard work, Hillary Rodham Clinton has achieved to an astounding level, and it is the insights one can glean from this book about how to practically apply those qualities she embodies that make Hillary a great leader, and this book well worth reading.

In 2009, author Rebecca Shambuagh noted a shift from discussions focussed on universal leadership to conversations addressing leadership in turbulent times. With a key trait of a leader being one who is able to effectively lead in unstable environments, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s fortitude and ability to evolve her leadership style is impressive.

With a view to the leadership style and attributes Hillary epitomises, Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton examines the characteristics that have helped Hillary to get where she is today as the Secretary of State of the USA, whilst exploring those lessons she has been challenged by, and learned and grown from, reshaping her own skills and capabilities as a leader.

Shambaugh scrutinises the key behaviours and skills that Hillary models as a leader, such as her use of networks, her authenticity and her ability to adapt to the situation she is in whilst being the incarnation of her purpose. Interlaced with stories of Hillary’s life and career, and examples from Shambaugh’s own conversations and work, are a number of concise and practical recommendations on how to be an effective leader. Leadership Secrets also delves into how to unearth in oneself those critical qualities that are tantamount to being a great leader.

Shambaugh establishes her authority on the subject matter of leadership early on and it is made clear that she has had access to some people in Hillary’s network, however the lack of true contact with the subject makes one wonder if simply reading Hillary’s own book, Living History, which is often quoted throughout the book, would suffice.

And there are without a doubt a plethora of other books that cover Hillary’s life story in greater depth than Shambaugh goes into. That said, it is a thorough exploration of the way that Hillary embodies the traits characteristic of a truly great leader, and the practical examples, advice and questions offered that make this book unique.

Writing in a clear and informal style, Shambaugh convincingly outlines the key strategies of great leaders and provides proven examples of how one can learn and apply these strategies to immense effect. At the end of each chapter are valuable questions provoking thought on how readers can act in a variety of relevant situations and providing proven examples and advice on how to apply the ‘secrets’ that Hillary personifies.

An engaging book, it is not one that I thought I would like as much as I did. I felt Hillary became much more accessible through reading Leadership Secrets; and to any woman looking to re-evaluate their own capabilities as a leader, using Hillary as model for success is certainly worthwhile.

Although there is also an overabundance of leadership books lining the bookstore walls, there is something this book offers that a number of those don’t. Hillary genuinely is a fascinating subject to explore, she has achieved a great deal and her resilience to change and through setbacks is well noted.

There are many who do not wish to scale to such lofty heights, but the insights and practical applications offered by Shambaugh on Hillary’s success as a leader are invaluable provocations for each of us to take stock of and question our own leadership practices.

Hillary was guided by her purpose and although she may not have always made the right choices, her ability to learn from those mistakes, to maintain her authenticity following her own values and actions and bounce back is admirable and unfathomably inspiring.

By Rebecca Todd, Women & Leadership Australia

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