What Hangs in the Balance - by Philippe Johnson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The actions or inactions of elected and appointed leaders determine whether the people they serve flourish or suffer. What hangs in the balance is not just quality of life, but often life itself. Unprincipled and unethical leadership puts at risk mission accomplishment, good governance, public trust in democratic institutions, national security, and even the rule of law.

Over the course of Philippe Johnson's twenty-four-year career as a United States Air Force officer, he learned to appreciate how flawed and ineffective leaders can still provide valuable lessons for all of us. His thorough and candid analysis of Donald Trump's social media posts and conduct as president--and how they were an aberration in both style and substance--sets a foundation for leaders to embrace and implement myriad leadership traits and competencies required for success in public and private sector organizations. Rather than criticizing specific policies, Johnson's analysis focuses on leadership evaluation and practical imperatives for embracing each of the competencies. Including insights from contributing subject matter experts and the wisdom of contemporary and historical luminaries, Johnson provides a fascinating and sobering leadership critique in which readers will:

• Discover why character traits such as humility, empathy, respect for dignity, and self-control matter in every arena and bolster crucial leadership competencies.
• Appreciate how one's fundamental leadership responsibilities promote core values and defend democratic principles and institutions.
• Take away positive examples of seeking counsel and expertise that support sound decision-making.
• Understand how trust and accountability are fostered through disciplined and ethical behavior.
• Experience and benefit from real-world examples of what not-to-do while also being inspired by recent examples of courageously selfless leadership.
• Differentiate between principled and unprincipled loyalty while countering undue influence and abuse of authority.
• Experience behaviors associated with three personality disorders that undermine selfless leadership and create toxic workplaces.

A nation's citizens need and deserve exceptional leadership. By providing guidelines for principled, ethical, competent, and courageously selfless leadership, What Hangs in the Balance leaves readers well poised and inspired to positively and profoundly impact the lives of those they serve.

Review Quotes

"Philippe Johnson does something remarkable with What Hangs in the Balance--he extracts the chaos of the Trump years and turns it into a powerful teaching moment about our own personal approach to leadership and the expectations we should have for those who govern our country. Through his work we get to examine ourselves, understand proven leadership traits, and learn critical lessons drawn from Johnson's career in military and government service. Many books on Trump offer up opinion--What Hangs in the Balance equips each of us to be better leaders, to insist on better leaders, and to take greater responsibility for our remarkable American experiment."

--David Jolly, former Congressman, policy and politics analyst

"This book outlines the values and actions that leaders need to embody to preserve the values of freedom and democracy we all respect. A must-read for public leaders."

--G. Edward DeSeve, former Special Assistant to President Barack Obama

"What hangs in the balance? Yes, let's pose the title of Philippe Johnson's book in the form of a question. The answer, after reading this brilliant compilation on leadership, will no longer be your own leadership skills. If you're leading a company (or hope to someday), your employees aren't your family or friends--they are your employees. What Hangs in the Balance teaches you how to lead them with honor and principle, all the while making a difference in the lives of those you influence."

--Frank McKinney, 9-time Bestselling Author including Aspirational Thoughts, Inspirational Images, AspirationalThoughts.com

About the Author

Philippe Johnson is a retired United States Air Force officer and advocate for principled and ethical leadership in public service. The son of a language teacher and career United States Army officer, he was raised in the United States, France, and Germany. During his twenty-four years on active duty, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson served as a fixed- and rotary-wing pilot, intelligence officer, and diplomat (military attaché). He received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida and earned his master's degree in public policy from the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy.

Philippe can be reached at www.philippejohnson.com.