I enjoy reading books dealing with military history. When I read the background for this book would be the D-Day invasion at Normandy, I was intrigued. Lead Like Ike: Ten Business Strategies from the CEO of D-Day by Geoff Loftus gives a detailed look at the leadership methods of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower, or “Ike” was given the monumental task of coordinating and commanding the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Loftus sets up his book by giving the military operation of D-Day a company name, D-Day Inc. and treats Ike as the CEO of that company. Loftus then goes on to look at the D-Day invasion as a business project. He draws a parallel between the military world and the secular business world, showing that Eisenhower had a board of directors (the president and other Allied leaders), C-level staff (commanders and generals on the ground), affiliated organizations, and stakeholders (military personnel, US citizens, and the victims of Hitler’s crimes).

 The strategies learned from Eisenhower’s methods of leadership are valuable and relevant. A few of the strategies that emerge are Determine Your Mission, Stay Focused, Motivate Your People, and Be Honest. The lessons themselves are generic, but adaptable beyond corporate America. As a pastor, the strategies that were utilized and found successful on the battlefield can be applied to leading people to be on mission for God. For anyone who is in a leadership position, this book will be beneficial to you. Lead Like Ike is not your typical “do-this” and “don’t-do-that” leadership type book. Rather, it is an honest look a leader who led people in a real-life situation and the principles and insight we gain have been tried and tested. I recommend this book to you.