Praise for Radical Inclusion
“ In Radical Inclusion, General Martin Dempsey and Ori Brafman offer current and aspiring leaders extraordinary insights into getting the best possible information for decision making as well as how to rely on trust and participation to forge strong teams. At a time when technology and, too often, organizational structures promote separateness and division, Dempsey and Brafman, through extensive use of both moving and amusing anecdotes, highlight the importance for all leaders of listening, inclusiveness, and respect as critical leadership tools for bringing unity of effort and success. These tools work, and watching General Dempsey apply them to great effect in multiple command positions led me to recommend him to the president to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There is great advice in these pages, based on real-world experience.”
—ROBERT M. GATES, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2006–2011
“ Radical Inclusion is an indispensable read for anyone in a leadership position today. Dempsey and Brafman, an unlikely duo, eloquently examine critical principles of leadership in our current digital world and provide a foundation to change top-down hierarchy and evolve with the times. A compelling and very important book.”
—PATTY MCCORD, former chief talent officer, Netflix, and author of Powerful
“ True leadership has never been more important for the world than it is today, yet the way we think about leadership hasn’t kept pace with the changing nature of our time. We are all part of a global community, and this requires stewardship for the world as a whole—being responsive and responsible, being integrative and inclusive. And this is what makes Radical Inclusion so timely and relevant. Dempsey and Brafman have thoughtfully identified emerging leadership principles which demand serious consideration. They challenge us to revitalize our thinking about leadership by providing new insights and concrete tools about how we listen, amplify, and include. A refreshing read!”
—KLAUS SCHWAB, founder and executive chairman,
World Economic Forum
“ Building a team—whether in sports, in the military, in business, or in foreign policy—takes leadership with heart, with dedication, and with trust. Radical Inclusion should be on the nightstand of anyone who aspires to lead.”
—MIKE KRZYZEWSKI, head coach, Duke University men’s basketball
“ Dempsey and Brafman’s book offers great insight into the central paradox of power: the more we try to bolster our power by increasing control, the less actual power we will have and the less effective will our leadership be. It is such a timely message for an age in desperate need of effective leaders who, in a spirit of radical inclusion, build bridges rather than walls.”
—FR. JOHN I. JENKINS, president, University of Notre Dame
“ Cutthroat balkanization in our culture and politics. The demise of agreed-upon facts as the basis for argument. The cultivation of grievance to divide and radicalize and exploit. If you are enervated or despairing of these worsening twenty-first-century dynamics, read Radical Inclusion. General Dempsey and Professor Brafman have mapped a way out that is practical, fascinatingly counterintuitive, and yes—radical. Radical Inclusion is the first thing I’ve read that feels like a light in the darkness for America in 2018 and beyond.”
—RACHEL MADDOW, host, The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC
“ In their book, Ori Brafman and Martin Dempsey lay out a compelling vision for leadership in an increasingly uncertain world. Borrowing from unlikely sources such as Burning Man and the maker/tech world, they make the case for how upside-down models of command and control based on inclusion and collaboration are vital for our military to be successful, and indeed for any organization or business. It’s essential reading for leaders of all stripes.”
—MATTHEW STEPKA, venture investor and former vice president, Google
“ In Radical Inclusion, General Martin Dempsey and Ori Brafman have written a playbook for leadership in the twenty-first century. Concise and compelling, it lays out practical principles that will help leaders at every level and in every sector navigate the challenges of a digital and polarized world. I’ve had the good fortune of working closely with General Dempsey and I highly recommend this book.”
—ADAM SILVER, commissioner, National Basketball Association
Copyright © 2017 by Martin Dempsey and Ori Brafman
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, digital scanning, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please email: [email protected].
Published in 2018 by Missionday
Printed in the United States of America
Distributed by Publishers Group West
Interior design by Tabitha Lahr
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-939714-10-7
ISBN: (ebook): 978-1-939714-12-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017918362
To contact the publisher, go to: [email protected].
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Disclaimer: Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. This book is presented solely for educational and informational purposes. The author and publisher are not offering it as legal, accounting, or other professional services advice. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or advice contained herein. Every company is different and the advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation.
DEDICATION
MARTIN DEMPSEY: I dedicate this book to those who showed me the real meaning of leadership. My grandparents, who had the courage to leave their home in Ireland with the simple hope of making a better life in the land of opportunity that is America. My parents, who sacrificed absolutely everything for their five children. My wife and lifelong partner, Deanie, who has always been the real leader in the Dempsey family. My three children—Chris, Megan, and Caity—who encouraged me to pursue a career of service and who then joined me in that life. My protégés, who were in a very special way also my mentors. I’ve been blessed to learn from the best and now hope to share the knowledge with you.
ORI BRAFMAN: I dedicate this book to my parents, Tsilla and Hagay, and my brother Rom—all of whom have shown me unwavering acceptance throughout my life—and to all those who have taught me important lessons about inclusion, from the deserts of El Paso to Black Rock City and from the halls of UC Berkeley’s Peace and Conflict Studies department to the tiny office of Vegan Action.
CONTENTS