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Essential: Five Principles That Make Good People Great Leaders
Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield to the Boardroom
Taking on a leadership position is an honor, but all too often, well-intended high performers are thrust into leadership roles with little, if any, preparation. You were chosen for your excellent work, but this does not always guarantee excellent leadership. In the military, leaders are not put in front of their teams until they are well prepared to provide technically, tactically, and ethically sound leadership. Conversely, across the private sector, small- and medium-sized organizations suffer because they lack the resources to develop leaders before they are needed.
Three-star Lieutenant General William Troy bridges this gap by distilling his hard-earned wisdom on what it takes to be a great leader. Through riveting stories from the battlefield to the shop floor to the boardroom, busy leaders can quickly learn from his experiences and the examples of the best leaders he has known. Explore the essential traits of trust, communication, being a team player, developing your culture, and delivering results. This concise, pragmatic guide exemplifies the core qualities that will help you become the leader you want to be.
Taking on a leadership position is an honor, but all too often, well-intended high performers are thrust into leadership roles with little, if any, preparation. You were chosen for your excellent work, but this does not always guarantee excellent leadership. In the military, leaders are not put in front of their teams until they are well prepared to provide technically, tactically, and ethically sound leadership. Conversely, across the private sector, small- and medium-sized organizations suffer because they lack the resources to develop leaders before they are needed.
Three-star Lieutenant General William Troy bridges this gap by distilling his hard-earned wisdom on what it takes to be a great leader. Through riveting stories from the battlefield to the shop floor to the boardroom, busy leaders can quickly learn from his experiences and the examples of the best leaders he has known. Explore the essential traits of trust, communication, being a team player, developing your culture, and delivering results. This concise, pragmatic guide exemplifies the core qualities that will help you become the leader you want to be.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 20, 2026
America's military has long been the gold standard for developing leaders. Why? Because it teaches trust, accountability, teamwork, communication, and results under the most demanding conditions imaginable.
In ESSENTIAL: Five Principals That Make Good People Great Leaders, retired 3-Star General William Troy translates those battlefield-tested leadership principles into practical lessons for today's business leaders. Drawing on nearly four decades of military service and subsequent experience as a CEO and leadership educator, Troy demonstrates how organizations can build stronger cultures, develop better teams, communicate more effectively, and consistently deliver results.
What makes this book stand out is its authenticity. Troy doesn't offer leadership theory from the sidelines. He shares real-world experiences, hard lessons, and proven leadership practices forged through years of leading soldiers, managing complex organizations, and mentoring future leaders. His focus on trust, accountability, teamwork, culture, and execution provides a practical roadmap for anyone responsible for leading people.
Business leaders looking to strengthen their organizations would do well to borrow a page from the military leadership playbook. ESSENTIAL shows exactly how. Thoughtful, engaging, and highly actionable, this is a leadership book that belongs on every manager's desk.
Highly Recommended
In ESSENTIAL: Five Principals That Make Good People Great Leaders, retired 3-Star General William Troy translates those battlefield-tested leadership principles into practical lessons for today's business leaders. Drawing on nearly four decades of military service and subsequent experience as a CEO and leadership educator, Troy demonstrates how organizations can build stronger cultures, develop better teams, communicate more effectively, and consistently deliver results.
What makes this book stand out is its authenticity. Troy doesn't offer leadership theory from the sidelines. He shares real-world experiences, hard lessons, and proven leadership practices forged through years of leading soldiers, managing complex organizations, and mentoring future leaders. His focus on trust, accountability, teamwork, culture, and execution provides a practical roadmap for anyone responsible for leading people.
Business leaders looking to strengthen their organizations would do well to borrow a page from the military leadership playbook. ESSENTIAL shows exactly how. Thoughtful, engaging, and highly actionable, this is a leadership book that belongs on every manager's desk.
Highly Recommended
October 20, 2026
ESSENTIAL: FIVE PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE GOOD PEOPLE GREAT LEADERS
WILLIAM TROY
Are you mostly a fiction reader? If so, are you open to reading a fantastic non-fiction book? Well, ESSENTIAL is that book. I’m not going to list these 5 principles. You can read those on your own. Instead, I want to give you some examples of why you will want to know these and his experiences that have led to writing this book.
William Troy was a 3-star general in the Army! When he retired, he went into the private sector and excelled there too. He definitely knows what he’s talking about. What made the biggest impression on me? I can’t list everything in one review. But let me just mention a few things that really stood out for me:
1. He took responsibility for failing at times both in the military and private sectors. How many people who are in control of a lot of people would do that? Well, he sure does.
2. He was very up front about how difficult it was making the transition from the Army to the private sector. You wouldn’t expect any leader, let alone a 3-star general, to admit that.
3. While he is leading, he is also listening. He stresses how important communication is.
4. Besides “communication,” you will also see a lot of words like “trust,” “work ethic,” “joy,” and “gratitude.”
Need I go on? If I do, it means you will have less time to read ESSENTIAL. My advice is…GET TO IT!
ESSENTIAL: FIVE PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE GOOD PEOPLE GREAT LEADERS
WILLIAM TROY
Are you mostly a fiction reader? If so, are you open to reading a fantastic non-fiction book? Well, ESSENTIAL is that book. I’m not going to list these 5 principles. You can read those on your own. Instead, I want to give you some examples of why you will want to know these and his experiences that have led to writing this book.
William Troy was a 3-star general in the Army! When he retired, he went into the private sector and excelled there too. He definitely knows what he’s talking about. What made the biggest impression on me? I can’t list everything in one review. But let me just mention a few things that really stood out for me:
1. He took responsibility for failing at times both in the military and private sectors. How many people who are in control of a lot of people would do that? Well, he sure does.
2. He was very up front about how difficult it was making the transition from the Army to the private sector. You wouldn’t expect any leader, let alone a 3-star general, to admit that.
3. While he is leading, he is also listening. He stresses how important communication is.
4. Besides “communication,” you will also see a lot of words like “trust,” “work ethic,” “joy,” and “gratitude.”
Need I go on? If I do, it means you will have less time to read ESSENTIAL. My advice is…GET TO IT!
WILLIAM TROY
Are you mostly a fiction reader? If so, are you open to reading a fantastic non-fiction book? Well, ESSENTIAL is that book. I’m not going to list these 5 principles. You can read those on your own. Instead, I want to give you some examples of why you will want to know these and his experiences that have led to writing this book.
William Troy was a 3-star general in the Army! When he retired, he went into the private sector and excelled there too. He definitely knows what he’s talking about. What made the biggest impression on me? I can’t list everything in one review. But let me just mention a few things that really stood out for me:
1. He took responsibility for failing at times both in the military and private sectors. How many people who are in control of a lot of people would do that? Well, he sure does.
2. He was very up front about how difficult it was making the transition from the Army to the private sector. You wouldn’t expect any leader, let alone a 3-star general, to admit that.
3. While he is leading, he is also listening. He stresses how important communication is.
4. Besides “communication,” you will also see a lot of words like “trust,” “work ethic,” “joy,” and “gratitude.”
Need I go on? If I do, it means you will have less time to read ESSENTIAL. My advice is…GET TO IT!
ESSENTIAL: FIVE PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE GOOD PEOPLE GREAT LEADERS
WILLIAM TROY
Are you mostly a fiction reader? If so, are you open to reading a fantastic non-fiction book? Well, ESSENTIAL is that book. I’m not going to list these 5 principles. You can read those on your own. Instead, I want to give you some examples of why you will want to know these and his experiences that have led to writing this book.
William Troy was a 3-star general in the Army! When he retired, he went into the private sector and excelled there too. He definitely knows what he’s talking about. What made the biggest impression on me? I can’t list everything in one review. But let me just mention a few things that really stood out for me:
1. He took responsibility for failing at times both in the military and private sectors. How many people who are in control of a lot of people would do that? Well, he sure does.
2. He was very up front about how difficult it was making the transition from the Army to the private sector. You wouldn’t expect any leader, let alone a 3-star general, to admit that.
3. While he is leading, he is also listening. He stresses how important communication is.
4. Besides “communication,” you will also see a lot of words like “trust,” “work ethic,” “joy,” and “gratitude.”
Need I go on? If I do, it means you will have less time to read ESSENTIAL. My advice is…GET TO IT!
October 20, 2026
Essential: Five Principles that Make Good People Great Leaders by William Troy is a goldmine of knowledge for current and aspiring leaders. As a retired three-star general turned CEO, Troy is more than qualified to speak on what it takes to be an effective leader. Throughout the book, he draws on his own experiences in the military and business world, but also as someone who has been led by many different types of people in his life, making his advice feel practical and authentic.
According to Troy, the five principles of great leadership are: trust, communication, teamwork, culture, and delivering results. While each principle is important on its own, Troy emphasizes that they work together to create strong and effective organizations. Trust allows leaders to build meaningful relationships with their teams, while communication ensures that everyone understands expectations and feels heard. Teamwork encourages people to work toward a shared goal, and a positive culture creates an environment where employees can succeed. Ultimately, delivering results demonstrates that strong leadership is not just about having good intentions, but about turning those principles into meaningful action.
One of the most valuable aspects of the book is Troy's ability to connect his lessons to real experiences. His military background provides unique insight into leadership under pressure, while his experience as a CEO shows how those same principles can translate into the corporate world. This demonstrates that leadership is not simply about having authority or being the person in charge. Instead, it is about earning the trust of others, bringing people together, creating a strong environment, and motivating a team toward results.
Overall, Troy’s work is a valuable resource for anyone interested in leadership, whether they are already managing a team or hoping to become a leader in the future. His experiences and five principles provide readers with practical lessons that can be applied in any facet, serving as a reminder that great leadership starts with people and the relationships leaders build with them.
According to Troy, the five principles of great leadership are: trust, communication, teamwork, culture, and delivering results. While each principle is important on its own, Troy emphasizes that they work together to create strong and effective organizations. Trust allows leaders to build meaningful relationships with their teams, while communication ensures that everyone understands expectations and feels heard. Teamwork encourages people to work toward a shared goal, and a positive culture creates an environment where employees can succeed. Ultimately, delivering results demonstrates that strong leadership is not just about having good intentions, but about turning those principles into meaningful action.
One of the most valuable aspects of the book is Troy's ability to connect his lessons to real experiences. His military background provides unique insight into leadership under pressure, while his experience as a CEO shows how those same principles can translate into the corporate world. This demonstrates that leadership is not simply about having authority or being the person in charge. Instead, it is about earning the trust of others, bringing people together, creating a strong environment, and motivating a team toward results.
Overall, Troy’s work is a valuable resource for anyone interested in leadership, whether they are already managing a team or hoping to become a leader in the future. His experiences and five principles provide readers with practical lessons that can be applied in any facet, serving as a reminder that great leadership starts with people and the relationships leaders build with them.
October 20, 2026
In this simple and effective guide, William Troy provides the resources and advice needed to develop the skills essential to becoming a successful leader. He begins by discussing the importance of trust and the role it plays in effective leadership. Trust is a fundamental quality that leaders must establish and maintain in their relationships with others. Troy uses a powerful metaphor to explain its significance, stating, “trust is the glue that holds all the pieces together, yet it is also the lubricant that allows the machine to work.” When team members need help or guidance in any situation, it is important that they feel comfortable and safe approaching their leader. Ultimately, trust and psychological safety form the foundation of successful organizations and teams.
One of the most notable aspects of this book is William Troy’s writing style and tone. He frequently draws on his experiences in the United States Army and Military Academy, adding credibility and authenticity to his insights. His wisdom and knowledge are evident throughout each chapter, and his straightforward writing style makes the book easy to read and understand. This accessibility makes it an excellent resource for anyone seeking practical, easy-to-follow guidance on leadership development.
Troy carefully breaks down the five key elements needed to succeed as a leader: trust, communication, teamwork, organizational culture, and delivering results. His book shares similarities with the work of Dale Carnegie, particularly his approach to self-improvement and personal development. The practical advice and engaging personal anecdotes make the book both informative and enjoyable to read. Troy’s emphasis on human relationships offers valuable lessons for growth in both personal and professional settings.
Anyone seeking career advice, personal development, or simply an engaging self-help book should give Essential a read. With its practical insights, relatable examples, and straightforward approach, it is an excellent guide for anyone looking to become a more confident and outstanding leader.
One of the most notable aspects of this book is William Troy’s writing style and tone. He frequently draws on his experiences in the United States Army and Military Academy, adding credibility and authenticity to his insights. His wisdom and knowledge are evident throughout each chapter, and his straightforward writing style makes the book easy to read and understand. This accessibility makes it an excellent resource for anyone seeking practical, easy-to-follow guidance on leadership development.
Troy carefully breaks down the five key elements needed to succeed as a leader: trust, communication, teamwork, organizational culture, and delivering results. His book shares similarities with the work of Dale Carnegie, particularly his approach to self-improvement and personal development. The practical advice and engaging personal anecdotes make the book both informative and enjoyable to read. Troy’s emphasis on human relationships offers valuable lessons for growth in both personal and professional settings.
Anyone seeking career advice, personal development, or simply an engaging self-help book should give Essential a read. With its practical insights, relatable examples, and straightforward approach, it is an excellent guide for anyone looking to become a more confident and outstanding leader.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews