The Mission of Leadership
This book captures more than 30 years of tried, tested, and proven true leadership education, experience, and expertise.
From the book's back cover:
Textbook theories of leadership often crumble under real-world pressure. Whether you lead troops on a battle eld or employees in a boardroom, you need time-tested principles and practices that work when the stakes are high and failure is not an option.
Shawn Campbell—a retired US Air Force brigadier general and an early leader in the U.S. Space Force—has been responsible for supporting nearly 700,000 personnel and annual budgets in excess of $60 billion. He has served in many leadership roles, including at the Pentagon and the Air Force Academy.
In The Mission of Leadership, he shares his philosophy of how to fulfill your purpose and lead your team to victory, even flipping failures into positive impact along the way. You’ll learn how to:
• Develop your Leadership Constitution to prevent directionless “no vector” projects
• Avoid “value valleys” that derail leaders who misplace their focus
• “Fail falling forward” by publicly sharing your mistakes as teaching opportunities
• Prevent groupthink by seeking out “considered contrarians” who are unafraid to challenge you
• Go big, bold, and beyond with “loon shots” that push your organization past what seems possible
Your legacy as a leader is not your reputation. It’s the team you train and trust to carry on the mission long after you’re gone. Learn to develop the character and competence of a leader, in yourself and in others, with The Mission of Leadership.
Praise for The Mission of Leadership
Thoughts about this book from accomplished and successful leaders within both the private and public sector.
I started reading Brigadier General Campbell’s book and his story was so compelling that I read it in one sitting. Brigadier General Campbell is very candid about what he did well and what he learned and improved on. It takes a lot of courage to share mistakes that were made and how he successfully addressed them. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how to become an effective leader. Your time will be well spent!
- Gina Grosso, Lieutenant General, US Air Force (Retired)
The words hero, legend, and servant leader are vastly overused in our world today, but they define General Shawn Campbell. I’ve had a ringside seat to observe him successfully leading immense organizations as well as taking the time and making the effort to inspire a middle school student. A leader is a leader all the time and in every situation. Within these pages, you will be exposed to time-tested, real-world principles that will impact you and those you serve.
– Jim Stovall, bestselling author of The Ultimate Gift
As leaders, we strive to embody a growth mindset and continually seek opportunities to learn and evolve. The Mission of Leadership wonderfully blends the humanity of leadership with a lifelong dedication of service to our nation, offering timeless truths and powerful insights that resonate across all sectors. General Campbell’s experiences remind us that whether leading on the front lines, at the Pentagon, anywhere across a business, or in a corporate boardroom, the principles of effective leadership remain the same—and they are ones we must all embrace.
- Timothy Eernisse, Vice President of Education and Growth & Chief Operating Officer, National Educational Telecommunications Association
Shawn Campbell is a student, researcher, practitioner, and lifelong learner about leadership and its importance at work and in day-to-day life. The Mission of Leadership is a must read as he’s eloquently captured key concepts and lessons using real world practical examples. Shawn’s style is easy to read with wide application for leaders at all levels, occupations, and stations in life!
- Brian T. Kelly, Lieutenant General, US Air Force (Retired), and President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America
I have only known Shawn since early 2023 but that doesn't negate the impact he has had on my life and career. While I have had the honor of spending face to face time with him - many of you may not have that opportunity. Fortunately, being the man that he is – you now have the privilege of reading his words which will transform your life and career the same way he did with mine and thousands of others around the world. No matter what your position in life, this is a book you will not want to miss!
- Darren McKee, Founder of Darren McKee Co.
Having served with Shawn Campbell, I’ve witnessed firsthand his uncanny ability to develop others. The Mission of Leadership captures that same presence. Reading it feels like sitting across from him, absorbing hard-won insights from a lifetime of leading. This isn’t just a book; it’s a coaching session that reminds us to apply the full spectrum of disciplines to maximize our impact on both the mission and our people. A must-read—and a must-use—for anyone serious about getting better at influencing others to maximize results while supporting teams.
-- Stephen T. Messenger, Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Founder of The Maximum Standard
The Mission of Leadership is a collection of leadership lessons, insights, and knowledge gained through experience leading at every level of an organization. Shawn is one of the most thoughtful leaders I know, and it comes across in this masterful piece. This resource should be added to every leader's library!
- Jacob Werksman, DBA, Founder and CEO of Victory Strategies, Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, and bestselling author of Mastering Your G.A.P.: Unlocking the Leadership Power of Gravitas, Awareness, and Presence
Shawn presents unique and practical leadership recommendations that will resonate with both new and seasoned leaders. As a senior leader in one of the world's largest organizations (the US military), his thoughts about preparing to lead, leadership strain, and overcoming failures are particularly insightful and offer important guidance on how people can improve their leadership skills.
- Alex Barelka, PhD, PMP, Professor Management Department, Illinois State University
The Mission of Leadership brings you into Shawn's world as a 30-year leader in the Air Force. He strikes a balance between tactical approaches and vulnerable stories that guide leaders toward a career of ongoing growth. Compelling, inspiring, and actionable for leaders across industries!
- David Moerlein, former Google leader and author of The Safety Effect
Brigadier General Shawn Campbell provides an experiential leadership anthology that thoughtfully shares his military experience from a servant-leader’s perspective. This reflective and practical work both illustrates and examines leadership principles and is as useful for the first-line supervisor as it is helpful for the senior executive.
- Ms. Patricia Mulcahy, first-ever Chief Human Capital Officer, US Space Force