I recently finished the book To Stop A Warlord by Shannon Sedgwick–Davis. It is the story of her humanitarian work to stop the atrocities of Joseph Kony and the LRA in central Africa.

I picked up the book because Shannon is a girlfriend from college, I’m proud of the work she does, and I wanted to support her. But, I’ve got to say that after reading it, I was truly blown away.

Let’s start with the fact that the book is a genuinely good read. There is adventure, danger people you get to know and care about, and emotional highs and lows. It’s a fascinating story that draws you in. And of course, there are all the “feels” that come the with the amazing humanitarian work described in the book. And it’s all true!

The book gives a fascinating glimpse into violent rebel groups and how the military, government, international diplomacy, and humanitarian aid intersect in the effort to stop them.

As I read, the work side of my brain kept insisting that it is a great book about leading change. And indeed, it is. The book offers:

• Great perspective on stepping outside of the standard approach to solving big problems.
• Lessons about flexibility and adapting as the situation changes, essential to leading a change that nobody thought could be achieved.
• Guidance on how to be laser focused on achieving an end result …. but not necessarily on a specific outcome.
• Insight on how using clear eyes to honestly evaluate the situation allows a leader to identify when the standard avenues are no longer viable so that they can find different avenues forward.
• Some hard truths in terms of accountability and grace … both critical aspects of leading change.
• An example of how to be an authentic leader and not loose yourself to the enormous effort of what you are trying to achieve.

It’s definitely a book worth reading!