Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams

Why were the American POWs imprisoned at the "Hanoi Hilton" so resilient in captivity and so successful in their subsequent careers? This book presents six principles practiced within the POW organizational culture that can be used to develop high-performance teams everywhere. The authors offer examples from both the POWs' time in captivity and their later professional lives that identify, in real-life situations, the characteristics necessary for sustainable, high-performance teamwork. The book takes readers inside the mind of James Stockdale, a fighter pilot with a degree in philosophy, who was the senior ranking officer at the Hanoi prison. The theories Stockdale practiced become readily understandable in this book. Drawing parallels between Stockdale's guiding philosophies from the Stoic Epictetus and the principles of modern sports psychology, Peter Fretwell and Taylor Baldwin Kiland show readers how to apply these principles to their own organizations and create a culture with staying power. Originally intending their book to focus on Stockdale's leadership style, the authors found that his approach toward completing a mission was to assure that it could be accomplished without him. Stockdale, they explain, had created a mission-centric organization, not a leader-centric organization. He had understood that a truly sustainable culture must not be dependent on a single individual. At one level, this book is a business school case study. It is also an examination of how leadership and organizational principles employed in the crucible of a Hanoi prison align with today's sports psychology and modern psychological theories and therapies, as well as the training principles used by Olympic athletes and Navy SEALs. Any group willing to apply these principles can move their mission forward and create a culture with staying power-one that outlives individual members.

About the Author :
Peter Fretwell is the general manager of The Classical Network, based in New Jersey. During his MBA studies in strategic leadership, he became convinced the lessons the POWs brought home could benefit other organizations and spent more than seven years researching the topic. He lives in Robbinsville, NJ. Taylor Baldwin Kiland, a former naval officer, is a management consultant with a large technology and strategy consulting firm and lives in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the author or coauthor of three books, including Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later.

Review :
…the book is an opportunity for the average person to gain insight into the daily life of a Foreign Service officer." - DACOR Dais "a short but meaty book that examines what was behind "the surprisingly positive outcome that pervaded this group of men, the longest-held group of POWs in our nation's history and one that remained unified and strong throughout years of torturous captivity." -HistoryNet "I served under Stockdale, Denton, and Risner and with many of those mentioned in this wonderful book. As the authors explain, our courageous leaders demonstrated a rare combination of competitive ambition with a humble appreciation of others. They were good men, but no doubt, their brokenness and isolation helped them actualize the power of affiliation. By applying these great lessons, we can all elevate our humanity and leadership to a higher level." --Colonel Lee Ellis, USAF (Ret.), President, Leading with Honor in 2017, author of Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton and Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability, former Vietnam POW (1967-1973) "When we came home from the Viet Nam prison camps, the psychiatrists had our families ready to institutionalize us for the rest of our lives. Instead we've produced Admirals and Ambassadors, Generals and Governors. Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton shows how the techniques we used to grow through adversity can be used in business and industry, families and schools." -- Navy Captain Charlie Plumb, former Vietnam POW (1967-1973) and motivational speaker "There is no better example of high-performance leadership than in the incredible story told in Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton. The heroes in this story demonstrate how communication, honesty, courage, and a hyper focus on mission can enable any team to overcome any odds to complete the mission." --Rear Adm. Tony Cothron, USN (Ret.), former Director of Naval Intelligence "Reading Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton reminded me that adverse experiences affect individuals in different ways but we can all learn from what they endured. Fretwell and Kiland's book offers up lessons in leadership that we all can use. When I first saw the book, I assumed that it would be like so many other books written about gleaning leadership lessons form the military experiences. However, once I started reading it, I recognized the authors highlighted the relationship between mental health, social connections in teams, and resilience. These lessons apply to teams in most situations and the six characteristics are attainable. The POWs who are the focus of this book are an amazing group who taught us that even in daily life we can act with honor and compassion." --Susamma Seeley, Certified Emergency Manager, Executive Director, ProBonoEM & Past Chairperson, International Association of Emergency Managers-USA Conference Committee, 2013-2016 "Let this sink in for a minute: approximately 30 percent of Vietnam veterans came home with PTSD; this same percentage is true for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Yet, only 4 percent of Vietnam prisoners of war returned with PTSD. What if I told you that PTSD may be a leadership problem? Don't take my word for it. Read this book and hone your EQ!"-- Ken Falke, Founder and Chairman, Boulder Crest veterans' wellness retreats "[Jim Stockdale's] servant leadership under duress likely will be studied and emulated for generations to come. He was a one-of-a-kind American war hero who made his country proud." --Rep. Sam Johnson (TX), former POW