The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs

by J.D. Pendry

A pocket-sized guide to being a good leader, for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Discusses US Army values in 'user-friendly' terms, from the perspective of a former member of the NCO core. Introduces three different types of leadership styles for 3-meter, 50-meter, and 100-meter soldiers.

Praise for The Three Meter Zone

“I have read plenty of leadership books and find this one to be the most realistic . . . This book is down to earth, with plenty of scenarios, quotations and situations that can easily be related to a reader’s past, present and future. I highly recommend this book.” — Army Magazine

“Pendry’s book is both timely and useful . . . I encourage all battalion and brigade commanders to add it to their unit’s professional reading list . . . Read this book, take up his challenge to critically examine ourselves and our styles.” — Armor Magazine

“[J. D. Pendry] does a superb job of relating his own personal experiences and tying them into everyday leadership and management principles ... It is not too difficult to transfer the lessons presented here to any other military service or civilian application.” — U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings

“Business and corporate leaders would do well to take [Pendry’s] lessons to heart.” — Ocala, Florida, Star Banner

Genres: Military Fiction, Leadership, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jens · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a more personalized view on leadership from such a veteran NCO. Alas, he mostly citates doctrine and clarifies those guidelines with examples out of his career. It's your simple "NCO uphold standards" story.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me from someone who highly lauded its message. Unfortunately I personally did not find the same value within its pages, but there is a very real possibility that it did not appeal to me as much as the next reader because I do not have a military background. The author is a veteran of the American military, and the intended audience of this book was noncommissioned officers, not a regular first responder civilian like me. Regardless, much of Pendry's common sense advice can be universally applied to any leadership position, such as: be the type of leader who models the behaviours they want to see from their team, and do it with a positive attitude to really set the tone. (Okay, fair enough. I can't really argue that.)

This book felt intimately informal - like a coffee shop chat. The language was simplistic and colloquial, and the pages were stuffed with random inspirational poster quotes and Bible verses that would periodically interrupt the paragraphs upon paragraphs of the author's personal anecdotes, opinions, and experiences. This "down to earth" type of writing definitely appeals to the masses, but I personally wasn't quite drawn in. The messaging was redundant and tedious to me, and there were a few problematic statements that warranted critical analysis.

All in all the writing style was accessible to the masses, but I did not come across any revolutionary ideas about leadership while reading. It was a 2/5 "okay."

[Nicolas Bevilacqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight!

Great read for NCOs of all branches, not just army. I myself am USAF and I have taken a lot of valuable lessons from this book.

[Aaron Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent approach to common sense leadership, from a perspective of firsthand experience.

[Jim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, no-nonsense book on leadership

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites of all time. It changed my look completely on leadership and its importance. I would not only suggest it to Soldiers who are in leadership positions but also the Lower Enlisted. Everyone is a leader. This book will make you look at things differently.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the single best leadership books out there for direct supervisors, whether military or civilian, Officer or NCO. A great tool in the kitbag.

[Mike McElmeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Mark Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay leadership book, a little self-involved.