The Book Club & Classroom Questions for McCain’s Navy Class of ’82 have been designed to spark thoughtful discussions, encourage personal reflection, and provide a framework for both individual learning and group dialogue.
Whether you are reading this book in a classroom, a book club, or on your own, these questions will help you explore how the Navy’s leadership principles can be applied to everyday life, careers, and communities.
Each chapter explores a specific leadership principle and offers a story or anecdote to inspire reflection and self-improvement. These questions aim to act as a catalyst for a deeper understanding of leadership in both personal and professional settings.
These questions are intended to foster deep reflection on leadership, responsibility, and the importance of understanding and applying the Navy’s leadership principles in everyday life. Whether discussed in a group or reflected upon individually, they will encourage critical thinking about how to lead effectively in both personal and professional settings.
Chapter 1: Know Your People and Look Out for Their Welfare
- Reflect on a time when you were in a leadership role and had to ensure the well-being of someone on your team. How did you balance their needs with your responsibilities?
- How does John McCain’s approach to leadership, as described in this chapter, emphasize the importance of understanding those you lead? Can you share a personal example where knowing your team made a difference?
- In today’s workplace or classroom, what are practical ways you can apply the principle of “knowing your people and looking out for their welfare”? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them?
Chapter 2: Keep Your People Informed
- In the McCain campaign, why was keeping people informed so critical? How does transparency in communication build trust within a team?
- Think of a time when a lack of communication led to confusion or inefficiency in a project you were part of. How could this have been avoided by following the principle of keeping people informed?
- How do you personally ensure that the people around you—whether in school, work, or other settings—are kept informed? How can you improve in this area?
Chapter 3: Know Yourself and Seek Self-Improvement
- John McCain was a lifelong learner, constantly seeking to better himself. What are some ways you can emulate this approach in your own life?
- Reflect on a time when self-awareness helped you navigate a challenge. How did understanding your own strengths and weaknesses impact the outcome?
- Why is self-improvement a key component of leadership? Share an example of someone you admire who consistently seeks to improve themselves and their leadership abilities.
Chapter 4: Be Technically and Tactically Proficient
- How does the McCain campaign’s need for tactical proficiency illustrate the importance of mastering the skills required in leadership roles?
- What areas of your life or career do you feel you need to develop more technical or tactical proficiency? How can you start working on these skills?
- Share an example of a time when your technical expertise or lack thereof impacted a project or decision. How did this experience shape your approach to future responsibilities?
Chapter 5: Seek Responsibility and Take Responsibility for Your Actions
- In your own experience, how does taking responsibility, especially when things go wrong, affect the perception of a leader? Why is it important to seek responsibility rather than avoid it?
- Reflect on a situation where you or someone you know took responsibility for an error or failure. How did it change the dynamics within the team or organization?
- In what ways can you seek more responsibility in your current role, whether at work or in school, to grow as a leader?
Chapter 6: Make Sound and Timely Decisions
- Why is it essential for leaders to be decisive, especially under pressure? Have you ever been in a situation where quick decision-making was crucial?
- Discuss a time when making a timely decision made all the difference in the outcome. What did you learn from that experience about the importance of acting promptly?
- How can you cultivate the habit of making sound and timely decisions in your daily life? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them?
Chapter 7: Set the Example
- John McCain believed strongly in leading by example. Think of a leader you admire—how do they set an example for others to follow?
- Reflect on a time when you were in a position to lead. Did you set the example you wanted others to follow? What would you do differently now?
- How can setting the example impact the culture of a team, organization, or community? What steps can you take to be more mindful of the example you set?
Chapter 8: Develop a Sense of Responsibility in Your Subordinates
- Why is it important for leaders to foster a sense of responsibility in their team members? How can this principle lead to greater autonomy and trust within a team?
- Reflect on a time when someone entrusted you with responsibility. How did that affect your confidence and ability to lead?
- What are practical ways you can help develop a sense of responsibility in those you work with or mentor?
Chapter 9: Ensure That the Task is Understood, Supervised, and Accomplished
- How does clarity in communication ensure that tasks are understood and completed? Have you ever been in a situation where unclear instructions led to confusion?
- Why is supervision an essential part of leadership? How can leaders strike a balance between overseeing tasks and giving their team autonomy?
- Share an example of a time when you successfully ensured that a task was understood and accomplished. What role did communication play in that success?
Chapter 10: Train Your People as a Team
- Why is teamwork essential for success in any organization or project? How can leaders create an environment where people feel motivated to work together?
- Reflect on a time when you were part of a successful team. What factors contributed to your success, and how did the leader influence the team’s dynamic?
- How can you improve teamwork within your own group or organization? What steps can you take to ensure that everyone feels included and valued?
Chapter 11: Employ Your Unit in Accordance with its Capabilities
- How can leaders effectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of their team members? Why is it important to assign tasks that align with individuals’ capabilities?
- Have you ever been given a responsibility that played to your strengths? How did that affect your performance and motivation?
- In what ways can you ensure that you are using your own strengths effectively in your current role? How can you help others do the same?
