Drawing on his approach to leadership refined over more than 30 years, State College resident Ken Pasch has published a new book to help more people become great leaders.
‘On Course: Become a Great Leader & Soar!’ shares five questions to determine if you are on track and seven steps to take to improve leadership abilities.
‘Every leader loses focus from time to time. But great leaders are able to recognize that and get back on course. That’s why they’re great,’ Pasch said. ‘But they didn’t begin as a great leader. They worked at it and developed their skills. This book helps give you the tools you need to develop and hone your own leadership skills.’
The book tells Pasch’s own story of being what he described as a bad boss years ago to becoming a successful leader.
As a Penn State student in 1972, he was drafted into the military at the very end of the Vietnam War draft. Eventually he was allowed to complete his degree and then serve as a U.S. Air Force flyer.
Even after he traded in his wings and moved to managing hospitals for the Air Force, flying remained a lifelong passion.
‘Flying is the perfect metaphor for leadership,’ he said. ‘You have to think big picture to get where you are going but it’s the little adjustments throughout the flight that really get you there.’
While serving three leaders had a significant impact on Pasch: Brigadier General (ret.) Peter Bellisario, Colonel (ret.) Raymond J. Chappelle, and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Allen Middleton.
All three also contributed to ‘On Course’
‘They taught me valuable lessons in leadership, such as standing up for what’s right, how to look at things as a process and being an example of class,’ Pasch said.
Pasch’s wife, Kate, whom he met at Penn State 45 years ago, accompanied him through his time in the military When he retired from the Air Force in 1996, they settled in State College to raise their three kids. Pasch also started teaching at the university’s Smeal College of Business and mentoring leaders with his process.
He looks forward to using the new book, which is available through all major online retailers, with his ongoing leadership development business, KiVisions Inc. Pasch said the book took more than two years to write and credited his editor, Barbra McNichol, and all the people willing to help him with helping turn his idea into a reality.
‘There are three things you need to write a book,’ he said. ‘A good editor, a process and the willpower to stick to that process.’
Pasch will host a reading and book signing at 1 p.m, on Saturday, April 14, at Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike in State College.
