Former secretary of state Colin Powell (pictured, via) has inked a deal at HarperCollins for a new book entitled It Worked For Me: Lessons in Leadership and Life. The nonfiction title is slated for publication in May 2012.

Powell will be collaborating with writer Tony Koltz on this project. Publisher Jonathan Burnham negotiated the deal with Josephson International LLC’s Marvin Josephson. Executive editor Tim Duggan will edit the book.

Here’s more from the release: “[This book] is a collection of lessons and personal anecdotes that have driven the four star-general and former Secretary of State’s legendary career in public service. Leading off with Powell’s ’13 Rules,’ culled together from scraps of paper that he accumulated at his desk and are now used in leadership presentations throughout the world, the book sheds light on the making and success of one of our most revered statesmen. Powell’s short-but-sweet rules—like ‘Get mad, then get over it’ and ‘Share credit’—set the tone for the rest of his book, in which he tells revealing personal stories to expand on his principles for effective leadership: conviction, hard work, and above all, respect for others.”