[August 24, 2014] My grandmother constantly told me to mind my manners, go to church, and obey the Golden Rule. Grandmothers are always right, of course. I can never outdo her but here is a list of a dozen leadership lessons I learned from spending 40 years in the U.S. Army. Things I learned in the military should not be surprising to other leaders but mine have a personal twist that I hope my grandmother would appreciate them.
1. Relationships and reputation matter. When someone is needed for a tough job, leaders don’t look over résumés. They call upon someone they know that can get the job done. That means being a known quantity and haven proven yourself.
2. Discipline in all things is key. A leader must remained focused, do the right things without delay, and without being told. This is most difficult and where the majority of people will fail.
3. Building effective teams is difficult but required. No one can accomplish anything of great importance without others. This means providing a vision and strategy to achieve a given task and then providing the leadership to get it done.
4. Trust but verify. From President Ronald Reagan, trust people but also verify everything. People are not perfect and have been known to lie and mislead. Thus, validating everything that is important will prevent problems later.
5. A positive attitude works. Maintaining a positive outlook attracts more people and helps create an environment that allows people to work better.
6. Quality control is essential. Ensure that all work is checked for accuracy and products for defects. This ensures a more satisfied customer and less frustration among employees.
7. Appearance matters but results are the real test. “Dress for success,” we are told and that is right. In the final analysis, however, it is the results that matter in any profession.
8. Decisiveness wins. Leaders must make informed, timely decisions. Nothing is more frustrating than a boss who cannot make up their mind.
9. Learning from others is the best way. Better to learn from other’s mistakes than from your own. The latter is much more expensive. Yet, learning from other people means more than just observing their behavior: good and bad. It means deliberately studying the way they do their jobs.
10. Always have situational awareness and a back-up plan. Know what is going on and always have a plan in case anything goes wrong, which it eventually will go wrong.
11. Never make assumptions. Humans make judgments everyday and are wrong just as often. Be sure to check all the assumptions upon which decisions are made. There is an old saying that says that when we assume, “we make an ass out of you and me.”
12. Find the best people and hire them. Regardless of the job, always look for the best, promote the best, and take care of them. They will surprise you how they make it easier for the leader to accomplish the mission.
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