[June 8, 2020] This may come as somewhat of a surprise, but there are skills we don’t teach leaders. I don’t mean that leadership itself is not trained, formally, or informally, which is the case in many organizations. Leaders are not taught essential aspects of leadership that are both necessary to succeed and required for movement into positions of greater responsibility.
Leadership is getting people to do things they would not normally do and like doing it. This idea is a version of how U.S. Army General Dwight Eisenhower described leadership to his senior leaders. We all understand that to be a successful leader, one must have a bold vision and be able to articulate it, as well as how to get there. We know that leadership means to inspire others.
The problem, however, is that there are many skills we don’t teach leaders. We just assume they “get it” and go about our merry way, giving advice and guidance, explaining how to stay out of trouble, and setting the conditions for victory. When those we teach fail, we don’t seem to know why. Here are a few things we don’t teach leaders:
- How to be Likable. Just like young parents being responsible for children, our job – as more senior leaders – is to let more junior leaders know that being likable is essential and how to do it so that others will be happy to talk with them and listen to what they have to say.
- To create more leaders, not followers. Leaders are taught the importance of leading others toward a goal and the techniques on critical aspects of leadership. In reality, leaders also are implicitly responsible for creating more leaders, for showing others how to replace the leader, and how to work better in a team environment.
- That most of the time, leadership is mundane and unexciting. The vast majority of the time, leaders are doing day-to-day routine activities to care for others, teach-coach-mentor, and undertake tasks that make for a tedious time. This time is crucial for the success of any endeavor, and leaders are rarely taught such. A good leader can spice it up a little.
- To welcome their failures. More than anything, we talk about success with leaders. Learn what you can on how to do well, we say. But, we rarely instruct them that our failures can also provide invaluable lessons. Real leaders learn from their failures and are quick not to repeat those mistakes.
- Have principles and stick to them. Core values (principles) are important to an individual and to any organization that plans to be around competing in a harsh world. We learn social values growing up, and as a leader, we adopt principles from our workplace that allow for greater chances of getting the job done. Sticking to those principles can sometimes be difficult but is required to do well.
There are, of course, many other things leaders are not taught, but I’m short on space for this article. For example, “how” to motivate, teaching them what to stop, you’re only as good as those that work for you, and last but not least, being a good leader means winning and doing so honestly.
One of the most important things we do teach leaders is how to distinguish between a lie and the truth. While this is not easy, one of the recommendations to help them, I gave all my up-and-coming officers was to read George Orwell’s book 1984. The book was first published on this date, June 8, 1949. I still recommend it.
Good thinking to talk about what we don’t learn but also WHY are we not taught this? That, I believe, is the question that should be answered? Does it mean those questions are unimportant? I think not.
Thumbs up on your comment, Bart. ?
Amazing, I never gave this much thought but now that I’ve read your article today (I’m a little behind), I can see where you are coming from, Gen. Satterfield. If you could also elaborate on those 3 at the end, some time in the near future, I would apprecaite it.
Great list of things we don’t teach leaders. I will add that we don’t teach these well to anyone. Leaders however will be missing something if they don’t pick up on this quickly.
Thank you Gen Satterfield for another ‘thinking’ article for me to digest. I re-read it several times to see if I’d missed something and sure enough, I had bypassed the next to last para where you listed three more things we don’t teach leaders. Keep up the great work.
Lesson learned I suppose. Read carefully, speak with clarity (think before you speak too), and be sure to have thought through what you are ready to accomplish. This means telling the truth and never ever ever lie.
The more lessons learned here the better for us all.
I’m new to this blog but I have found it very informative. I been only on for about a week and learned a bunch of stuff. I’m just out of highschool and no job.
Welcome Benny. We hope you enjoy your time in the forums. This blog will provide you with some amazing ideas. Keep also reading the comments forum for more clarity and comraderie too.
Welcome aboard, Benny.
Thank you sir. I’ll do my best.
Good job on this article. Typically, we talk about obstacles in the way of leaders getting their jobs done. Now, Gen. Satterfield, is discussing the idea that maybe we are not exactly teaching leaders all the right skills. Hummmmm. I find this interesting. After reading the list, I found these to be things I learned the hard way.
A recent poll said that 80% of Americans believe the country is out of control. Good job progressives. Exactly what you want.
Sad. ?
Want to see some crazies in charge of big cities, look no further than Minneapolis. Here is the latest headlines and it tells all.
“Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey rejects city council’s push to defund police, despite veto-proof majority”
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minneapolis-mayor-jacob-frey-rejects-city-council-push-to-defund-police
Yes, bad leaders competing to be even worse leaders. Pandering, BTW, doesn’t work.
Who would protect the average, good citizen in the city? Some vigilantes appointed by the boy mayor? Murders are already up 42% in this city. It’s already swirling around the toilet bowl. Businesses will leave except for the few and they will charge exorbitant prices.
Great experiment. Couldn’t happen to a better city to try it out. Now they will see how STUPID it is.
Disband the police. I haven’t heard a more ignorant idea in my lifetime. I hope it goes into effect and see how it works out. Those neo-Marxists will be begging for new police force.
Before the crowd outside his home, Mayor Frey had prefaced his comments by saying he was “coming to grips” with his “own brokenness,” and by promising to put the police union “in its place.” What an idiot.
Interesting article. I’m glad I got on my computer early. Now to roll this about in my mind for a while.
Yes, another informative article and to the point. Too many leadership blogs bug me because it takes me a long time for them to get to the point. And then I have to read thru advertisements and pop-ups to get at the heart of what they have to say. That’s why this blog is my favorite. And always has been!
You got that right, JT. Good to see you on today. Have a safe and exciting week.
Wow, another powerful article from you, Gen. Satterfield. Thank you for pushing me again to think about leadership.