[April 30, 2018] A young Army Lieutenant was navigating across a swath of Fort Picket, Virginia; taking his platoon on a 5-mile march from his commander’s location to a road junction. With a map and compass, the platoon’s Infantrymen did not trust him to get to the road but he did without incident. In the Army we say, if you build it (meaning reputation) they will come.
If you are a proven leader; someone who can tell us what he wants to do, plan it, and then do it, people will follow. Proving competence, as in the Lieutenant’s navigation exercise, generates a positive leadership reputation. When leaders are known for their ability to get the job done by leading folks the right way, they attract others to them.
A leader with a good reputation for getting things done can inspire others; motivate, teach, and grow with each new challenge. John C. Maxwell once said that “Competence goes beyond words.” He meant that it was an action that mattered most – not dreams or desires but the proven ability to accomplish unusual or difficult tasks.
For example, during World War II, U.S. General George S. Patton was given the mission to pivot his Third Army (which was attacking eastwardly) to the North and relieve the Allied troops trapped in Bastogne at what became known as the Battle of the Bulge.
It was incredibility difficult to accomplish this change in mission and the risk of disaster was immense. Patton’s army however smashed the Germans in one of the most significant victories of the war.
It matters not what level of leadership one exercises in the course of their duties, it matters whether the tasks being undertaken are something that leader can accomplish efficiently and effectively. The reputation of General Patton is renowned but only after his exploits during WWII.
The reputation of the Lieutenant was improved and he would, much later in his career, be promoted to Flag Officer rank. It was clear to his Infantry Platoon that they learned, one this day, that their new leader could get the job done. If you build it, they will come.
Many good comments here from the usual group of educated leaders. They are much appreciated and I look forward to reading them daily as a way to add to GEN Satterfield’s daily blog entry. I would like to add that the idea that you build it and they will come is relatively new in concept (at least in written literature) but a long time idea. Think of the Roman’s building the great Collosium. I was there years ago and it is impressive. Its history fantastic.
I think this be true for all leaders but remember that a hierarchy exists for a reason too. Thank you.
Whether it’s a business attracting customers, Jesus attracting followers, or you attracting Twitter followers, the idea is the same … I will argue. It’s all about leadership and there are many more varied ways of leading today than ever before. Technology opens up a whole new world in leadership. That is what we are seeing, I will argue, in the West when we see such a culture clash.
There are many characteristics of a good leader and I know this site is dedicated to pushing that information out into the daylight for all of us. This particular topic has been a favorite of mine for many years. Reputation matters. Skills of a leader matters too. But it is the overall ability of a leader to attract others to their cause that is the crux of all great leadership.
PS: Good luck with your new webhost. The site does appear to me to be a little bit faster.
Bryan. You have a point that the followers should not be left out of this equation. Followers can also be leaders at their own level. For example, an army company commander is a Captain. He is over four platoon leaders, who are Lieutenants. The lieutenants are leaders in their own right. Layers of leadership exist.
Good article by Michael Maccoby. Here is his main point. “Regrettably, however, it’s becoming harder to get people to follow. The problem is that followers get short shrift in the management literature, where they are described largely in terms of their leaders’ qualities. In other words, they’re thought of as merely responding to a leader’s charisma or caring attitude. What most analyses seem to ignore, though, is that followers have their own identity. Indeed, in 30 years of experience as a psychoanalyst, anthropologist, and management consultant, I have found that followers are as powerfully driven to follow as leaders are to lead.” See his article here: https://hbr.org/2004/09/why-people-follow-the-leader-the-power-of-transference
Yes, a good one. Thank you, I read it.
The fact is, people follow the leader. They motivate us, they make us feel important, they are folks who are helpful, courteous, kind, etc. Of course, we all love these qualities. That is why I married my wife. She was the most loving and strong woman I ever knew. We got along great. We did not necessarily think alike but I think we were compatible in many ways. We were attracted to each other like people are attracted to leaders.
I found a really good article on this very subject: Walking Your Talk: The Path of Personal Integrity. https://experiencelife.com/article/walking-your-talk-the-path-of-personal-integrity/
“To walk one’s talk” is to live with integrity. Whatever one’s own talk is – whatever we believe and say – we do what we say. Integrity is the name of the game for the best of leaders; others just talk a good game.
Gen Satterfield had an earlier post under Good Habits#16, “Walk the Walk”. All of which I think we are saying the same thing. https://www.theleadermaker.com/good-habits-16-walk-the-walk/
Ronny. Yes. This is a 20th-century American variation on various old sayings which epitomize the notion that ‘talk is cheap’, for example ‘actions speak louder than words’ and ‘practice what you preach’.
Good point, Joe.
I think this is the main point some are making here. Mr. Satterfield however is pointing out the “attraction” (inborn or learned) to those with leadership. Build it and they will come is the key idea here.
Well said. Thank you.
People talk a lot. But I find that action is where the leadership is. So, there should be no surprise the people are attracted to those who are “doers” as opposed to those who are just “talkers.” Walk the talk!
The truth is: If you build it, you increase the odds of people coming. In other words, if you put thought and energy you put into a project you increase the likelihood of its success.
Welcome back Mr. Satterfield. We missed your daily blog articles. Today, I think you certainly are spot on regarding how folks are attracted to those with leadership skills. Why? I don’t know and maybe it’s just nature or some long-ago learned behavior. The point is that people want to improve themselves and do what is best for their family and community. Thus, being around others who can help them is just plain commonsense.
Thanks Shawn, yes, regardless of why the fact is that folks are attracted to those who show leadership.
Max, I think you are correct. But this phraseology is also used elsewhere, usually in business. If you make something attractive to people so when they get there they feel good (like a beautifully decorated store) they are more likely to shop and spend their money. This is what Brig Gen Satterfield is writing about in this article. People are attracted to good leaders.
I think this quote “if you build it, they will come” is from the 1989 movie, “Field of Dreams.” That is if my memory serves me correctly. I like the adaptation.
Max, yes but I think it is a misquote from the movie. That doesn’t matter because it is what you wrote that matters.
The bottom line is that people are attracted to those who show leadership. This has been a human phenomenon since the beginning of mankind.
Yep, but most people forgot. Or, as my mother always said, “they ain’t been taught right.”
Not long ago I witnessed something I thought “well that’s exactly what Gen Satterfield” would say. There was a young lady who clearly had grace; a special way about her that made people look her way. She was not particularly beautiful or smart, but it was just something about her that made you want to go up to her and say hello. This, I believe is what you are writing about today. It could be anything but leadership is one of them.
Wilson, I think you hit on something here. Yes, it could be grace, leadership, or anything special. The concept is that we as humans are attracted to others who have special powers (not in the movie way of fantasy powers). So if a person is really good at getting people to do things and empowers them to do a good job, people will like that and are more likely to stay.
Good point Wilson Cox.
When I was a young woman and worked in a large department store while still in high school, there was a “stocker” just like me that put the merchandise out on the shelves and accounted for all the products. He was a lowly worker just like me. But … the staff always went to him to help whenever we had a problem with other workers or missing stock. He was their “go to” person for all sorts of things. Looking back, it was him that had the leadership ability and he had “built it” with his leadership.
I see you had keen observation even at a young age. Wish I’d had it that early.
Thank you for your insight. Are you in the army? Cheers!
Joey, hi there. I’m in the U.S. Marine Corps.
How cool 😉 Cheers from Austrailia.
Gen Satterfield, an interesting twist on a common phrase. Yes, I do believe you are right that if an individual shows leadership, they are likely to attract others to them. This is especially true in times of crisis.
Good point Army Captain. Thank you for your service.