“I have seen competent leaders who stood in front of a platoon and all they saw was a platoon. But great leaders stand in front of a platoon and see it as forty-four individuals, each of whom has aspirations, each of whom wants to live, each of whom wants to do good.”
General Norman Schwarzkopf
Simplicity resonates from #11 of Robert Sutton’s “12 Things Good Bosses Believe.” This belief is so basic that it is often overlooked and rarely discussed, but might very well be the belief that distinguishes great leaders from the rest.
Sutton’s #11 belief of good bosses is:
Are you gleaning the right lessons from your professional reading? Do you read military literature with an appropriate level of scrutiny? How do you know that an author is making assertions within the legitimate context of historical events? Maybe the more appropriate question is…“Are you reading at all?”
Today’s recommendation is an insightful post by fellow military leadership website host and talented writer, Army Major Joe Byerly. It’s a May 2014 article that also appeared in Small Wars Journal, entitled “Getting the Most Out of Professional Reading.”
Byerly challenges us to go beyond the block-check of professional reading and gives tips on how to engage with literature in a way that solidifies insight. He recommends:
You’ll also find some article and book recommendations in his post.
Military leaders know that information operations can be decisive in influencing populations, particularly in counterinsurgency operations. Commanders create entire staff sections devoted to analyzing populations and crafting targeted messages that will influence people groups to support coalition efforts.
Information is clearly an important part of combat operations, but what about back at home station? How can leaders communicate their message to the organization to do things like meet unit goals, achieve a shared vision, or simply influence subordinate behavior?
I was fortunate enough to be a cadet in the audience at the US Air Force Academy when (then) Brigadier General Mark Welsh, the Commandant of Cadets, gave a sobering and deeply personal account of his combat experience in the Gulf War.
He was the commander of an F-16 Fighter Squadron at the time and, being a full two years before 9/11, few service members (and none of us cadets) had any insight into real combat. General Welsh brought it into focus with this speech.
Revisiting the book Military Leadership: In Pursuit of Excellence led me to an article by General Matthew Ridgway that appeared in the October 1966 edition of Military Review. Entitled “Leadership,” it is a strikingly poignant and upfront summation of basic elements of good leadership, in and out of combat. I recommend that everyone read the entire article, but here are some points to consider.
While there are no perfect men, there are those who become relatively perfect leaders of men because something in their makeup brings out in strength the highest virtues of all who follow them. That is the way of human nature. Minor shortcomings do not impair the loyalty or growth of the follower who has found someone whose strengths he deems worth emulating. On the other hand, to recognize merit, you must yourself have it. The act of recognizing the worthwhile traits in another person is both the test and the making of character.
General S.L.A. Marshall
I’m pleased to announce that this month, The Military Leader crossed 1,000 committed subscribers and followers! It’s a modest milestone, but important because it shows that there is a clear need for quality leader development content. It also shows that leaders are willing to engage and share with their teams, subordinates, and friends.
I want to thank everyone who has spent some time on the site and specifically those of you who have shared the posts. It’s tough to carve out a niche in the contemporary media environment but your shares help tremendously and make the effort worthwhile.
Below you will find some relevant and interesting stats about The Military Leader from across several social platforms (web, Facebook, email, Twitter, and RSS).