GEN Colin Powell "A Leadership Primer"

I am sure most of you Army folk have seen GEN Powell's Power Point called "A Leadership Primer". Just wanted to share it with those that have not seen it. I have given the presentation to some Chief Petty Officer Selects this year as a teach back.

I understand that it is a long read, but it is worth it. I always have had, and continue to have the utmost respect for GEN Powell.

If anyone wants the full Power Point message me and I will email it to you.

Lesson 1.
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."

Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It's inevitable, if you're honorable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting the people who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differential
rewards based on differential performance because some people might get upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardless of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization.

Lesson 2
"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the
day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost
confidence that you can help them or concluded that you
do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership."

Lesson 3
"Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often
possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so
inbred that they produce hemophiliacs who bleed to death
as soon as they are nicked by the real world."

Lesson 4
Don't be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard."

Lesson 5
"Never neglect details. When everyone's mind is dulled
or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant."

Lesson 6
"You don't know what you can get away with until you try."

Lesson 7
"Keep looking below surface appearances. Don't shrink from doing so (just) because you might not like what you find."

Lesson 8
"Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans
don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management
don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of
the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will
you accomplish great deeds."

Lesson 9
"Organization charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing."

Lesson 10
"Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it."

Lesson 11
"Fit no stereotypes. Don't chase the latest management
fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the team's mission."

Lesson 12
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."

Lesson 13
"Powell's Rules for Picking People:”
Look for intelligence and judgment, and most critically,
a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also
look for loyalty, integrity, a high energy drive, a balanced
ego, and the drive to get things done.

Lesson 14
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand."

Lesson 15
Part I: "Use the formula P=40 to 70, in which P stands for the probability of success and the numbers indicate the percentage of information acquired.”
Part II: "Once the information is in the 40 to 70 range, go with your gut."

Lesson 16
"The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise."

Lesson 17
"Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it: Spend time with your families. Corollary: surround yourself with people who take their
work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard."

Lesson 18
"Command is lonely."

“Leadership is the art of accomplishing
more than the science of management
says is possible.”