If there was a knowledge-base for 21st century leaders not yet in leadership, what advice or experience would you contribute?

2019-04-13T13:27:59-04:00

At some point, these poorly thought out initiatives are going to not only fail, but they are going to cause the country to implode on itself just like the twin towers at 911. Then these unqualified, pseudoeducated leaders are going to be looking to history and strong competent leadership knowledge to dig the country out of the abyss.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Apr 13 at 2019 1:40 PM

2019-04-13T13:40:15-04:00

Stop making your office a money making venture on the back of your

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 13 at 2019 1:48 PM

2019-04-13T13:48:27-04:00

Military leaders?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 13 at 2019 2:25 PM

2019-04-13T14:25:12-04:00

Good day my friend PO3 Phyllis Maynard. Here are my initial thoughts.
1. Never forget where you came from and the lessons you were taught.
2. Lean from both good and bad experiences. Emulate the good and work to never repeat the bad.
3. Be self-motivated as much as possible.
4. Take to heart that those you lead are important. Remember to lift everyone up in your organization through training, education and service opportunities.
5. Expect to work you way up and be grateful for each and every advancement opportunity.
6. Accept responsibility for good and bad in your organization. The buck stops here needs to be true.
7. Publicly acknowledge success and those involved and privately counsel for failure. Work to correct and be judicious in punishing.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2019 2:25 PM

2019-04-13T14:25:55-04:00

A mandatory, probably year long, deep dive into the founding documents, Constitution, Bill of Rights and history of the US before taking an oath of office. For re-election, a mandatory 1 month refresher course each time they are elected. Then track every bill, it's ramifications over time into a computer system with deep learning so that every future bill is compared to what has gone before.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 13 at 2019 2:57 PM

2019-04-13T14:57:32-04:00

What makes you think that the fools will suddenly wise up and turn to wiser heads for help? Or voters to shift their votes to better choices? What makes you think that they will even realize they hsve fallen into an abyss? When you are falling there is no sense of up or down. You reach terminal velocity and nature takes its course...

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Apr 13 at 2019 3:19 PM

2019-04-13T15:19:11-04:00

Dont take yourself to seriously.

You serve your people not the other way around.

Always look at the big picture and dont sweat the small stuff.

Dont be a dick.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 13 at 2019 5:17 PM

2019-04-13T17:17:38-04:00

I cannot relate to your reference. I see no logic in your choice of analogy!

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Apr 13 at 2019 5:29 PM

2019-04-13T17:29:35-04:00

Coyote's Rules was our guidance in the Unit in the late 80's. We called them Schoomaker's Laws. I still life by these boundries today. Every Operator in the Unit was a leader. The challenge was leading a group of subject matter experts that had already mastered the basic fundenmental of leadership. Ranking was determined by position not by military rank during training. The master minds of the military our our future political leaders. The American people have permitted academic to brainwash our kids for more than 50 year. History is not the same as experience. History paints both negitive and positive records of success and failure. Leadership is learned. History is someone's opinion of past events. The Truth Changes.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Apr 13 at 2019 6:24 PM

2019-04-13T18:24:06-04:00

As the genie said to Aladin, "Be yourself". Be real. Be authentic. Be yourself.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 13 at 2019 9:43 PM

2019-04-13T21:43:01-04:00

Technology is a tool. Master and exploit it but do not worship it.
The old folks weren’t all wrong.
Read the original documents not just the commentary.
Wearing spurs in a fabric covered aircraft was a bad idea. Be careful of cool looking legacy equipment.
Initial reports are often inaccurate.
When you stop changing you’re dead.
Promote social and economic systems where hard work has dignity and rewards greater than doing nothing.
Coe’s corollary to Murphy’s law: every person has a purpose; for some it’s being a bad example

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 14 at 2019 12:34 AM

2019-04-14T00:34:34-04:00

Interesting … Thanks For The Share...

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 14 at 2019 9:12 AM

2019-04-14T09:12:20-04:00

I've been in leadership positions/situations for over 50 years and found constants, no matter what "generation" you're dealing with.
People want to know that the leaders and managers (there is a difference) they work with (not just for) have their best interests at heart and return the favor if they feel it exists.
You seldom have to use the "rank card" if your plans, directions, and goals are beneficial for all involved and serve to realize the purpose and mission of the organization. Sometimes it takes a short explanation if the plan is a little esoteric but it is worth the time to ensure all see the wisdom or logic behind the idea. If you demonstrate your wisdom on a continuous basis, no explanation will be necessary in a crisis situation.
You work with your people, not just order them. This doesn't mean you have to roll your sleeves up and get in the dirt (in fact most would prefer if you let them do their job) but you've got to be involved and ready to correct situations that impede their efforts.
You have to know your people well enough to recognize differences in their attitude or performance. These differences generally indicate something, either good or bad, is going on. Either way, pay attention for indicators of what is effecting them and acknowledge what's happening accordingly.
General Lewis (Chesty) Puller once advised me to "be a leader, not a commander". That advice has served me well in the military and civilian positions.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Apr 14 at 2019 9:25 AM

2019-04-14T09:25:50-04:00

It sounds like you are talking about the political "leadership" of the country. If that is the case, most of these people are not leaders by any stretch of the imagination. They are more like individual contributors who need to convince people to vote for them/re-elect them. Even the leadership of both parties do not really lead. They threaten and badger junior members with committee seats and the like if they "play ball". If not, the party and the chamber leadership gives them the stiff arm.

We used to get people with solid leadership experience in political offices. After WWII we had a fair number of them. We see a few these days from our over 20 years of war in the middle east. We did see some after Korea and Vietnam.

Leadership out side of the military is pretty weak and mostly self serving. That is an unfortunate reality. There are some good ones out there but the system rewards loyalty to the party and the party leadership, period. It does not reward leadership and boat rocking etc.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Apr 14 at 2019 9:34 AM

2019-04-14T09:34:56-04:00

If you are talking about the armed forces, I go back to the fundamentals, which I think are sounds but perhaps lacking. It is simple and difficult at the same time. It is time tested too.

We have to be mission focused in the military. If the mission fails, the unit fails, the country fails, people pay with their lives. It is that straight forward. All of the pop psychology in the world will not change that truth. You must deal with seeming paradox's too.

For example, know your Marines and look out for their welfare but also be prepared to issue and order that might have them killed in the execution of the order. Or, Train your Marines as a team but also drive individual accountability for their actions.

It is about the correct and timely application of these types of principals that makes the difference. There are times where some will be more important that others and there is a time some will be jettisoned for mission achievement/execution.

Know yourself and seek self-improvement.
Be technically and tactically proficient.
Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.
Make sound and timely decisions.
Set the example.
Know your Marines and look out for their welfare.
Keep your Marines informed.
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.
Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
Train your Marines as a team.
Employ your command in accordance with its capabilities

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 30 at 2019 3:39 PM

2019-04-30T15:39:35-04:00

Be a student of History. If you dig far enough you will find nuggets of truth or constants in a sea of variables.