Leadership Quote

“Leadership is solving problems. 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 or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” General Colin Powell

Leadership Defined- Leadership is most often defined as a

perception or attitude held by both followers and leaders that drives the organization and effects change.

- Leadership traits include functional and organizational expertise, professional commitment, and creative problem solving.

- The desire for improvement/change is a common element that distinguishes one as a leader.

““BeingBeing responsible sometimes means pissing people off."responsible sometimes means pissing people off."

Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, whichmeans that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It'sinevitable, if you're honorable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a signof mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting thepeople who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differentialrewards based on differential performance because some people mightget upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by tryingnot to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardlessof their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll windup angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization.

General Colin PowellGeneral Colin PowellChairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of Chairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of

StaffStaff

Remember!Improvise AdaptModifyOvercome

U.S. Marines Motto

Had to say that for all MyJarhead Buddies!

“The beatings will continue until the attitude improves around here”

“Followship”Good

Faith in leader "What a great person. If anyone knows the answer, they do!"

Intellectual agreement "What a good idea. That makes real sense."

Buying the  vision "What a brilliant idea. I don't care who thought of it."

Needs some workFear of retribution

"If I do not follow, I may lose my job!"

Blind hope "We must do something. I hope this works!"

The Leader Follower LoopFollowers respond

Followers are seldom blind. They are human, and pay attention to what their leaders say and do. And then they respond with at least some degree of intelligence.

Leaders adjustIf leaders do not do

anything about the situation, then followers, will abandon in droves. Noticing Diagnosing Adjusting

Leadership/FollowshipMeeting in the MiddleFollowers: Do so with respect to the rank

rather than the person. Leaders: Must respect the followers.Followers: Should place them self's in the

shoes of the leaders.Leaders: Are not all created equally!Followers: Are not all created equally!

"Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often"Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts oftenpossess more data than judgment. Elites can become possess more data than judgment. Elites can become

sosoinbred that they produce hemophiliacs who bleed to inbred that they produce hemophiliacs who bleed to

deathdeathas soon as they are nicked by the real world.“as soon as they are nicked by the real world.“

General Colin PowellGeneral Colin PowellChairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman (Ret), Joint Chiefs of Staff

FollowersLearn your place in the organizationDon’t wait for everyone to come to you!Take initiative and make your mark!Don’t just do what it takes to get by.Watch and Learn from the positive roll

models in your life.Ignore those who are not good roll models.

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

Learn from the pros, observe them, seek them out as mentors and partners.But remember that even the pros may have leveled out in terms of theirlearning and skills. Sometimes even the pros can become complacent andlazy. Leadership does not emerge from blind obedience to anyone. Xerox'sBarry Rand was right on target when he warned his people that if you havea yes-man working for you, one of you is redundant. Good leadershipencourages everyone's evolution.