D-day arrived on June 6, 1944 and the cross channel assault, part of Operation Overlord, began and changed the course of World War II. Because no operation ever goes as planned, the leaders that day were faced with a barrage of unimaginable decisions in order reduce the loss of life yet protect the goals of the operation. During his address to the House of Commons that same day, Winston Churchill...
I learned that leadership is hard. Leadership sounds easy in the books, but it is quite difficult in real life. I learned that leadership is difficult because it is a human interaction and nothing, nothing is more daunting, more frustrating more complex than trying to lead men and women in tough times. I learned that you won’t get a lot of thanks in return. I learned that you shouldn’t expect...
Over a decade of war has changed the fabric of the U.S. armed forces. Short mobilization cycles and changing theater tactics necessitated the development of a learning culture within the organizations. This learning culture, however, is fundamentally NOT the culture that has sustained our premier forces throughout our history. As the armed forces move into a garrison environment and resources...
I decided long ago . . . to define my own destiny and refuse to have it defined for me. I fully understand that trying hard doesn’t always guarantee success. Success is often a fluky thing, dependent as much on luck and favor as on hard work. But while hard work may not guarantee success, not working hard almost always guarantees failure. Trying hard and working hard is its own reward. It...
“I didn’t join to be honored, I was just honored to serve” Staff Sergeant Clint Rutherford, two time Purple Heart recipient speaking at his retirement
The art and science of influencing others to willingly follow you.
Leadership is more than influence. Influence without will leads to things being partially completed or poorly complete leading to even more problems. The real challenge of a leader is to inspire people to want to accomplish goals.
Inspire.
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise that control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but inform their discretion. Thomas Jefferson (quoted in The Making of The Atomic Bomb – Richard Rhoades)
In the exercise of leadership, leaders must skillfully balance the art of influence and the science of control to accomplish targeted goals. Too much control and subordinates become task driven, lose the will to exercise initiative, and constantly look to the leader for further instructions. On the other hand, influence without control builds highly motivated teams that lack cohesive focus...
I’m writing in the Washington National Airport early in the morning after a routine pre-flight night of restless sleep (about 2 hours worth). I’m tired and not very interested in doing much of anything. The culture in which I work places an informal value on early mornings, long work days, and late nights. It a badge of honor to say you’ve been awake for numbers of hours. My...