Leadership is a required course in the United States military. Every American who served (or is serving) in the army, navy, marines, air force, and coast guard studied (or is studying) it. I taught it for 20+ years in the army, and studied it from 1969 to the present. I guess this is my round-about way of telling you that there are millions of military personnel and veterans who will verify and reinforce the points I am about to make about leadership.
First, excellent (or strong) leadership is perhaps the single most important factor for creating success in organizations, companies, corporations, or democratic governments. Second, excellent leadership is built on sound, fundamental principles; and finally, the same principles of excellence that create success in organizations also create success in corporations, and democratic governments.
So, what are the excellent principles of leadership? There are many, but here are the five important ones. (It might be helpful and informative if you compare the person you consider to be an excellent leader to the leadership principles that follows.):
1. Excellent leaders lead by example. Their personal conduct always reinforces their stated beliefs in the highest pillars of character. What they do models what they say: An excellent leader, for example, who truly believes that “government sponsored health care is wrong for the American people” would not have “government sponsored health care” for himself and his family – especially if he was a United States congressman or a United States senator.
2. Excellent leaders are perceived as “fair” even when the make tough decisions. Strong leaders have moral compasses that allow them to empathize with all members of their organizations. They always appear to be keenly aware of the impact that their decisions are having on others. Since excellent leaders are very good at articulating their feelings, they are able to demonstrate to everyone in their organizations that all experiences and concerns are understood by them..
3. Excellent leader gets everyone involved, and make everyone feel important to the organization, corporations, etc. Strong leaders do not demean, degrade, or publicly put-down members of their organizations; and under no set of circumstances do they intentionally divide their subordinates by pitting one group against another (rich vs. poor, public workers vs. private workers, those who receive entitlements vs. those who receive tax benefits, corporations vs. workers, etc.)! Quite the contrary, they are always trying to find ways of raising their subordinates’ self-esteem, self-confidence, feelings of empowerment, and feelings of inclusion. All members, regardless of their status, are made to feel important to the team and vital to achieving the team’s goals. (For example, a strong leader in the United States government would consider "getting everyone involved" an important strategy for solving problems like reducing the deficit, balancing the budget, improving education, increasing employment, and protecting the environment, reducing crime, reducing racial tension, reducing poverty, etc.) Anyone who tells the world "I alone can do it!" is indirectly stating "When it comes to excellent leadership, I am clueless!"
4. Excellent leaders have the ability to anticipate problems. Their leadership style is proactive – not reactive. They are always thinking “cause and effect.” They are always imagining the resulting scenarios in their minds, and they are always preparing for them. As a result their organizations are never caught unprepared. What is even more interesting is the fact that this way of thinking (or their way of anticipating problems) becomes contagious. It spreads throughout the entire organization to the point that it becomes “just the way everyone in the organization thinks and performs his/her job!”
5. Excellent leaders are visionaries. Strong leaders have a clear vision of where they want their organization to go, a clear understanding of the abilities of organization members, and the knowledge and skills to design and articulate a positive game plan that enables everyone to contribute to the best of his/her ability. Organizations that are led by strong leaders always achieve their goals in the most effective and efficient manner, while maintaining high morals, esprit de corps, team work, and job satisfaction for everyone!
In the current social and political climate in the United States dominated by divisions, deceptions, lack of moral courage, greed, poor leadership by example, reactive leadership, leaders without vision, etc., it should be clear why I make the argument that this nation has a growing deficit in strong leadership. I wish I could say that I am hopeful that this will improve. I am not, but I will keep my fingers crossed!
by
James A. Porter
