"The nation today needs men who think in terms of service to their country and not in terms of their... |
"The nation today needs men who think in terms of service to their country and not in terms of their country's debt to them." -General Omar Bradley
US Army Rangers practice the same leadership principles as those used in corporate America. The principles apply to leaders at all levels, from private to general, from newly hired managers to CEOs.
As long as everything is going well, military units and business entities operate smoothly. But in times of crisis, soft leaders and their teams fall apart, just like undisciplined soldiers come undone in combat.
The acronym LDRSHIP helps Rangers and others remember the leadership essentials that make a unit strong no matter how rough it gets.
1. Loyalty - Are you loyal to both management and employees, and do you have the unswerving allegiance of everyone else?
2. Duty - Do you provide more than is expected and do your people reflect this attitude in their work?
3. Respect - Do you expect the best of everyone while treating them with courtesy, honor and trust? Do you have the respect of subordinates, peers, and senior management?
4. Selfless Service - Do you put the interests of others and the company ahead of your own? Do your employees do the same?
5. Honor - Can you say that you and your staff exhibit a keen sense of ethical conduct and principled character?
6. Integrity - Is integrity predominant among your priorities or has it been eroded by concession after concession? Do you see signs of high integrity among employees?
7. Personal Courage - Do you have the courage to do the right thing, regardless of circumstances or consequences? Can the same be said of everyone in your company - from janitor to CEO?
If your managers or employees are weak in one or more of these areas, you are vulnerable to big problems when you run into a weak economy, heavy competition, operational difficulties, or major opportunities.
Even in routine times, weaknesses can create bickering between departments, quality problems, lowered productivity, uncertain reliability of individuals, and lower profits.
An impromptu survey or discussion of these topics within your company will reveal your own strengths and weaknesses.
Employees can be very candid when you ask them specific questions about these leadership essentials. You might be surprised that many Army commanders encourage such revealing feedback.
Ask for examples so you can build on their remarks. And be ready for some big surprises about what people think of the leadership in your organization!
Remember, solid leadership reduces workplace stress. To read my article about the three kinds of workplace stress, send email to MailTo:3KindsofStress@couragebuilders.com
Copyright 2004 - Courage Builders International
Dale Collie (collie@couragebuilders.com) is a former US Army Ranger, business owner, and corporate president. He has taught at the US Military Academy at West Point and was selected by Fast Company magazine as one of America's Fast 50 innovative leaders. He is a professional speaker and author of "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success the US Army Way." (McGraw-Hill) http://www.couragebuilders.com
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