NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

Leadership Lessons and Highlights

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ROAD RULES In his 2012 memoir, It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership, Powell drew on personal lessons and anecdotes to express the wisdom of a lifetime in service to the nation, both in and out of uniform. The book itself is thoroughly enjoyable, something you can consume in a few short hours, longer if you buy the audiobook. But the true value of the book comes in the first few pages, in the list he uses to open the book – his 13 Rules. Like most of our leadership lists, Powell’s rules are actually lessons themselves, gleaned from his decades in uniform. The genius is in their simplicity, the power in their brevity. He doesn’t waste a lot of words; he doesn’t spend a lot of time explaining them. Instead, he shares them with the same directness that came to define him as a leader. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. There’s a silver lining in every cloud, you just have to find it. That’s not always as easy as it sounds. Things might look bad today, but if you’ve put in the effort, tomorrow will be a brighter day. It’s a state of mind; believe it and you will make it happen. Get mad, then get over it. There always going to be days when events—or people—push you to the edge. When you do lose your temper, don’t lose control at the same time. People always remember the leader with a bad temper, and never in a good way. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. People who think that their way is the only way tend to experience a lot of disappointment. Things aren’t always going to go your way; that’s just a fact of life. Be humble enough to accept that fact. It can be done! Just about anything can be accomplished if you set your mind to it, have the necessary resources, and the time to get it done. Don’t succumb to the skeptics; listen to what they have to say and consider their perspective but stay focused and positive. 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .

Be careful what you choose. Don’t rush into a bad decision. Take the time to consider your options, weigh the relevant facts, and make reasoned assumptions. Once you pull the trigger, there are no do-overs. So make it count. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. Powell was fond of connecting good leadership to good instincts. Be a leader who hones judgement and instinct. Take the time to shape your mental models. Learn how to read a situation for yourself. Become the decision-maker your people need you to be. 6 . else to make your decisions for you. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your own decisions. Don’t duck that responsibility and don’t succumb to external pressures. Make your own decisions and live with them. Check small things. Success is built on a lot of seemingly minor details. Having a feel for those “little things” is essential. In a 2012 interview, David Lee Roth shared the story of how Van Halen used brown M&Ms as an indicator of whether large concert venues paid attention to the minor details critical to a major performance. Leaders must have ways to check the little things without getting lost in them. You can’t make someone else’s choices. Never allow someone Share credit. Success relies on the effort of the entire team, not just the leader. Recognition motivates people in ways that are immeasurable. Don’t be a glory hog. Share credit where credit is due and allow your people to stand in the spotlight. It ain’t about you. It’s about them. Remain calm. Be kind. Keep calm and carry on. Kill ‘em with kindness. When chaos reigns, a calm head and a kind word go a long way. When everyone is under incredible stress, be the leader people want to follow, not the leader people want to avoid. 10 . 7 . 8 . 9 .

Have a vision. Be demanding. Followers need to things from

leaders—a purpose and a firm set of standards. When you see leaders fail, it is almost always for one of those two things. They either lead their followers in a flailing pursuit of nothing, or they don’t set and enforce an example for their people. be a powerful motivator, but it can also paralyze a leader at the worst possible time. Learn to understand your fears and channel them in ways that you control rather than allowing them to control you. Think clearly, think rationally, and make decisions that aren’t rooted in emotion. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Optimism is Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Fear can infectious. Maintaining a positive attitude and an air of confidence is as important for you as it is for those around you. People will feed off your optimism. Believe in your purpose, believe in yourself, and believe in your people. And they’ll believe in you. If there was a fourteenth rule – and I honestly believe this list could have been much longer – it doesn’t require a lot of digging to find it: “If you take the pay, earn it. Always do your very best.” This one is personal to me, something my father often said to me in his own way. If you always give your best effort, you’ll never have to wonder if you could have done more. You’ll know. 12 . 13 .

By Steve Leonard

M ost leadership philosophies are built around lists that capture the essence of how a specific leader approaches the art and science of leading. I framed my own philosophy around ten rules that probably soundly like something from an old episode of David Letterman. “Stormin’” Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the coalition that liberated Kuwait during the Gulf War, had his own list of 14 rules on leadership. Retired General Paul Funk, the former commanding general of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, used a list of around 40 rules captured in “Funk’s Fundamentals.” If nothing else, lists are a simple way to convey not just how you lead, but what matters most to you. Colin Powell was no different.

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS When I read his autobiography, My American Journey, I developed a deeper sense of appreciation of who he was as a leader. Powell’s words—the lessons of decades of service to the nation—resonated with me. They still do. He wasn’t perfect. None of us are. For everything he did right in his career, for the exemplar he was in so many ways, he may be remembered best for standing before the United Nations on February 5, 2003, to argue the case for a second invasion of Iraq. I believe to this day that his popularity and credibility were exploited, and he failed to take his own advice that day: “Never believe the first thing you hear.” Had he done so, he might have avoided what he later called a “blot” on his record. But, like any good leader, he acknowledged his mistake and recognized it as a personal failure. That ability for self-reflection defined Powell throughout his military career and continues to be the truest measure of him as a leader of character. We all make mistakes, but the best among us learn from them and share those lessons so that others may learn, as well.

“A DREAM DOESN’T BECOME REALITY THROUGH MAGIC; IT TAKES SWEAT, DETERMINATION, AND HARD WORK.” – COLIN POWELL