Leadership
Chief Klough: Don’t you dare say what you said to the boys back there again, ‘I don’t know.’ Those three words will kill a crew, dead as a depth charge. You’re the skipper now, and the skipper always knows what to do whether he does or not.
-From the movie U-571
Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgren: You’re a first rate X.O., Andy. A damn good submariner. I know the men like you.
Lieutenant Andrew Tyler: I’d give my life for any one of them, sir.
Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgren: I know you would. I’m not questioning your bravery. The question is: what about their lives? You and Mr. Emmett are good friends. You went to the Academy together. Would you be willing to sacrifice his life? Or what about some of the younger enlisted men? I know a lot of those guys look up to you like a big brother. You willing to lay their lives on the line?
[Tyler hesitates to speak]
Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgren: You see? you hesitate. But as a captain, you can’t. You have to act. If you don’t, you put the entire crew at risk. Now that’s the job. It’s not a science. You have to be able to make hard decisions based on imperfect information. Asking men to carry out orders that may result in their deaths. And if you’re wrong, you suffer the consequences. If you’re not prepared to make those decisions, without pause, without reflection, then you’ve got no business being a submarine captain.
-From the movie U-571
Management skills needed for success
The main management skills needed for success are:
- The management of cash flow
- The management of systems (including yourself and time with family).
- The management of people
You need to learn leadership
Notes from the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”
Educated dad just could not understand why I decided to quit and join the Marine Corps. I told him I wanted to learn to fly, but really I wanted to learn to lead troops. Rich dad explained to me that the hardest part of running a company is managing people. He had spent three years in the Army; my educated dad was draft-exempt. Rich dad told me of the value of learning to lead men into dangerous situations. “Leadership is what you need to learn next,” he said. “If you’re not a good leader, you’ll get shot in the back, just like they do in business.”
How to become a leader?
People in fields like Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Organizational Development have been studying, scientifically, what great leaders do and how to do it for decades. They know TONS about how to become a better leader.
If You Have These 7 Specific Personality Traits, You’re 100% Leadership Material
https://www.yourtango.com/self/specific-personality-traits-leadership-material
by Lisa Petsinis
Lisa Petsinis is an ICF-credentialed life and career transition coach. Her bylines have appeared on Psych Central, The Good Men Project, Parade, Prevention, The Minds Journal, PopSugar, and All4Women, as well as many others.
Be someone who others want to follow.
Leadership isn’t about the position you hold or the authority you command. It doesn’t matter if you’re a manager, a CEO, or the president — it’s about leadership qualities and skills you can develop in any role you take on.
An effective leader is not defined by their words, but rather by their leadership style. It’s someone who understands how much impact they have and they accept the challenge earnestly.
If you aren’t sure if you have what it takes to be a leader, there are certain traits to look for in yourself.
If you have 7 very specific personality traits, you’re leadership material
1. You’re a visionary
Some people are able to envision the future and paint such a compelling picture for others that they want to go along for the ride. It’s leadership that’s purpose-driven, focused, and inspiring.
If you’re able to create a life for yourself and think far into the future about where you will be, you’re definitely leadership material.
2. You’re authentic
Authentic leaders deal in truth. Their words and actions are congruent, and this goes a long way in creating dependability and trust.
Besides that, being genuine makes them very likable, and someone people want to follow. Think of the way in which you carry yourself, especially around others. Do you lead with sincerity?
3. You’re curious
A wise leader has an open mind and collects facts before coming to conclusions. They listen more than they speak and seek to understand. They take the time to learn and grow more knowledgeable.
This allows leaders to respond instead of reacting, netting the best solution while making people feel heard. Because a true leader cares about how others feel.
4. You show compassion
Effective leaders know that being connected with people on an emotional level is the only way to gain their commitment and engage them. To do that, they have to be able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.
This compassion goes well beyond empathy — it’s the willingness to act on their behalf to make their circumstances better. Simply put, kindness matters.
Look inside yourself and think about how you treat others. Do you do so with understanding? If so, you are a leader.
5. You’re conscientious
Conscientiousness is the most valuable trait to have. But it’s more than doing careful, thorough, and good work. It’s about taking personal responsibility and living by an inner sense of right and wrong.
Leaders will never win by cutting corners, blaming others, or dismissing morality. In fact, studies show that conscientiousness is even a bigger predictor of success than intelligence.
6. You show courage
When a leader demonstrates courageousness, they are showing that they are optimistic in the face of obstacles. They want others to understand that facing challenges head-on will bring positive results.
There’s an element of risk-taking, but not recklessness. Leaders don’t stop when things get tough; rather, they rally the troops and summon the brave.
If you find that you’re courageous in the face of any problems that arise, whether big or small, consider yourself a true leader.
7. You’re humble
Of all of these leadership traits, humility is the most essential and rare.
Leaders who embody it get vulnerable with their people, admit their mistakes and learn from them. They are able to contain their egos and think in terms of “we.”
Because they are secure in themselves and have human fallibility, they are able to freely share their power. This makes them much more influential as a result. True humility empowers others.
If you checked the boxes on this list, you’re way ahead of most leaders because you honestly understand the concept of true leadership.
Even if you’re part of a collaborative team or partnership, leadership is required to move the goals of the group forward. Employees, especially, need someone to look up to, just like kids need someone to emulate.
Everyone needs someone to steward the execution of the vision. In short, the purpose of leadership is to inspire action to get things done.
Because you’re such a good, true leader, the people around you will happily go on the journey with you, and they will strive to become better people and thriving contributors.
But if you don’t naturally possess these qualities, the good news is that you can always sharpen your growing edges and become a better leader with coaching and mentoring.
Consider whether leadership is for you — and it doesn’t have to be for everyone! What motivates you to become a leader and whether you’re willing to commit to the greater self-awareness, practice, and feedback necessary makes all the difference.