I stumbled across the leadership lessons from Col. Glover Johns while listening to the Jocko Podcast. Lately I have found myself making more and more lists to remind me of the principles I need to use while making decisions. Sometimes those decisions affect the people around me and other times they only impact me personally. More than anything, I’m still trying to figure out the guidelines I need to adhere to while trying to achieve my short term and long term personal goals.
* Strive to do small things well.
* Be a doer and a self-starter — aggressiveness and initiative are two most admired qualities in a leader — but you must also put your feet up and think.
*Strive for self-improvement through constant self-evaluation.
*Never be satisfied. Ask of any project, How can it be done better?
* Don’t over-inspect or over-supervise. Allow your leaders to make mistakes in training, so they can profit from the errors and not make them in combat.
* Keep the troops informed; telling them “what, how, and why” builds their confidence.
* The harder the training, the more troops will brag.
* Enthusiasm, fairness, and moral and physical courage — four of the most important aspects of leadership.
* The ability to speak and write well — two essential tools of leadership.
* Have consideration for others.
* Yelling detracts from your dignity; take men aside to counsel them.
* Understand and use judgment; know when to stop fighting for something you believe is right. Discuss and argue your point of view until a decision is made, and then support the decision wholeheartedly.
* Stay ahead of your boss.
Support the site if you’re interested in buying Colonel Johns’ book The Clay Pigeons of St. Lo