Earlier this year I wrote about the best definitions of leadership. It focused on John Maxwell and Peter Drucker’s definitions. This week I will share an insightful idea from a well-known and trusted leader, General Colin Powell. By adding his perspective I continue to identify the components that comprise leadership.
Who is General Colin Powell?
General Colin Powell was one of the greatest US Army Generals in the last century. According to Wikipedia Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years. He held a myriad of command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. Powell completed multiple combat tours in the Vietnam War. General Powell served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War.
Army Gen. Norman H. Schwarzkopf consults with then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell during Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Two great modern American Generals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. H. H. Deffner)
General Powell is a pioneer
Powell was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first African American to serve in that position. His resume as a leader is impressive. I trust his leadership perspective.
Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. (AP Photo)
What did General Powell accomplish as a leader?
The list of General Powell’s accomplishments as a leader is too long for this blog. For his service, General Powell received numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal. General Powell also wrote multiple books. I read two of them (My American Journey, It Worked for Me: Lessons in Leadership and Life). I highly recommend both.
My copy of Colin Powell’s autobiography.
How does Colin Powell view leadership?
In his books, Colin Powell describes a practical view of leadership. I trust his judgment. He has more experience than most leaders. His track record speaks for itself. General Powell was highly successful in numerous leadership roles. My favorite leadership quote by Colin Powell is below. It describes the specific actions that leaders should focus on to be successful.
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
General Colin Powell
Powell and Drucker both believe what you do matters
General Powell’s leadership perspective is similar to Peter Drucker’s. According to both of them what you do as a leader is important. Powell points out that you must be able to take care of your people and solve their problems. Otherwise, they will stop following you. In other words, competency counts and actions speak louder than words.
Solving problems is a leader’s job.
Powell’s leadership view is accurate
You demonstrate leadership skills by solving problems. If you cannot, then why are you in charge. Also, it is one thing to tell your team members you care about them. It is another thing to actually solve their problems. If you do one without the other you are failing as a leader. We all probably know at least one leader who talked a big game, but never followed it up with actions. Don’t be that kind of leader.
General Colin Powell in uniform.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
A year ago disaster struck. Millions witnessed the best men’s college basketball team in the country have a total meltdown. I watched in horror as my mighty University of Virginia Cavaliers experienced the biggest upset ever in the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. UVA lost to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers by 20 points. How in the world did they lose that game?
UVA lost by 20 points even though the score was tied at halftime.
The game was not even close
I will say it again – UVA lost to UMBC by 20 points!! Many expected UVA to rally and win like the Louisville game I described in a previous post. It did not happen. The game only got worse and worse in the final few minutes. Like other alum, I turned off the television and went to bed shocked at what had just happened.
We lost by 20? We lost by 20. By 20 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That pretty much sums it up itself.
Devon Hall, Guard on the UVA basketball team
There are always surprises in March Madness
Upsets are common in the NCAA tournament. They happen every year. But, this loss was different. The top-seeded team lost in the first round to the lowest-seeded team. I will say that again – the #1 team lost to the #16 seeded team in the bracket. As we all now know a #1 team had never lost to a #16 seeded team before…in the history of the tournament.
UVA was the #1 seed in the South bracket. UMBC was the #16 seed.
It was a blowout of epic proportions
What in the world happened? What caused this historic loss? In this post, I will explain why they lost and what we can learn from the game. For leaders, some of the best lessons come from when things go horribly wrong.
Who has never tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet.
German Proverb
Most college basketball games are close up until the end
It is somewhat rare that a college basketball team is losing by so many points that they do not have a chance to win. Do blowouts happen? Sure, but many games are won in the last minute. The NCAA tournament is well known for its last-second victories. They happen every year. It is one reason so many fans watch the games. They are usually exciting up to the end. In this game, the last minute did not matter. The unprecedented upset was completed well before the final whistle.
Players on the bench watch in dismay as UVA fails to rally against UMBC.
There are many reasons a sports team loses
In all sports, a team can lose for many reasons. In basketball, it is important that a team play well on both offense and defense. Coaching philosophy and strategy seem to matter a lot. Most of the best teams in the country have the best coaches. UVA falls into this category. Shooting free throws can make a difference, especially in the final minutes. Keeping your players out of foul trouble is also important. Many factors go into determining whether a college basketball team wins or loses. Great coaches pay attention to all these factors as the game progresses so that they can position their team for the win.
Coach K is well known for being a great coach during the tournament. They keep winning.
Life is not much different when it comes to winning
I believe that the same is true in life, especially in business. There are many reasons your team will win or lose. You may have a bad strategy. You may not be a good leader yet. Your team may perform poorly when it matters most. Your competitors may simply be better than you and your team. They may have a superior product, a lower price, or a better plan. The list goes on. As a leader, it is important to learn from your losses so that you do not repeat the same mistakes over and over. A leader who loses and fails to learn from his mistakes will eventually be replaced by someone who knows how to win. It is the reality we face as leaders. Win or the organization will move on to a new leader.
UVA Head Coach Tony Bennett contemplates why his team does not play well during March Madness.
Why did the UVa Cavaliers lose to the UMBC Retrievers?
There are many reasons that UVa failed to beat UMBC. They lost a key player to an injury a few days before which drew much attention. I am not convinced being down one player is why they stumbled. Instead, I believe that UVA lost badly for three specific reasons. All three of them relate directly to leadership. I admire Coach Tony Bennett for his leadership philosophy, coaching prowess and ability to win. But, he did not perform well as the leader in this situation. He admitted the same after the game.
UVa Coach Tony Bennett talking about the historic loss after the game.
1. They failed to adjust their plan when it was not working
UVa looked good at first. They opened up a nice lead and seemed to be cruising along despite missing a key player. Trouble started to show. UMBC tied the game by halftime. The score was low which is not unusual. UVa’s defense is known for keeping the score low. Something happened after halftime. UMBC caught fire, scoring a lot of three-point shots. UVa was unable to respond. They struggled to score and the gap widened. Their plan was not working, and Coach Bennett did not make any major adjustments. He kept the team playing the same defense and offense, despite the fact it was not working. His unwillingness to change the plan cost them dearly as the game progressed.
UMBC shot 50% for three-pointers, much better than UVa.
2. They did not solve the biggest challenge
UVa is usually able to keep the score low, and the game close. They are not a good come from behind team, and they know it. This game was different. They were unable to stop UMBC from scoring. It was no great mystery how the other team was scoring so many points. UMBC was drilling three-point shots. One of their players, in particular, Jairus Lyles, was having the game of his life. Every shot he took seemed to score. UVa did little to adjust the defense to stop him from scoring. Jarius ended the game with 28 points, twice as many as any other UMBC player. UVa failed to solve the biggest challenge – UMBC’s ability to score three-point shots.
Jairus Lyles scores one of his many baskets on the usually tough UVa defense.
3. They did not pick up the pace when it was needed
Things got worse as the second-half progressed. With ten minutes left in the game, UVa was losing by 16 points which is a lot. It was time to rally, time to pick up the pace. They kept playing the same offense. There was a little more sense of urgency, but not the kind you would expect to see when a #1 team is losing to the #16 by 16 points with only ten minutes left. Was there plenty of time left in the game? Sure. I am simply pointing out that sometimes a team needs to pick up the pace a lot to win. If you are losing badly the last thing you should do is act like everything is fine. In this case, it was not. The situation did not improve. It got worse.
UMBC increased their intensity in the second half. UVa failed to respond. Credit: Chris Keane
The worst losses happen when you are expected to win
Losing sucks. I do not know any leader who enjoys losing. If I did I would recommend he or she stop leading and become a follower. The most difficult losses happen when you are expected to win. That is what happened to UVa. The game was supposed to be a cakewalk for them. They probably thought that going into the game, and paid the price. They ended up losing by 20 points. It was humiliating. The #1 team in the country lost what may become known as the worst upset in NCAA tournament history.
UMBC picked apart the UVa defense the last few minutes for easy baskets like this dunk.
You can avoid losing by not making the same mistakes
If you want to win as a leader it is important to learn from the mistakes of others. Make sure that you avoid this scenario. When you realize that your plan is not working – change the plan. Don’t hope that the situation will improve when you know deep in your heart that it won’t. Deal with the biggest challenges your team faces. Figure out what is causing the problems and fix them.
Pick up the pace so that your team can win, not lose
It is easy to fall into the trap of acting like everything is fine when it isn’t. I have witnessed this naive approach too many times to count during my career. Be a better leader. Next week I will go into more detail about how to avoid a historic loss for your team. You can do it, and we are here to help.
In the end, it was a remarkable season but we got thoroughly outplayed and that’s the reality of it. I hate for this team to lose like this. If you play this game and step into the arena, this stuff can happen.
Tony Bennett, UVA Head basketball coach
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Last year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament was excellent. There were a lot of exciting games. The championship game went down to the wire – a true thriller. I have already mentioned this in previous posts, and I will say it again. Leaders can learn a lot from sports. Many of these lessons are directly applicable to the real world. Learning to face the giant is one of them.
The wrong team won the women’s tournament last year
Notre Dame won the women’s tournament last year. They were not supposed to win it all. Sure – Notre Dame was a #1 seed. They were expected to make the final four, but not win the tournament. The University of Connecticut women’s team was the odds-on favorite. All signs pointed to them winning it all. Just look at their performance going into the finals.
UConn destroyed several opponents going into the final game.
UConn was picture perfect going into the tournament
Notre Dame lost several games during the year. Connecticut did not. They were 32-0 going into the tournament. They have a legendary program and coach. Notre Dame – not so much. How were they able to win when they were expected to lose? This post will explore how Notre Dame was able to beat UConn in the final four.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish hoists the NCAA championship trophy. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Your team must stand tall when facing the giant
When it comes to women’s college basketball UConn is a winner. According to Wikipedia, the UConn Huskies are the most successful women’s basketball program in the nation, having won a record 11 NCAA Division I National Championships and a women’s record four in a row, from 2013 through 2016, plus over 40 conference regular season and tournament championships.
The UConn basketball arena is covered in championship banners.
The UConn coach is a legend
Coach Geno Auriemma has been there since 1985. His 1027–135 (.884) record as of March 2018 represents the highest winning percentage among NCAA basketball coaches (minimum 10 seasons), for any level, men’s or women’s. To put it mildly – they are the giant of women’s college basketball. The natural question that follows is how do you motivate your team to defeat the giant. Let’s admit it your team must stand tall when facing the giant. To do otherwise will likely result in a loss, perhaps even a devastating one.
UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma has won 11 national championships.
Your team must be convinced they can beat the giant
First and foremost your team must be convinced that they can beat the giant. The idea of winning must exist in their minds. Otherwise, it is almost certain they will lose. A team that believes it is impossible to win will lose. It is rare for a team to accidentally win when facing a formidable opponent. It just does not happen. Your role as a leader is to set the example when it comes to the proper mindset. If you do not believe your team can win it will show, and your team will notice. They will look to you for reassurance that winning is possible. Don’t disappoint them.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
You need to show confidence to defeat the giant
The larger the giant you are facing the more your team will rely on you to motivate them. If you do not believe your team can win then why in the world should they. If you are afraid of the giant and show a lack of confidence, then don’t be surprised if your team responds the same way. The team feeds off the leader, not the other way around.
Famous fearless girl statue in New York City.
The leader sets the tone with words and actions
If you are waiting for your team to motivate themselves you are probably the wrong leader. You must show confidence even if in your heart of hearts you know winning is a long shot. Notre Dame was well prepared to face its giant. You can tell that Notre Dame’s coach did a great job mentally preparing her team for battle. They believed they could win, and it showed.
Notre Dame Coach Muffet McGraw, believes in being prepared.
Your team may need overtime to win
The UConn Huskies are great champions. They did not roll over and lose easily. No. As you would expect, they put up quite a fight against Notre Dame. In fact, the game ended in a tie and went into triple overtime. It is not often that games take that long to determine the outcome. In order to win Notre Dame had to play an extended game. When facing a giant like UConn don’t be surprised if you have to take your team further than they are used to going. It is the price you must be willing to pay to win.
Bottom line, you are either a risk taker, or you are not. If you don’t take risks, you will never win big.
Coach Geno Auriemma
You need to keep battling until the end, and then some
As the leader, you should prepare your team for overtime. Set the expectation beforehand that they may need to deliver above and beyond what it normally takes to win. That way they are not surprised when extra effort is required. They will be ready rather than deflated when it takes longer than normal to close.
Notre Dame beat UConn on a last second shot in triple overtime.
Great opponents will not go away quietly
In business, there are many great companies. Several of them may be your competitors. I do not know of many industries that are not highly contested. Remember that great opponents will not go away quietly. They will want the win as much, if not more than your team.
Tennessee is another legendary program that was led by Pat Summit for years.
Never underestimate your competition
It is a mistake that I have witnessed many times in my career. We thought too much of ourselves and too little of our competition. In the end, we paid the price. They won, and we lost. Avoid a losing scenario by expecting greatness from your competitors, especially the ones you know can deliver the goods. Use that narrative to help motivate your team. Tell them that they need to give their best to win. You better believe that the Notre Dame coach prepared her team by reminding them of who they were up against. They did not underestimate their opponent. Instead, they faced the giant and won.
There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent
Lao Tzu
Are you ready to lead your team to victory? Can you defeat the giant?
What about you? Are you ready to lead your team to victory against all odds? Is your team ready to face the giant and win? I hope so. Good leaders win when they are expected to win. Great leaders know how to win, even when the odds are not good. They somehow figure out a way to face down the giant and lead their team to victory. If you are that kind of leader – congratulations. They are rare in this world. If you do not know how to lead in that way don’t worry. All The Way Leadership! is here to help.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
When a leader is put in charge of a team they are expected to deliver positive results. This axiom is particularly true in professional sports. No pro sports club hires a new coach thinking that the team will have a losing season. No. The coach is there to make the team win. The fans expect no less. The same is true in business. Organizations do not put leaders in place to perform poorly. The exact opposite is true. They are expected to succeed. They must be able to handle adversity.
The Raiders hired John Gruden to win games. He is not smiling much these days.
Leaders are replaced when they fail to deliver
If leaders do not deliver positive results they are replaced. It is how the sports entertainment industry works. Every year coaches who do not win are replaced. Some sports leagues like the NFL and English Premier League are brutal on coaches. No one cares if the team does not have enough talent to win. The expectation remains the same – win. The coach or manager is fired if the team does not win. No exceptions, no excuses. The business world is not much different. Organizations cannot afford to keep losing leaders in place. Too much is at stake.
Leicester City Football Club fired their manager even after he won a miracle title for them just a few years before.
Teams that win are remembered and remain
In sports, the teams that win championships are the ones we remember. Try to recall who lost the Super Bowl two years ago. Hard to do. It was the Atlanta Falcons. We are much more likely to remember that Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to the greatest come from behind victory in Super Bowl history. It was an amazing win.
The Philadelphia Eagles were the surprise winners of last year’s Super Bowl.
Winning year after year is hard
Last year’s Super Bowl was a much different story. The Philadelphia Eagles reigned supreme. So it goes. Winners are remembered. Losers are forgotten. The business world is not much different. Companies come and go based on how they perform. The companies that succeed remain. Others disappear over time.
Lehman Brothers was once a highly respected investment company. They are gone.
Success in sports requires winning when it counts
No one really cares how a team performed during pre-season. Those games do not count for much. They are practice. Instead, success is measured by how a team performs in the playoffs. Was the team even able to make the playoffs? If not – it Wmight be time for a new coach. Were they able to win it all, and take home the trophy? Did the team win when it counted the most?
The Washington Nationals are highly successful during the season, but not in the playoffs. Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The need to succeed is the same in the business world
The same is true in business. What about your team. Did your team deliver when it mattered the most? Did you close the deal, or lose to a competitor? Were you able to make your clients successful? Did you make your financial numbers this quarter? Are you growing? Are you winning? If your team is not able to win when it counts, then you may be in trouble as a leader.
Blockbuster video failed to survive while Netflix continues to thrive.
All teams face adversity at some point
Success does not come easy. If it did every team would be successful. Many teams struggle to succeed, to deliver, to win. Why is that? All The Way Leadership! believes that many teams struggle because they do not deal well with adversity. Instead of rising to the occasion they crumble. They lose.
The Cleveland Browns are infamous for losing a lot of games.
Some perform their worse when it matters the most
They miss the shot. They fumble the ball and fail to get the first down. Great teams, on the other hand, deal well with adversity. They overcome it and make the shot. The team scores the goal. They deliver. They win.
The Eagles scored on a fourth and goal play in the Super Bowl. It changed the game.
The leader plays a critical role when adversity strikes
What is the first thing that team members do when they face adversity? They turn to their leader for guidance about the best way to handle the situation. Picture the New England Patriots going into halftime at Super Bowl LI. The one they were losing to the Atlanta Falcons big time. The likelihood of winning was remote at best.
The Patriots Bill Belichick is known for winning. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
How leaders respond to adversity will affect the team
You better believe that most of the players were looking to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for leadership. They were wondering what do we need to do to win. How were Tom and Bill acting? What were they doing? I bet they were cool-headed. They were analyzing what happened in the first half. They were mapping out a new strategy to win.
Tom Brady throws a pass during the Super Bowl. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The leader must keep her wits when times get tough
What about you? How do you behave when adversity strikes? How do you handle the situation? Are you able to remain calm and lead your team to victory? Or do you lose your cool and become unhinged? I am not saying that all leaders need to remain calm at all times. There are a time and a place for high energy leadership. Rather I am saying that it is important that a leader keep her wits when adversity strikes.
Tom Brady is known for his calmness under pressure while leading his team to victory.
Leading well requires that you keep your head in the game
Few people want to follow someone who loses control of himself during high-pressure situations. Some sports coaches and leaders yell and scream when put under pressure. I have worked for this type of leader. It is unsettling and usually does not end well for the team. No one wants to work for a leader who turns into the Hulk under pressure.
Bobby Knight was known for losing his mind during some games.
When you are the leader quitting is not an option – deal with adversity
Real leaders do not quit when it gets hard. Instead they dig-in. They double down. They do all that they can to lead their team to victory. In the end, they may lose, but at least they gave their best effort. Their team members and others will respect a leader who goes the distance. The one who puts it all on the line. Simply put – quitting because it gets hard is not an option when it comes to leadership. When you want to quit remember the words of Winston Churchill.
Never, never, never give up.
Winston Churchill
You are telling your team that it is okay to quit
If you quit, then you are signaling to your team that it is okay to deal with adversity by avoiding it. Which brings me full circle to my original point. In order to win, a team must be able to deal with adversity. It is a rare thing that victory comes without it. Hang in there, and lead your team effectively when adversity strikes. It will make the victory that much sweeter.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Last week I wrote about the best definition of leadership. It focused on John Maxwell and Peter Drucker’s definition of leadership. This week I will share perspectives from two famous US Army Generals – Colin Powell and Dwight Eisenhower. By putting all these pieces together I think we start to appreciate both the complexity and components that comprise leadership.
Who is General Colin Powell?
General Colin Powell was one of the greatest US Army Generals in the last century. According to Wikipedia Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years. He held a myriad of command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. Powell completed multiple combat tours in the Vietnam War. General Powell served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War.
General Powell is a pioneer
Powell was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first African American to serve in that position. His resume as a leader is impressive. I trust his leadership perspective.
Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. (AP Photo)
What did General Powell accomplish as a leader?
The list of General Powell’s accomplishments as a leader is too long for this blog. For his service, General Powell received numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal. The photo below shows his numerous military awards to include the US Army Ranger tab. In case that was not enough, General Powell has also written multiple books. I have read two of them (My American Journey, It Worked for Me: Lessons in Leadership and Life). I highly recommend both.
General Colin Powell in uniform.
What is Colin Powell’s definition of leadership?
In his books, Colin Powell describes a practical view of leadership. I trust his judgment. He has more experience than most leaders. His track record speaks for itself. General Powell was highly successful in numerous leadership roles. My favorite leadership quote by Colin Powell is below. It describes the specific actions that leaders should focus on to be successful.
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
General Colin Powell
Powell and Drucker both believe what you do matters
General Powell’s leadership definition is similar to Peter Drucker’s. According to both of them what you do as a leader is important. Powell points out that you must be able to take care of your people and solve their problems. Otherwise, they will stop following you. In other words, competency counts and actions speak louder than words.
Solving problems is a leader’s job.
You demonstrate leadership skills by solving problems
If you cannot, then why are you in charge. Also, it is one thing to tell your team members you care about them. It is another thing to actually solve their problems. If you do one without the other you are failing as a leader. We all probably know at least one leader who talked a big game, but never followed it up with actions. Don’t be that kind of leader. Remember Powell’s definition of leadership when you are in charge.
Army Gen. Norman H. Schwarzkopf consults with then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell during Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Two great modern American Generals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. H. H. Deffner)
Who was General Dwight D. Eisenhower?
General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a great US Army General. According to Wikipedia Eisenhower was an American Army general and statesman who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was a five-star general in the United States Army and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He was responsible for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942–43 and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45 from the Western Front.
Portrait of General Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1947.
What did Eisenhower accomplish as a leader?
If you think Colin Powell’s resume is impressive, then you will be even more impressed with Eisenhower’s. He was highly successful in both the military and as a civilian. Below are five major accomplishments he achieved while in leadership positions. The list goes on, but you get the picture. “Ike” was one of the best leaders the US has ever seen. Perfect – no. Effective – yes.
Eisenhower led the Allied Forces to victory in World War II. His Army defeated Hitler.
He was one of only a few to ever earn five stars as a General in the US military.
Eisenhower served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. He reached the highest political office in the US.
Eisenhower ended the Korean War. He leveraged US military might to achieve peace.
Eisenhower championed the formation of the Interstate Highway System. A key element to major US economic expansion.
Presidential portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
What is Dwight Eisenhower’s definition of leadership?
Like Colin Powell, General Eisenhower demonstrated a pragmatic view of leadership. Eisenhower was known for his somewhat quiet and understated leadership style. According to this Forbes article, Eisenhower had a paperweight prominently displayed on his desk in the Oval Office with a Latin inscription meaning “gently in manner, strong in deed.” Eisenhower shared many thoughts about leadership. The quote below from him is one of my favorites.
The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower’s definition focuses on a leader’s behavior
Many underestimated Eisenhower’s leadership abilities. During World War II he was surrounded by leaders who were much bolder and gregarious. Generals like Patton, MacArthur, and Montgomery seemed to seek the limelight while Eisenhower spent his time preparing for the next battle and visiting the troops. Once he commented on why he avoided the more abrasive leadership style of other Generals.
“You don’t lead by beating people over the head; that’s assault, not leadership.”
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
A famous photo of Eisenhower visiting paratroopers before D-day invasion.
Eisenhower’s leadership definition is correct
All The Way Leadership! agrees with Eisenhower. Your integrity as a leader is hugely important. If you lack integrity your team will not follow you. It is that simple. How you behave as a leader also factors into your effectiveness. It is difficult for anyone to follow a leader who behaves poorly. Don’t be that kind of leader. Instead, lead with integrity.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
