Art of Manliness: 5 Traits of True Leaders | The Art of Manliness
schaefer
· 1 year ago
Outstanding post! The military has always been at the forefront of leadership training and although this is vintage, it shows why military members understand how to develop the men and women around them.
"True leaders will take responsibility for all consequences of their decisions, even the bad ones. Even when the results were the fault of a subordinate, a true leader will still take all the blame."
It's amazing how rare it is to see the above played out in most of today's organizations. Just look at the Enron hearings as the prime example - leaders constantly blaming those underneath them and pleading ignorance. What a bunch of cowards!
Thanks for bringing forth some leadership gems in a leaderless age.
Derek
· 1 year ago
Awesome! One addition: Service A leader serves the people. Thanks for a good read!
Jack
· 1 year ago
One very important leadership trait I learned in the Army (from the example of one very poor Sergeant Major): if you constantly have to remind your underlings you're in charge--you're not.
cory huff
· 1 year ago
Brett, I'm constantly amazed at your posts. You must spend a tremendous amount of time on research.
Leadership is a passion of mine, and I'll be going back over this later today.
Unfortunately, I have a boss who thinks leadership is yelling and screaming. He makes an idiot of himself daily, but he's still "in charge." Maybe you could do a follow up post on how to help your own leaders better themselves?
tsims
· 1 year ago
Excellent post. Leadership is a very important skill that is often left out for young people of today's world. Our society focuses much more on looking good on the outside than it does on strengthening the inside. I think a little leadership training should be a part of everyone's upbringing.
I also agree with Derek about serving. Serving your fellow man is a quality that every good leader should exemplify.
Hayden Tompkins
· 1 year ago
#4 is so important. I am glad you added it!
Mike Perry
· 1 year ago
It'd be great to know the name of that 1950 pamphlet and perhaps have someone post it online if, as with most government publications, it isn't covered by copyright.
--Michael W. Perry, editor of Chesterton on War and Peace
Kevin (ReturnToManliness)
· 1 year ago
I am starting a series of leadership posts over at Return To Manliness shortly. I will be using Bill Russell's autobiography as the guide tool and it, of course, encompasses these five with 6 others.
I think many of us know these traits and understand them, but so very few are willing to do them. I wonder why this is case?
There are many potential explanations for this, but in our want it now, get it now society, people don't have the patience to live by these standards.
For instance, people in our society are now brought up with the notion that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". Worse, it is true for those looking for immediate resolution.
Interesting topic...
allen
· 1 year ago
you learn more from bad leadership and their mistakes than good, usually. you learn what type of person/leader not to be.
Phil A
· 1 year ago
I live in a Navy town, and this accurately describes the leadership of men that I have come to respect and admire.
Soon I will be joining the Navy and with some backbreaking hopefully a SEAL. This was an extremely positive article... thank you.
FingerSoup
· 1 year ago
Of course, there is one item that has not been brought up, that is a true pinnacle of being a leader. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. If you do not set an example for your subordinates to follow, your subordinates will end up either not meeting expectations because their efforts will not pass muster, or will balk at your hypocrisy. Nothing will de-motivate your subordinates more than an attitude of "Do as I say, Not as I do".
Leading by example requires you to set examples both consciously, and instinctively. Using safety equipment is a good example to set. If your job requires a hard hat, and the boss doesn't wear one on site, the boss is sending out a message that wearing one isn't that important. For something this important, the boss should be proactive in bringing their hard hat to the site, and wearing it whenever appropriate, even if they spend most of the time in an office where one isn't required.
Richard Williams
· 1 year ago
An excellent piece of advice, for sure. On point #5, see:
Perfect. Now I can see how to perform with office politics. Thanks.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
I strongly take issue with item 1. Your approach to your subordinates depends on the situation, it's all about rhetoric - know your audience and their expectations.
Leadership is less about demeanor and more about managing expectations. I would replace Quiet Resolution with Managing Expectations.
This trait extends to all areas of leadership from handling individuals, and groups to handling the self.
Mike W.
· 1 year ago
A great poem about leadership and being a man and gentelmen is "If" by Rudyard Kipling. Here's a great reading of it from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjLI5D25to
Alex M. Thompson
· 1 year ago
It's a tragedy that every President in my lifetime has let their subordinates take the blame for their fuck-ups.
AMManess
· 1 year ago
I have been thinking a lot about leadership lately. I wonder why? I guess it is part of the debate that may be intrinsically debated, but it should be fully examined. As I look at our future presidents, I see that it is leadership is missing from America today. The candidates speak of leadership, but there is something missing in their actions or words that truly shows leadership potential.
The president, in my humble opinion, must be the first to reassure the people of America in hard times. This does not mean, oh, we are working on the issues. We are working to get them resolved. I have a policy to help us out. Great. That is what you are supposed to do. Also, it shouldn't be about political bickering that one side is not helping America. I am reminded of FDR's speech during the Great Depression. He didn't blame other people for the mess, or that one political party or president wrecked the economy. What did he do. First, he addressed the people as a leader. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Then he stated, later when talking about what will be done, "Through this program of action we address ourselves to putting our own national house in order and making income balance outgo." Key, everyone working to out the national house in order. I haven't heard that at all.
Another leader comes to mind when people want the government or someone else to come save them. That person is JFK, when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." People need to participate and lead to better themselves and this country. We are all leaders if we are to believe as another great leader, Lincoln, said we are a "government of the people, by the people, for the people...." This could mean looking at whether we, as leaders in our household, should get into a mortgage we don't understand and importantly can't afford. As a leader of our community to work towards bettering it by taking part in the local government or civic activities.
Finally, I guess key to all of this is the sense of duty. Leadership starts with duty. The "leaders" of this country have said that they are working to get the economy working basically so we can get rich or have money to buy things. What happened to duty. Save the economy or just do your jobs because it is your duty. As Robert E. Lee said, "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less."
Dave Nelson
· 9 months ago
This is a great post. I really wanted to read the book the post references and I think I've tracked it down. The book is "The Armed Forces Officer." You can find PDF copies of the latest version without too much trouble via Google. I found the 1950 version in downloadable formats at: http://manybooks.net/titles/defensed2548225482-...
All Comments
"True leaders will take responsibility for all consequences of their decisions, even the bad ones. Even when the results were the fault of a subordinate, a true leader will still take all the blame."
It's amazing how rare it is to see the above played out in most of today's organizations. Just look at the Enron hearings as the prime example - leaders constantly blaming those underneath them and pleading ignorance. What a bunch of cowards!
Thanks for bringing forth some leadership gems in a leaderless age.
One addition: Service
A leader serves the people.
Thanks for a good read!
Leadership is a passion of mine, and I'll be going back over this later today.
Unfortunately, I have a boss who thinks leadership is yelling and screaming. He makes an idiot of himself daily, but he's still "in charge." Maybe you could do a follow up post on how to help your own leaders better themselves?
I also agree with Derek about serving. Serving your fellow man is a quality that every good leader should exemplify.
--Michael W. Perry, editor of Chesterton on War and Peace
I think many of us know these traits and understand them, but so very few are willing to do them. I wonder why this is case?
There are many potential explanations for this, but in our want it now, get it now society, people don't have the patience to live by these standards.
For instance, people in our society are now brought up with the notion that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease". Worse, it is true for those looking for immediate resolution.
Interesting topic...
Soon I will be joining the Navy and with some backbreaking hopefully a SEAL. This was an extremely positive article... thank you.
Leading by example requires you to set examples both consciously, and instinctively. Using safety equipment is a good example to set. If your job requires a hard hat, and the boss doesn't wear one on site, the boss is sending out a message that wearing one isn't that important. For something this important, the boss should be proactive in bringing their hard hat to the site, and wearing it whenever appropriate, even if they spend most of the time in an office where one isn't required.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig2/williams3.html
Leadership is less about demeanor and more about managing expectations. I would replace Quiet Resolution with Managing Expectations.
This trait extends to all areas of leadership from handling individuals, and groups to handling the self.
The president, in my humble opinion, must be the first to reassure the people of America in hard times. This does not mean, oh, we are working on the issues. We are working to get them resolved. I have a policy to help us out. Great. That is what you are supposed to do. Also, it shouldn't be about political bickering that one side is not helping America. I am reminded of FDR's speech during the Great Depression. He didn't blame other people for the mess, or that one political party or president wrecked the economy. What did he do. First, he addressed the people as a leader. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Then he stated, later when talking about what will be done, "Through this program of action we address ourselves to putting our own national house in order and making income balance outgo." Key, everyone working to out the national house in order. I haven't heard that at all.
Another leader comes to mind when people want the government or someone else to come save them. That person is JFK, when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." People need to participate and lead to better themselves and this country. We are all leaders if we are to believe as another great leader, Lincoln, said we are a "government of the people, by the people, for the people...." This could mean looking at whether we, as leaders in our household, should get into a mortgage we don't understand and importantly can't afford. As a leader of our community to work towards bettering it by taking part in the local government or civic activities.
Finally, I guess key to all of this is the sense of duty. Leadership starts with duty. The "leaders" of this country have said that they are working to get the economy working basically so we can get rich or have money to buy things. What happened to duty. Save the economy or just do your jobs because it is your duty. As Robert E. Lee said, "Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less."