What's the Best Leadership Advice You've Received?

shut up and do as you're told

I didn't lie to you, the truth just changed.

"Don't create rules/policy that you can't enforce. It will make you look weak or incompetent"
-Darnley Hodge

This advice came after service. A person I admire very much put up a story on our leadership board at work. This story spoke of many starfish being beached after a terrible storm & low tide, unable to get back to the water. Many people were standing along the beach watching a little girl picking up each starfish and placing it gently into the water. A man asked her why she was doing it, she obviously couldn't possibly help every single fish. She said "I may not make a difference to all of them, but I do for some." This advice helped me to see that we may not "change the whole world", but we do change someone's world, even with small actions or thoughts. Since leaving the Army, I made a proud career as a School Bus Driver & was a "rolling teacher". The Army values were taught to many children, the examples I had carried me through some times that required a deeper patience. Being in the Army, no matter the injury, was one of the best decisions of my life.

If someone in your organization fails, the first place the leader should look is in the mirror because chances are the failure occurred due to lack of training (leader's responsibility), lack of guidance (again, the leader's responsibility), or lack of proper tools or equipment/supplies (also the leader's responsibility).

Simple, "Learn to listen".

"When it comes time, do not hem and haw, make the best decision using the best info you have at the time. Whether it is right or wrong, be decisive."

Common sense goes a long way!

One Man doesn't make an Army

We are one team. Not a one person team. lunch with General Chuck Yeager at Bitburg AfB Germany 1988.