Lessons on leadership from General David Petraeus.
1. Lead by example from the front of the formation. Take your performance personally—if you are proud to be average, so too will be your troops.
Pete Marovich / ZUMA Press
2. A leader must provide a vision—clear and achievable “big ideas” combined in a strategic concept—and communicate those ideas throughout the entire organization and to all other stakeholders.
3. A leader needs to give energy; don’t be an oxygen thief.
4. There is an exception to every rule, standard operating procedure, and policy; it is up to leaders to determine when exceptions should be made and to explain why they made them.
5. We all will make mistakes. The key is to recognize them and admit them, to learn from them, and to take off the rear view mirrors—drive on and avoid making them again.
6. Be humble. The people you’ll be leading already have on-the-ground conflict experience. “Listen and learn.”
7. Be a team player. “Your team’s triumphs and failures will, obviously, be yours.” Take ownership of both.
8. Don’t rely on rank. If you rely on rank, rather than on the persuasiveness of your logic, the problem could be you and either your thinking or your communication skills. Likewise, sometimes the best ideas come from bottom-up information sharing (i.e., “Need to share” not “Need to know”). Use “directed telescopes” to improve situational awareness.
9. Leaders should be thoughtful but decisive. Listen to subordinates’ input, evaluate courses of action and second- and third-order effects, but be OK with an “80 percent solution.” “There will be many moments when all eyes turn to you for a decision. Be prepared for them. Don’t shrink from them. Embrace them.” Sometimes the best move is the bold move.
10. Stay fit to fight. Your body is your ultimate weapons system. Physical fitness for your body is essential for mental fitness.
11. The only thing better than a little competition is a lot of competition. Set challenges for your subordinates to encourage them to excel.
12. Everyone on the team is mission critical. Instill in your team members a sense of great self-worth—that each, at any given time, can be the most important on the battlefield.
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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
What a hypocritical son-of-a-bitch!
Look at his rule Number 1.
Petraeus would have crucified any officer, or non-commissioned officer, in his commands for similar activities. I am not a puritan, however, this guy was in a position to do his country a lot of good, but he thought with his penis. He also thought that no one would ever find out but – when more than one person knows a secret – it is no longer a secret.
Members of his entourage knew of the affair for many months. They also knew of previous affairs.
But the bottom line is this. Petraeus was confronted with the fact that the F.B.I was onto him months ago and still remained in his position, silently hoping the storm would pass. That was the time for the general to follow his Soldier’s Code and fall on his sword.
General Petraeus only resigned because he was told to resign, by the head of America’s intelligence community. Otherwise he would have weaseled and endeavored to keep a lid on the explosion, as he had in the past.
General Petraeus is/was a very talented military leader. He was a good head for the CIA. Unfortunately, power corrupts. Had he been an accountant for Woolworth’s this bimbo would not have pursued him.
As the say… Rank hath its privileges… However, rank also has its obligations and this jerk ignored these obligations, over a period of years – if his associates are to be believed – and the roof has finally collapsed on him.
I speak as a military person who has never betrayed the trust put in me and expect my leaders to do the same. Unfortunately, I seem to be in the naïve minority.
Live in Hope…Die in Despair.
This really shows a lack of judgement on the part of a key general.
And now a second general is involved with a similar situation.
Forget the sex portion, both have displayed less common sense than my cat, and these are the men leading major forces!!!