I have not written about leadership in a little bit so I thought I would post this one.  Studying leadership can take you to all sorts of places where leadership happens each and every day.  There is probably no other place that leadership has the most visible and known impacts than in the United States military.  Each branch of the military has its own unique leadership program that teaches core values and skills for leaders.  Many of these leaders are tested in combat where the results are life or death for the leader and the led.

The leadership lessons taught by the military are simply stated in the most understandable manner possible.  A great place to find solid leadership advice is Chapter 1 of SH 21-76, The Ranger Handbook.  The bullet points tie into FM 22-100 the Army’s 283 page leadership handbook.  SH 21-76 does a very good job of fitting these principles to a nice printable page.

From Chapter 1 of the Ranger Handbook, some of the most applicable leadership advice I have found in my studies.

BE

  • Technically and tactically proficient
  • Able to accomplish to standard all tasks required for the wartime mission.
  • Courageous, committed, and candid.
  • A leader with integrity.

KNOW

  • The four major factors of leadership and how they affect each other are–
    • Led
    • Leader
    • Situation
    • Communications
  • Yourself, and the strengths and weaknesses in your character, knowledge, and skills. Seek continual self-improvement, that is, develop your strengths and work to overcome your weaknesses.
  • Your Rangers, and look out for their well-being by training them for the rigors of combat, taking care of their physical and safety needs, and disciplining and rewarding them.

DO

  • Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions; exercise initiative; demonstrate resourcefulness; and take advantage of opportunities on the battlefield that will lead to you to victory; accept fair criticism, and take corrective actions for your mistakes.
  • Assess situations rapidly, make sound and timely decisions, gather essential information, announce decisions in time for Rangers to react, and consider the short- and long-term effects of your decision.
  • Set the example by serving as a role model for your Rangers. Set high but attainable standards; be willing do what you require of your Rangers; and share dangers and hardships with them.
  • Keep your subordinates informed to help them make decisions and execute plans within your intent, encourage initiative, improve teamwork, and enhance morale.
  • Develop a sense of responsibility in subordinates by teaching, challenging, and developing them. Delegate to show you trust them. This makes them want more responsibility.
  • Ensure the Rangers understand the task; supervise them, and ensure they accomplish it. Rangers need to know what you expect: when and what you want them to do, and to what standard.
  • Build the team by training and cross-training your Rangers until they are confident in their technical and tactical abilities. Develop a team spirit that motivates them to go willingly and confidently into combat. Know your unit’s capabilities and limitations, and employ them accordingly.

Simple lessons with direct application to all fields where leadership is needed.  Over the next several weeks as I have time I will take each bullet and provide some simple examples of how each one of these principles can be applied in the day-to-day world of the architect as a leader.

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