I can’t believe this is another dream come true! So many of them have been fulfilled for me in the Navy. In this newsletter I am introducing, with permission from Capt. Smith, a leadership column called The Compass. The idea about a leadership column came to me in 1999 as I began work at Northwestern Travel, was starting a family, and trying to balance all the roles of being a Reservist. And the one thing that I thought about quite a bit, and still do today, is my role as a Naval leader and my role as a Father. I thought, “What lessons can I share in both these worlds that would help me be a better Father and a better leader?” I approached the Editor of the company’s newsletter, made a suggestion to write about leadership, was accepted and then wrote several topics. Most recently, I made a similar suggestion to Capt. Smith, who solicited feedback in The Deck Plate. You’ve all heard, “Be careful for what wish for, it may come true!” And we all know, as Reservists, if you volunteer, you will be asked. For me wishing and volunteering turns out to be a dream come true for the second time, and I have never felt more empowered in the Naval Reserve than I do right now.
In these times of change, with our “cheese in motion” as Captain Smith puts it, we need some sort of anchor to allow us to “Stand forth and hold!” as the world we live in as Reservists begins to move past us and we are faced with new realities. During this time, we need a compass to point us in the right direction so that neither we, nor our shipmates are lost at sea. Now more than ever we need to remind ourselves of the essential elements of leadership. We all know, intrinsically, that everything we do rises and falls on leadership at all levels from Seaman to Admiral, especially in times of change. John Maxell says it very well in The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership: “Relationships determine the morale of the organization; Structure determines the size of the organization; Vision determines the direction of the organization; Leadership determines the success of the organization”.
Here’s what I envision for this column. I would like to offer you what I believe are the Essential Elements of Leadership. Contained within this offering will be “tools” for your own personal Leadership Toolbox. Some of these tools will be:
Setting an Example… Care and Feeding… Empowerment… Vision… Communication… Questions Leaders Ask Themselves… Attitude… Delegation… Reward… Empowerment… Followership… Training Those Who Would Replace You… Legacy…
I’ve been thinking about The Essential Elements of Leadership for some time. I have been thinking, doing, practicing and learning new ideas ever since I joined the Navy in 1977 and in the business world since about 1989. I don’t have all the “tools” but I do believe some of the ideas to follow are essential to all leadership roles. Some of them I learned through direct experience, and some are from the great leadership people I have come to know through reading. In all of this I hope to communicate a vision of what we, as leaders are all about, and to provide a voice for you in this new reality. Tools, vision, voice, a foundation and a compass, everything’s in order. Let’s get underway!
The Essential Elements of Leadership: Introduction
I have a couple of boxes of books at home about Leadership. They contain everything from The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People to an autographed copy of Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior - A Commando’s Guide to Success. I know the last book seems a little extreme, even for a conservative person like myself. However, I just never realized I was collecting all these books until one day when my very young son climbed up onto the top of a pile of books to see out the window of our office. At that moment I realized I had joined that unique group of people who collect “stuff”. You know, pens, pencils, coffee cups, and leadership stuff. And as I sat there and thought about my collection, I realized that I had even collected a “Leadership Folder” which I carry around in my briefcase! Funny. Never thought I’d be such a leadership collection freak. Coffee cups, sure, but leadership books? No way! Truth is, I just love thinking, talking, reading and doing leadership.
So… what are The Essential Elements of Leadership? What are those common elements that all leaders and followers need to share in order to provide something to hold themselves and others together when things change and to give a sense of direction? Let’s reach into the toolbox.
Set the Example
Above all, this is the most important element for a leader to follow. The people you lead will notice you in any role from the smallest job to one that carries quite a bit of responsibility and accountability. The people you lead look for answers by just watching and listening to what you say and do!
To set the example, you must be very visible in all that you do and say. Some call it MBWA: Management By Walking Around. A word, an action, even body language can affect the way your teammates respond to and respect you.
Being a leader essentially means leading from the front and being visible (and heard!) all the way to the rear. If you want people to respect your leadership, respect them. People respond with respect when they are treated respectfully.
Here’s I how try to set the example: I work to offer an example in my personal life and in my daily work place. I try to maintain my appearance as being professional, and casual when the situation is right. I try to keep my clothes pressed and clean. I try hard to keep my attitude positive in all that I do. I try to maintain a high level of respect for my teammates as professionals and yet as friends. I try not to use any language that is inappropriate in any setting. I try hard to answer questions with respect. I try to communicate effectively by empathizing with the person talking to me and treating them as the most important person in the world at that very moment. If in tough situations, I do the best I can to seek first to understand, and then to be understood. My wife often says, “Grant, remember, it’s the message, not the person. I try hard to look at the potential of those I work with instead of their behaviors. I try to create an environment where people succeed by what I do for them--in effect I become a servant to their success; I try hard to set the example of being a Servant Leader. Essentially, I try to treat people, as I would like to be treated--with Honor, Commitment and Courage, the Core Values of our Navy. In all things, I try never to forget that I am visible, and therefore, I set the example.
Why is setting the example so important? The answer comes from Chief Petty Officer Eve McAnallen. When I told her that I was writing several topics for this newsletter, she jumped right in and helped me brainstorm. Among the ideas was this: Khakis, especially Chiefs, don’t wear a unit identification badge on their shoulder. As an officer, I was a bit confused (nothing new) not having thought about this before. When I asked why, she said that in our stewardship roles as Khaki, officers and Chief Petty Officers, all belong to the Navy, the whole Navy, not just to the unit identified on that rocker. She continued, “We are first and foremost there for all our shipmates in the Navy. We set the example for the entire Navy, wherever we go, and in whatever we do as Khaki. We are very visible by the khaki we wear and we lead for everyone!” Thanks Chief!
To underscore Setting the Example, a practice at the Naval Academy directly applies here. There is essentially a culture of Setting the Example throughout the Academy: doors are left open and unlocked so that valuables are exposed to whomever may wander by; exams are not monitored by proctors; instructors trust their students by taking their word at face value when it comes to issues of class work and testing. This is called “The Honor Concept”. (Becoming A Leader The Annapolis Way, p. 69). Remarkable! A culture of trust and integrity! This may be no different than what any of us who have gone to boot camp have practiced, or in any other situation; however, what struck me the most is that they trust each other and institutionalize this trust from the very beginning as a collective, or whole example for each other to follow! It is self-sustaining and mutually reinforces the idea about setting an example of integrity and trust for everyone who attends this institution, works there, or even visits. What a remarkable example to follow for any organization or person!
Two people illustrate Setting the Example for me. My Father, in all the years that I have known him, has never raised his voice to my Mother. Nor has he talked down to her or treated her with disrespect. For me he has been the perfect example as a “gentle man”; I can think of no better example for a Son. And then there is our former Commander, Admiral James Plehal. In various places where I have been present during official visits or ceremonies, I have noticed he makes it his personal business to visit with each person in a room before he leaves. And it does not matter; he talks to everyone, military or civilian. He looks them in the eye, makes it his business to treat everyone the same and makes them feel as if they are the most important person in the world.
Setting the example. In all things we do or say we are very visible. We influence our military and our civilian lives. I try hard to align my actions, choices, and words as a leader, and Father, with ethical principles and values that are aligned squarely in the true heart of the world in which I live.
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