Saturday, January 5, 2008

We Were Soldiers...and Leaders

I found this on YouTube and thought it might inspire you as it did for me. Hal Moore is the retired Army officer who was the central figure (played by Mel Gibson) in the movie "We Were Soldiers" and the in the book by the same name. This guy is the real thing! Here are his 4 Principles of a Leader.




Principle #1: 3 Strikes...and You're Not Out. Leaders must constantly display the will to win, by their actions, words, tone of voice, and look in their eyes...no matter what. Never give any hint or evidence of doubt of a positive outcome. Inspire confidence. Be visible on the battlefield.

Principle #2: There is always one more thing to do to influence any situation in my favor...and after that one more thing...and after that one more thing. Regularly separate from the action and ask: "What am I doing that I should not be doing...and what am I not doing that I should be doing to influence things in my favor?

Principle #3: When there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong...except that there's nothing wrong. This is when leaders should be most concerned.

Principle #4: Trust your extincts. They are a product of your education, reading, personality, and experience. Act fast, impart confidence to all around you, don't second-guess your decisions, and make things happen. Face the facts, deal with them, and move on.

An American hero and terrific leader. General Moore "wrote the book" on the business of leaders. Enjoy! Hooah!

2 comments:

Steve Harper said...

I so love that guy and the lessons he gives are incredible reminders for leaders in any capacity. Thank you as always for sharing! Your BLOG continues to be a fantastic inspiration to everyone!

Hooah and Ripple On My Brother!

Steve

Tom Magness said...

You are so right, Steve. He is an American Hero! I am so glad they made the movie to let another generation see what people-focused, inspirational leadership is all about! Thanks for your comments! Hooah, Ripple Man!