Transcript Leadership in the Trenches The Wisdom of General Collin Powell Chairman (Retired) Joint Chiefs of Staff Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off. The day soldiers stop bringing you.

Leadership in the
Trenches
The Wisdom of General Collin
Powell
Chairman (Retired)
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Being responsible sometimes
means pissing people off.
The day soldiers stop bringing
you their problems is the day you
have stopped leading them.
“Experts” possess more data than
judgment.
Don’t be afraid to challenge the
pros, even in their own backyard.
Never neglect details. When
everyone’s mind is dulled or
distracted a leader must be
doubly vigilant.
You don’t know what you can get
away with until you try.
Organizations don’t succeed.
Endeavors succeed or fail
because of the people involved.
Only by attracting the best
people will you accomplish great
deeds.
Organizational charts and fancy
titles account for nothing.
Never let your ego get so close to
your position that when your
position goes your ego goes with
it.
Let the situation dictate which
approach best accomplishes the
teams mission.
Perpetual optimism is a force
multiplier.
Picking people: Look for
intelligence and judgment, a
capacity to anticipate, to see
around corners. Also look for
loyalty, integrity, a high energy
drive, a balanced ego and the
drive to get things done.
Great leaders are almost always
great simplifiers.
Use the formula P=40 to 70
P = Probability
Numbers = percentage of
information required
When the information possessed
is in the 40-70 range, go with
your gut.
The commander in the field is
always right, the rear echelon is
always wrong, unless proven
otherwise.
Take your work seriously, but not
yourself. Work deliberately and
relax with relaxation as your
purpose.
Command is lonely.
Leadership is the art of
accomplishing more than the
science of management says is
possible.
Colin Luther Powell born April 5, 1937 is an American statesman and a
retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United
States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from
2001 to 2005, and the first African American to serve in that position.
During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Advisor
(1987–1989), as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and
as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter
position during the Gulf War. He was the first, and so far the only, African
American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.