-Middle Manager in a Large Regional Company
“No excuse, sir.” Of the four approved responses a West Point plebe may use, this one was hardest for me to say. But, everything we did at West Point had a purpose.
The purpose of teaching 18 year olds not to make excuses actually fulfills West Point’s purpose: To provide our nation with leaders of character.
A leader of character takes responsibility no matter the circumstances. A leader of character does not make excuses.
“I am the same person I was last year.” 15 years ago, I realized that statement was a dubious accomplishment. Twelve months had gone by, and I had little to show for it. I hadn’t moved forward. I was stagnant.
Temptation hits me everyday. I am tempted by a lot of things I wish I wasn’t: French fries, Buffalo wings, the SI Swimsuit issue, naps, and sarcasm are just a few. This is just a sub-set of a much larger list.
But the most insidious temptation in my life is lying. What I used to call fibs, white lies, or exaggerations are truly the hardest temptations to beat. Continue Reading…
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point.” –C.S. Lewis
Wow. Opening this post with this quote from C. S. Lewis just heightened my level of attention to a subject that has been watered down through over use and misunderstanding through the years. How do we recover the word Courage from the Buzzword purgatory it’s currently relegated to?
My answer is to define it and to continually discuss it. That is the problem with corporate values statements as well. They are inadequately defined and communicated infrequently.
Cowardice and courage are obvious before and during battle. In 1991, I witnessed another 1st Lieutenant back out of mission that I later volunteered for as a result of his cowardice.
In another part of the battlefield, I had a friend dismount from his tank and walk his platoon through a minefield while under enemy fire. That act of courage earned him a Silver Star. Those examples of cowardice and courage are easy to identify.
But, cowardice and courage in the business world are not always as obvious. Sometimes they appear in the big moments when others are watching. At other times they occur when no one is around to see them.
I define courage as acting without regard for perceived or actual personal risk. Continue Reading…
Facing us is the River of Fear, made deep and wide by our hesitations, timidity, doubts, and paralysis.
Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities…because it is the quality which guarantees all others. - Winston Churchill
Other than the words in this paragraph, this entire blog is taken directly from the introduction to a fantastic book I am reading by a fellow West Point graduate, Gus Lee. Courage: The Backbone Of Leadership clearly states what I believe about the role of courage in leadership. (Click on the title above to read more on about this book). Continue Reading…
The grizzled veteran manager proudly declared, “My top priority is to take care of my team.” It sounded like I found a kindred spirit. I believe the leader’s job should be centered on his people.
But what I had discovered was a selfish, hard headed and insecure man. Over time, I learned he was not taking care of his people. He was looking out for #1. Continue Reading…
I used to swear a lot, drink too much and eat Buffalo wings for a meal 3-4 times a week. Today I rarely swear, have a beer occasionally with a meal, and eat Buffalo wings once in a blue moon. Continue Reading…
The litmus test for good leadership is character. Rarely do I read history, watch the news or read the paper and learn about a leader who failed because of incompetence. The most common reason a leader fails is a shortfall in character.
What happens in the months, days, or minutes that lead to a fatefully bad decision by a leader? What happens when he willfully decides to compromise his character? What happens when a leader ignores his moral compass and takes a path marked by dishonesty, fear, or selfishness?
This is the first post in a series of five on character tests. Continue Reading…
Becoming a leader of character is a process that never ends. It is a never ending road towards a destination you can never completely reach. But, leaders must take this road daily in order to grow and lead well.
I had the benefit of my father, General Jim Anderson, and four years of training at West Point to guide me towards being a leader of character. One of the reasons I began to blog, consult and coach on this subject is I realized how blessed I was compared to most aspiring leaders. I had guides!
I define character as: Our habitual way of operating.
But how does one develop character without the benefit of a leader of character for a dad or a 4 year leadership school? It starts by understanding how our character is formed.
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