Leadership

Leaders, when we think of them we have ideas of exceptional values, communication skills, confidence, respect, and of those who effectively know how to use their trust and influence so harmony and teamwork may be promoted. We think of visionaries, those who are excellent communicators, and are trustworthy with integrity, and who others want to emulate. When I think of leaders I think of General Bradley, also known as The Generals General1. He grew up dirt poor and became schoolteacher who would use his talents well. They called him the "regular guy"1 and the "GI General"1 because he was a hero who wasn’t afraid to fail and who just happened to be a general. He continually created and shared new knowledge. He taught the ROTC department at South Dakota State College, mathematics and tactics at West Point and was an instructor in the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He eventually led the United States Army through war and peace during the 1940s and 1950s, very demanding decades. He entered World War II as a junior General, but by the critical phase of the European campaign he had become Patton's commanding officer and leader of 1.3 million men. He personally conducted the class of generals before the American invasion force embarked tier Normandy on June 6, 1944. He led the 12th U.S. Army Group, which was our largest group of U.S. soldiers to operate under one field commander. Under his command he had U.S. soldiers in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy beaches and Germany. As a true leader his actions as a change agent created the curriculum that lead to our traditional and advanced army weaponry. He pioneered what today would be called a comprehensive understanding of the "battle space". He believed in investing insub...

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... misguided, and blatantly disrespectful athletic specimens as well as some coaches as role models. General Bradley successfully led 1.3 million men with these values during some of our nations most demanding decades. Yet sadly some individuals find it difficult to lead a team to play sports with this same set of values.

Reference:

1. Axelrod, A. (2009). The General's General. World War II, 23(6), 26-33.

2. Gaiter, D. J. (2013). Facets of Leadership. Neurodiagnostic Journal, 53(4), 323-327.

3. Jaques, T. (2012). Crisis leadership: a view from the executive suite. Journal Of Public Affairs (14723891), 12(4), 366-372. doi:10.1002/pa.1422

4. Key-Roberts, M. (2014). Strengths-Based Leadership Theory and Development of Subordinate Leaders. Military Review, 94(2), 4-13.

5. Rosen, B. (2014). The Grounded Executive. Journal For Quality & Participation, 37(1), 4-7.