Summary of Marine Leadership Traits

Over the past few weeks, we have taken a look at the 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits.    The important thing to remember when reflecting on the Marine Corps Leadership Traits is that they are just that - traits, not actions.

A trait is not something you do - it is something you are.  The dictionary definition of "trait" is a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature.

This means that to be a Great Leader, you need to adopt this 14 traits as your own personal characteristics.  You also need to adopt all of them.  These 14 traits are all interconnected - you need all of them to be a Great Leader - some may be more important than others (integrity for instance - you cannot lead anyone if you are not honest and trustworthy), but failing to adopt any of these traits will compromise you ability to lead.

Once again here are the 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits with a link to the page where I explored the trait in detail.

JUSTICE – The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.

JUDGMENT - The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound

decisions.

DECISIVENESS - Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.

INITIATIVE - Taking action in the absence of orders.

DEPENDABILITY - The certainty of proper performance of duty.

TACT - The ability to deal with others without creating hostility.

INTEGRITY - Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty.

ENTHUSIASM - The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

BEARING - Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.

UNSELFISHNESS - Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

COURAGE - A mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Marine to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

KNOWLEDGE - Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.

LOYALTY - The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, and unit, and to one's seniors, subordinates, and peers.

ENDURANCE -The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.

Once you adopt these characteristics and live the 14 Marine Corps Leadership Traits, you will be able to lead like a Marine.

Are you up for that challenge?

Leadership Trait of the Day: INTEGRITY

This one is a no brainer – everyone knows that good Leaders have to have Integrity.

Here are just a few quotes on Integrity from notable Leaders:

·         “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” – Albert Einstein

·          “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.”
– Abraham Lincoln

·         "A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the ethical code anybody needs." – Harry S. Truman

·         “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”  -- Dwight D. Eisenhower    

·         “Dependability, integrity, the characteristic of never knowingly doing anything wrong, that you would never cheat anyone, that you would give everybody a fair deal. Character is a sort of an all-inclusive thing. If a man has character, everyone has confidence in him.” – Omar Nelson Bradley

·         “Character is much easier kept than recovered.” – Thomas Paine.

There you have it, whether you call it Integrity, Honor, Character, or Honesty, everyone agrees that a Leader has to have it.  This is because good Leadership is built on trust – there cannot be any trust if the leader does not have integrity.  Further, once that trust is broken, it will take a long time - if ever - for it to be repaired.  

While it is universally accepted that a Leader has to have Integrity, it is not a trait that is universally practiced.  According to the 2002 article “Leadership 101: Integrity” by Thomas Cunningham, 75% of polled employees observed unethical conduct in the workplace.  Only 40% of these same employees said that their workplace had honest and ethical management. 

While those statistics are sad, they are also an opportunity.  If you become an ethical leader, your employees will trust and respect you.  When your people trust and respect you, they will work harder for you.  When this happens, everybody wins. 

 How can you be a Leader with Integrity?  Click through for some tips.