Lessons From 20 Years of Service in the Marine Corps

That's Right - Listen to this Old Man!

About two weeks ago I hit a milestone – I crossed the magic 20 year mark in my Marine Corps career.  For everyone who has ever put on a uniform, the 20 year target is a big one – it means that you can now retire with your pension.   

For me, though, the 20 year mark has been a testament to dedication and endurance; while thoroughly enjoyable, it has not been an easy 20 year run. 

What it has been, however, is 20 great years of leadership lessons.  When I look back to the bright-eyed young 2^nd Lieutenant I was 20 years ago, I can really appreciate all of the lessons I have learned from 20 years in uniform. 

In honor of my 20 years of service, here are 20 Rules of Leadership that I have learned during my Marine Corps career:

      1)      Leaders lead from the front – this doesn’t mean you drag your people behind you, it means that you take on the same risk – or more – that you ask your people to take.

      2)      Leaders set the example – You are always watched, and you need to do the right thing, all the time; don’t ask your people to do things you cannot or will not do – you are the barometer. 

      3)      Leaders have a plan – Even if it is a basic plan, and even if it needs to be changed, you have to have a plan, otherwise you are running in circles.

      4)      But, Leaders are flexible – Never, ever, ever fall in love with your plan, you need to be able to change when you need to

      5)      Leaders are decisive – A leader has to make decisions, especially when it is hard, a failure to make a decision, at a minimum wastes time and resources.

      6)      Leaders trust their instincts (but look before they leap) – It is easier to be decisive when you trust your gut; great leaders have good instincts and learn to trust them – however, no matter how much a leader trusts his gut, he still needs to reflect a moment before making a final decision

      7)      Leaders know their people – You cannot lead strangers, if you don’t know your people, you cannot play to their strengths, and you cannot improve their weaknesses.

      8)      Leaders always tell the truth – Even when it hurts, once your integrity is compromised, you cannot get it back.

      9)      Leaders take care of their people – This doesn’t mean you baby them – there is a tragic story of a platoon of Marines being killed in their sleeping bags during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign – the platoon commander wanted them to get warm, but truly taking care of them met pushing them to do the right thing – being ready to fight. 

     10)   Leaders are loyal – Not just to their superiors, but to their people, leaders support their people, their seniors and their institution. 

   

      Click Through for the next 10 Rules

    

The motto for the over 40 set 

    11)  Leaders get up – It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, a Leader always gets back up

    12)   Leaders own their mistakes – When you screw up - and you will - admit it, apologize, learn from it and move on; don’t make excuses and don’t blame others.  Great leaders will own their peoples mistakes too. 

    

       13)   Leaders communicate clearly – Leaders don’t make their people guess, they communicate directly and clearly.

       14)   Leaders hold themselves, and their people, accountable – You cannot break the rules, and you cannot allow your people too either – even little ones; small infractions, when ignored, become big infractions

      15)   Leaders read and study – You have to continue to improve yourself, nobody is an expert and nobody knows everything

      16)   Leaders are bold and creative – You cannot lead if you do things the same way everyone else does; you need to find creative paths and be bold enough to take risks

      17)   Leaders have moral courage – Physical courage is easy; moral courage is hard – leaders have to do the right thing all the time; if you don’t, your reputation is ruined.

      18)   Leaders treat their people fairly – Fairly does not mean equally, it means fairly – sometimes your best people deserve to be treated differently, sometimes your poor performers need a boost – the leader needs to understand the pulse of the situation and know what everyone would consider “fair.”

      19)   A Leader’s attitude is contagious – If you want a happy team, be happy; if you want an unhappy team, be unhappy.  Your people will model your attitude – so, when the going is tough, smile.

      20)   How a Leader reacts to a problem is more important than the problem – no matter how big a problem is, a leader’s reaction to the problem is bigger; if you act like the sky is falling, so will everyone else; stay calm cool and collected, and so will everyone else. 

And, a bonus rule that was really learned over twenty years – pace yourself, leadership is a marathon, not a 100m dash.

I am not a perfect leader, and I still have a lot to learn, but these lessons have been reinforced again and again over the years and will serve any new or aspiring leader as a checklist. 

So tell me, what's on your list?