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: ENDURANCE

Made it - 14 Leadership Traits, that's Endurance!

Endurance is our 14^th and final Marine Corps Leadership Trait.  It is appropriate that Endurance be the last of a string of 14 traits – it takes a little bit of Endurance to stay the course in this analysis.  More importantly, Endurance impacts all of the other traits – you have to have the staying power to exhibit the other 13 traits day after day after day. 

            We all know what Endurance is, but how to we define it?  I love the Marine Corps definition of Endurance: The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.  That sentence almost completely captures the essence of being a Marine – the ability to withstand ______ (fill-in the blank.) 

Just kidding - it's a party!

          Now, there are not too many jobs out there that are going to require you to “withstand pain” and other physical hardships, but all Leaders still need Endurance – mental endurance.  Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint.  You do not show up and “lead” in a day.  It takes hard work day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.  Leadership is best measured by how you finish, not how you start. 

            In this regard, Endurance, will vital, is an often overlooked aspect of Leadership.  Great Leaders – just like great athletes need Endurance to achieve lofty goals and to change their organizations.  How many of us have seen a good, maybe even great Leader jump in and tackle a problem like the Tasmanian Devil, only to peter out and grind to a halt?  It is difficult to overcome institutional inertia – as they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”  If you do not have the fortitude and Endurance to keep plugging away, your initiatives will likely fall flat. 

            Endurance is what separates the truly successful Leaders from the short-term successes. Leaders with the ability to see their teams through the difficult times are the ones that grow the most.  Endurance allows growth and provides a strengthened resolve to get you through the hard times. 

            We all know how to build physical endurance – such as lacing up the running shoes and hit the pavement – but how about mental endurance? 

Turns out, you can build your mental stamina and toughness as well. 

Click through for some methods to make yourself mentally tougher.