Leading Effectively Podcast
General Honoré: Leaders Needed
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Lieutenant General Russel Honoré has learned his lessons in leadership over a 35-year career in the U.S. Army. But his insights are relevant to leaders in every sector.
Speaking at the Center for Creative Leadership's "Lessons of Leadership" forum, Gen. Honoré energized and inspired the audience with stories, humor, and a good dose of straight talk. Here are some of his tips for effective leadership:
Tip number one - You have to see first, understand first, and act first. 9/11 happened and our nation changed, he said. Would 9/11 have happened if we had been better prepared, based on this principle?
The General's second leadership tip - Invest yourself in your subordinates' success. A commander must be personally invested in even the newest, youngest people. Gen. Honoré explained that even the most junior officers are in charge of precious assets. Regardless of how good you are at the top, you need leaders at the bottom.
His third piece of advice - Listen. It takes discipline to listen, especially to bad news. Honoré said that as we get older, we have a tendency to answer our own questions. Instead of asking a soldier how the food is, for example, it's easier to merely say to them, "Chow good, huh?" Or when greeting your kids after school, it's tempting to say: "Had a good day, huh?" By pre-empting the answers, you risk missing out on critical feedback.
Tip number four - Take responsibility for the good, the bad and the ugly. Whether it's a story on national news, or a less visible problem, a leader is responsible. Don't place the blame on "them." A leader has to be able to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out" and "We screwed this up ... I failed to monitor this." Have the courage to change.
Tip number five - Be a good leader outside of work. According to Honoré, the toughest challenges of leadership will be at home. You can be seen as a great leader at work, but what kind of leadership do you show with your spouse? Or your kids? At home, it's about collaboration, Gen. Honoré explained. Your behavior at home sets the tone. What messages are you sending around your dinner table?
And the general's last tip: Invest in the youth of your community. As Gen. Honoré put it, "If you want to know how good you are as a leader, get out of your comfort zone. Go work with youth-go where you have the least expectation of making a difference."
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