Four-star general Anthony Zinni and author of Leading the Charge: Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield to the Boardroom. As we reflect the Memorial Day weekend upon the contributions of veterans and those who have served the country, let’s consider Zinni’s reflections from the battlefield useful for all leaders.
In Leading the Charge, Zinni identifies eleven “must-have” elements for leaders today. For instance, he alludes to the essentials for any leader including vision, sound communication, ethical behavior, and a solid understanding of the inner working of an organization. Specifically, Zinni points out that a leader can only be an effective leader with a clear understanding of the impact of decisions that affect the organization throughout. In this way, leaders can be prepared for any potentially negative consequences from decisions made.
Also, Zinni points out that “leadership today must fuse individual character, ability to lead, and the performance of the organization.” In short, a telling indicator about a leader’s overall performance is the result evident by performance of his or her team. How can a leader be examined for their overall contributions? How can a team be evaluated for their performance? It all comes down to the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of any leader.
Furthermore, Zinni mentions that good leaders should be inherently familiar with the environment that they govern. In other words, eaders know their employees, competition, client needs, and compliance requirements. They step beyond their office confines to interact with staff. Going a step further, they take time to connect and get better acquainted with those they serve.
With insight from Zinni and his experiences on the battlefield, corporate and public sectors can greatly benefit. Taking the wisdom and “must have” leadership traits to another level will create more memorable leaders for years to come.
