The title might push some people away. Don’t let it. Invest 3 minutes, and if you aren’t interested after 3 minutes, then shut it down. Fair enough?
Military Leadership for Local Government
James Mattis, newly appointed United States Secretary of Defense, issued Command Guidance when he took over as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Division in 2002. That guidance includes 15 inspirational leadership lessons (they are Here if you’re interested in reading in detail). I am going to borrow a few of the new SECDEF’s points, because good military leadership principles are good local government leadership principles. Cowardly leaders hopefully will read and take notes.
Leadership is Leadership
Command Guidance: Everyone fills sandbags in this outfit.
How does that apply to local government?
Because no one is too good, or important, or pretty, to do the hard, dirty, unpleasant work that has to be done. In fact, officers were expected to roll up their sleeves and, simply put, lead by example.
Simon Sinek in his 2014 TED Talk ( You can watch the entire talk HERE if you wish, just be sure and hit the back button once you watch, or you will exit out of this) says, “Leadership is a choice, not a rank.”
I can’t conceive of a Marine captain telling his company: “That’s not my job,” but I’m pretty certain it wouldn’t happen more than once.
Cowardly leaders who inflate their self-importance by insisting we call them by their title, i.e., their rank, aren’t leaders- they are pretenders. Leadership is not a rank. Should we citizens expect anything less from people in charge of the organizations where we live, than Marines do of their commanders?
Command Guidance: There are only two types of people on the battlefield: The Hunters and the Hunted.
Obviously, in a Marine division, this isn’t just important advice, it can be the difference in life or death. It is what any Marine wants and needs to hear.
How does that apply to local government? Here is how:
People Want Leaders to Take Action
Whether in business, or at home, or at school with your child’s principal, or in dealing with elected officials, people want leaders who are courageous, who stand up and say we will take the initiative, will be out front, will be in charge. “You want me on that wall-you need me on that wall” is a little melodramatic, but you get the idea. The only other option is cowardly leadership: Not taking initiative, doing what is easy, taking a poll, testing the water, following subordinates rather than being in front of them. (WATCH)
Marines-all military members, really- want and expect to be led, but I strongly believe everyone wants and expects their leadership to have a hunter mentality, not a hunted mentality.
Command Guidance: The two qualities I look for are initiative and aggressiveness, knowing that they lead to speed and focus, which generates combat power.
How does that apply to local government?
I am confident that initiative and aggressiveness leads to any kind of power. And success. When I think of cowardly leadership, I think of:
Initiative and aggressiveness.
Just kidding. I think of the opposite-Procrastination. Excuses. Submissiveness.
And finally, for now
Command Guidance: The number one authority you have as a leader is your moral authority
Marines expect to see their leaders at the front sharing hardship and tough times. Don’t we all expect courageous, true leaders in any local governmental position to do the same? To lead from the front? We voted for you (or someone with authority put you in an important position). Either way, you’re the guy/gal. We don’t want someone different out there (unless you’re a cowardly leader- then we do).
We don’t want someone additional out there, either.
Go back to that Marine Captain. He’s been appointed or promoted to company commander of 100 or more men. He walks into General Mattis’ office and says: “Sir, I need an additional company commander here to help me out.” If you were General Mattis, what would you do?
By the very definition of the word, to lead is to be out front, make the decision, make the call, and move the organization- whatever kind it is, to where it should go.
Cowardly leaders who can’t, or won’t, lead, should then do what any honorable Marine would do. Step aside and let a leader lead.
II-8
