Leadership 101

Observing the leadership qualities of our present and future political leaders causes me to reflect on what I learned in the USMC almost 40 years ago(!). Three principles stand out:

You can't lead from the rear. A leader has to be out front, so he can set the direction for the rest of the troops. In Vietnam, a platoon commander generally was in about the third position when on patrol, out of a platoon of up to 30. Otherwise, he couldn't see the terrain and decide which way to go. So too in setting policy.

Plan the work and work the plan. Sometimes stated as: a simple plan, well executed, is superior to a more complex plan that is poorly executed. Remember the panic surrounding TARP ("troubled asset relief program") in mid-September? We had to enact a $700 million program over the weekend or the country would not survive. Where are we now? Three months later we have spent half the money, have no idea where it was spent or how effective it has been, and not bought a single "troubled asset". No planning, poor execution.

Empower the troops. Leaders set the direction, recruit the best people, empower them to accomplish their mission, and hold them accountable. Enough said.