| I was sixteen years old when I decided that if I | | | | beer and home movies. They included movies of |
| went to college right after high school, I'd probably | | | | graduation ceremonies for the platoons that he'd |
| party too much and study too little. My plan was: go | | | | trained. |
| into the armed forces; grow up a little; and make | | | | There on the screen we saw them, marching in |
| some money for college. | | | | perfect unison. That was like every graduating |
| That's how I found myself standing in the Marine | | | | platoon. But everybody he'd trained walked just like |
| Corps Recruiting Office. It wasn't much, just a tiny | | | | the Gunny did, ninety of them at a time swinging |
| space, not nearly as fancy as the offices of the | | | | their right legs in a half circle. |
| Army, Navy, and Air Force. The entire space was | | | | If you're a leader, your people will watch what you |
| almost filled by a man with razor-sharp creases in his | | | | do. And they'll follow your example. You do great |
| shirt and the shortest haircut I'd ever seen. | | | | work and so will they. You cut corners and so will |
| He was looking down at his desk and writing on a | | | | they. Part of your job is to set a good example, one |
| form when I came in. I described in detail the | | | | that you want your people to follow. |
| educational, job training and assignment offers all the | | | | A good example is important, but it isn't enough. You |
| other services had made. Then I asked, "What will | | | | also have to tell people what you want. The way |
| the Marine Corps offer me?" | | | | one older sergeant put it to me: "You either tell |
| The Marine looked up for a second, his expression | | | | them, or they'll guess and you just might get a bad |
| serious. "Four years of hell. A haircut every week. | | | | surprise." So part of your job is learning to give clear |
| And a rifle." I chose the Marines. | | | | directions, but not too many of them. |
| I chose the Marines because it was a challenge. Most | | | | The Marines are famous for the "mission order." A |
| people like to be challenged. Give them something | | | | mission order is defined as "an order to a unit to |
| that stretches them and they'll rise to the occasion. | | | | perform a mission without specifying how it is to be |
| Treat them like they're lazy and incompetent and | | | | accomplished." Let them decide how to do it. |
| that's what you'll get. | | | | Of course that only works if you've got engaged |
| The US Marine Corps is the world's largest elite | | | | people who know how to accomplish the mission. So |
| fighting force. Marines do great things. But the Marine | | | | another part of your job as a leader is to develop |
| Corps isn't great because it chooses the top | | | | your people. |
| candidates. The Marines pick from the same pool as | | | | When I was preparing for my first promotion board I |
| the other services. Instead, Marines do great things | | | | learned that Marine leaders are expected to do two |
| because they're Marines and great things are | | | | jobs. They are expected to accomplish the mission. |
| expected of them. | | | | And they are expected to care for their people. |
| Challenge your people and they'll do great things. | | | | Caring for your people means keeping them safe. It |
| That's the first of many lessons I learned in the | | | | means making sure they have the resources they |
| Marines. Here are some others. | | | | need to do their jobs. And it means helping them |
| I learned that people emulate their leaders. | | | | develop to become the best they can be. |
| Sometimes that happens in funny ways. | | | | You do some of that with formal training, but you do |
| When I was in language school, one of my | | | | most if it with day to day contact, counsel, |
| classmates was a Gunnery Sergeant (we called him | | | | correction and encouragement. You do some of that |
| "Gunny") who had been a Drill Instructor. He'd also | | | | with positive consequences that encourage people to |
| been in the Korean War and a wound from that time | | | | continue good practices and try new things. And you |
| caused him to walk with an odd gait where he swung | | | | do some with negative consequences that encourage |
| his right leg out in a half circle with every step. | | | | people to abandon behavior you don't want. |
| One night Gunny invited us over to his quarters for | | | | |