I spoke last Tuesday to the Associates of the Asper School of Business in Winnipeg. As I was preparing for the speech I came up with a list of over 20 key lessons I learned about leadership, strategy, planning, and discipline during my military and consulting careers. Some of these lessons I had to learn at considerable cost to myself, so they’re “from the heart.”
I ended up speaking about other topics, but I think the list is still a good starting point for thinking and discussion. Here are the first 10 on my list, with more to follow next week.
- Leadership isn’t just about inspiration and charisma. You also need to be a good manager.
- The true secret of leadership is to be respected, not loved.
- Never plan for perfection, always assume that something will go wrong.
- Admit when you’re wrong or you’ve made a mistake.
- Trust the training and education you’ve received.
- Lead by example, especially in matters of ethics and integrity.
- Never burn your bridges. Always keep a way out of a situation, for yourself and others.
- First information is always wrong.
- Don’t overreact.
- Trust you’re intuition and gut, especially if it’s well educated and experienced.
Richard Martin is a consultant, speaker, and executive coach. He brings his military and business leadership and management experience to bear for executives and organizations seeking to exploit change, maximize opportunity, and minimize risk.
© 2014 Richard Martin. Reproduction and quotes are permitted with proper attribution.