Marine Corps Leadership Theory of "Balanced Excellence"
Several years ago I was called in the Colonel's office with three other officers. The Colonel wanted to talk to us about leadership. More specifically he wanted to talk with us about leadership while in Command of Marines. Among the many topics he went over that day was his Leadership Theory of Balanced Excellence. He believed that balance across all organizational levels was more important than perfection in almost all areas and failure in one.
"Any task done to less than perfection is a hard concept for good leader to comprehend, for any Marine this is especially true"
What I found interesting, and later as a commander to be true, is that the theory forces a commander to consider less than perfection in some areas. Why would any Marine not want to strive for perfection? A leader may have to accept less than perfection in a certain area in order to focus increased effort on a weak area or areas.
"A Marine Leader may have to accept less than perfection in a certain area in order to focus increased effort on a weak area or areas"
Why Balanced Excellence? There is so much more for Marines to accomplish, and less time to do it, than there was 10, 5 or even 2 years ago. Lack of time and the increased requirements placed on leaders at all levels have increased the pressure for Marines to get it right the first time. Getting it right used to be 100%, today it may be 85% or less.
Lack of time decreases the tolerance for mistakes. Remediation has become difficult, if not impossible, as Commander's have no time for "Do-overs". If you don't have the time to correct a problem, you'd better get it right the first time. In the old days, Marines could find time in the training schedule to fix mistakes. Try changing a training schedule today and you'll probably create more problems and fall behind in other areas.
What is Balanced Excellence? Take five areas that any leader may be responsible for in his organization. Administration, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics and Plans. (This can easily be applied to units or subunits as well). As is the case with most organizations, some areas are probably in better condition than others. The unit goal is perfection (A+s) in each area.
All of the above areas, except one, are outstanding (As). Logistics has been average (C) and shows signs of declining further. No additional time or resources (sound familiar) are available to help correct the problem. The unit is out of balance and is in danger of failing its mission because of this one area. Even though the organization is outstanding in all other areas, failure in one area may cause the unit to fail as a whole.
The Theory of Balanced Excellence is applicable to the above situation. The commander risks organizational failure if he doesn't make some hard decisions in order to balance the entire organization. Re-directing resources from his outstanding areas may be the best solution to prevent a failure. The leader makes a conscientious decision to accept less than perfection (B's or even C's) in one, or more, of his outstanding areas in order to prevent logistics from failing and bring it in balance. The commander has deliberately taken resources from a strength in order to prevent a failure, and make a weak area stronger.
Leaders must be careful not to play to their strengths. A leader with a strong background in Operations will have a natural tendency to focus on what he knows and is good at.
"If you concrentrate your resources and efforts (personnel, money and time) to be perfect in one area/function, you risk being non-mission capable in one or more other areas/functions"
In today's fast paced environment a good Marine leader must know when to take a "B" or even a "C" in a certain area so that his unit remains proficient in all areas and can succeed in accomplishing it's mission. If you concrentrate your resources and efforts (personnel, money and time) to be perfect in one area/function, you risk being non-mission capable in one or more other areas/functions.
Categories: Decison Making,Leadership Resources,General Leadership,Command
Tags: USMC Fundamentals of leadership
Another outstanding post!! All Marines should read this for leadership 101...
thanks again for taking the time to write this brother,
s/f
Taco
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