Look at things from a different angle
Have you ever noticed that really outstanding leaders have a knack for it? They seem to have a sixth sense and automatically know the right thing to do, the right thing to say and the right time to do or say it.
These great leaders are able to see around corners. They can anticipate the positive consequences of their actions, sometimes months away, and make small decisions that have lasting impact on their units. The great leaders get it right almost all of the time.
The Marine Corps has proven that individuals can be taught to be good and effective leaders. Some turn into great leaders, but for the most part the Marine Corps produces really good leaders. How could the Marine Corps produce more great leaders?
Lets say that the difference between good and great leadership is the knack, that sixth sense that gives a great leader the ability to anticipate well into the future. How then, does someone learn that sixth sense for leadership?
Hopefully you're still with me. I believe the sixth sense for leadership can be learned and that is boils down to learning how to look at everything involved with leadership and problem solving from a different angle.
Malcolm Gladwell is someone who looks at things from different angles and has written extensively on subjects that can benefit any leader. In his books Blink
, The Tipping Point
and the Outliers
he examines topics from an angle so different that it really makes you think. He uses examples in his books that Marines can easily relate and translate into their Marine Corps experiences.
After reading his books several times I've become a big fan of Gladwell and believe they have a lot to offer Marine Corps leaders. He takes a different approach in analyzing his topics. Gladwell has the ability to look at problems from a different angle. Marine leaders can learn much from his books and perhaps even more from the method he uses to approach his topics. Read between the lines in his books and learn to look at things from different angles.
Blink is about something Marines do everyday, making decisions. Gladwell examines why some people make inherently good decisions while others make inherently bad decisions. By looking at decision making from a different angle, Gladwell offers a window on how we can teach ourselves and our subordinates to make better decisions.
The Tipping Point is about making effective change. Gladwell uses specific examples to illustrate that we can make effective and lasting change through minimum use of resources and/or disruption. It isn't always about adding more people or money to a solve problem, it is about finding the critical vulnerability, or Tipping point. Find the one or two dominoes that will knock the others down and you've solved your problem forever.
Outliers is about training to be the best. Again Gladwell looks at this issue from a different angle. Gladwell disproves the overnight success story. One becomes the very best in his field through training and practice. 10,000 hours of training according to Gladwell. You may not be able to get 10,000 hours of training, but the more you can put yourself in a position to lead and make decisions, the better you and you're Marines will become. Put yourself and your Marines in a position to make decisions and see what happens.
I've attached a couple of videos of Gladwell speaking about his books. Granted he isn't the typical person a Marine might gravitate to, but get over that and listen to what he has to say. It might be worth your while.
These great leaders are able to see around corners. They can anticipate the positive consequences of their actions, sometimes months away, and make small decisions that have lasting impact on their units. The great leaders get it right almost all of the time.
The Marine Corps has proven that individuals can be taught to be good and effective leaders. Some turn into great leaders, but for the most part the Marine Corps produces really good leaders. How could the Marine Corps produce more great leaders?
Lets say that the difference between good and great leadership is the knack, that sixth sense that gives a great leader the ability to anticipate well into the future. How then, does someone learn that sixth sense for leadership?
Hopefully you're still with me. I believe the sixth sense for leadership can be learned and that is boils down to learning how to look at everything involved with leadership and problem solving from a different angle.
Malcolm Gladwell is someone who looks at things from different angles and has written extensively on subjects that can benefit any leader. In his books Blink
, The Tipping Point and the Outliers he examines topics from an angle so different that it really makes you think. He uses examples in his books that Marines can easily relate and translate into their Marine Corps experiences.After reading his books several times I've become a big fan of Gladwell and believe they have a lot to offer Marine Corps leaders. He takes a different approach in analyzing his topics. Gladwell has the ability to look at problems from a different angle. Marine leaders can learn much from his books and perhaps even more from the method he uses to approach his topics. Read between the lines in his books and learn to look at things from different angles.
Blink
is about something Marines do everyday, making decisions. Gladwell examines why some people make inherently good decisions while others make inherently bad decisions. By looking at decision making from a different angle, Gladwell offers a window on how we can teach ourselves and our subordinates to make better decisions. The Tipping Point
is about making effective change. Gladwell uses specific examples to illustrate that we can make effective and lasting change through minimum use of resources and/or disruption. It isn't always about adding more people or money to a solve problem, it is about finding the critical vulnerability, or Tipping point. Find the one or two dominoes that will knock the others down and you've solved your problem forever.Outliers
is about training to be the best. Again Gladwell looks at this issue from a different angle. Gladwell disproves the overnight success story. One becomes the very best in his field through training and practice. 10,000 hours of training according to Gladwell. You may not be able to get 10,000 hours of training, but the more you can put yourself in a position to lead and make decisions, the better you and you're Marines will become. Put yourself and your Marines in a position to make decisions and see what happens.I've attached a couple of videos of Gladwell speaking about his books. Granted he isn't the typical person a Marine might gravitate to, but get over that and listen to what he has to say. It might be worth your while.
Posted by Leading Marines.com at 1/27/2010 9:11 PM 
Categories: General Leadership
Tags: leadership video Leadership Books leadership tips
Categories: General Leadership
Tags: leadership video Leadership Books leadership tips
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