Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Leadership Lessons

Do you want to become a great leader? One of the most important ingredients of a great leader is action, according to Bill Bayer, owner of St. Louis-based Compound Capital LLC and speaker on leadership.
When it comes to leadership, would-be leaders can learn the importance of action from Norman Schwarzkopf. During his first tour of duty in Vietnam, a green Schwarzkopf jumped off a helicopter and prepared to lead his first group of soldiers into combat. He asked one of his leaders for advice.
“Sir, do you have any advice for me?” Schwarzkopf said. “Lieutenant, I know you don’t know what you’re doing. But don’t let them know that. If you do, they’ll die. Lead them somewhere, and they will follow. And most of them will live.”