Army Lessons in Leadership

As the US army's touchstone for leadership, The U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual stresses ethics, high moral character and the honourable refusal to obey unlawful orders. American army training repeatedly emphasises moral leadership, character and integrity, as seen in this primary field manual of leadership, which is used by soldiers and officers everywhere. Read the principles that helped shape such leaders such as Marshall, Eisenhower, Schwarzkopf and Powell. You can employ many of their lessons of moral courage and determination in the corporate boardroom.

What does the Army teach that enables it to create effective, inspirational leaders?

Character Comes First

The key attribute for command in the U. S. Army is character. In other walks of like, what you know or do might be the foundation of your promotion - not in the Army. Army leadership begins with the leader's innermost character, the internal strength that enables him or her to do the right thing regardless of adversity. The Army motto describes this as "Be, Know and Do." Being a person of high character comes first.

Character is who you are. The core of who you really are doesn't change. It's the same when you're speaking to a group or when you are by yourself, when all eyes are on you or when you think nobody is watching. 

Character helps you know what is right and wrong, and follow right over wrong consistently. Army leaders must reflect the highest standards of character, and they must instill those principles in others.

The Army describes the essence of leadership in terms of the moral values of its leaders, which are: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honour, integrity and personal courage.

Army Lessons in Leadership