Comments on: The Air Force Officer’s Guide: Leadership and Unselfishness http://www.schaefersblog.com/the-air-force-officers-guide-leadership-and-unselfishness/ A Generalist in a World of Specialists Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:27:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: J.D. Meier http://www.schaefersblog.com/the-air-force-officers-guide-leadership-and-unselfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-9663 J.D. Meier Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:11:34 +0000 http://www.schaefersblog.com/?p=391#comment-9663 It's like opening a tomb of unearthed arcana. It sounds like the guide is full of practical nuggets for improving effectiveness. I know there's been significant learnings in leadership since the 50's. What stands out for you as key deltas between then and now in terms of leadership training? What do you think should continue to carry forward? It’s like opening a tomb of unearthed arcana.

It sounds like the guide is full of practical nuggets for improving effectiveness.

I know there’s been significant learnings in leadership since the 50′s. What stands out for you as key deltas between then and now in terms of leadership training? What do you think should continue to carry forward?

]]> By: Justin Steinhart http://www.schaefersblog.com/the-air-force-officers-guide-leadership-and-unselfishness/comment-page-1/#comment-9639 Justin Steinhart Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:05:38 +0000 http://www.schaefersblog.com/?p=391#comment-9639 I love the last few lines on leadership that expresses one of the ultimate truthes on leadership. No person (I love that back in the 50's they were trying to be pc) can rise so high as to not be responsible to another. What's interesting is that as you pointed out in your post on the Art of Manliness, pride is a killer. For most it seems that as they rise in an organization, those that are not humble begin to slowly but surely start to use their power to control and manipulate people. We've all heard those one-liners like, "Well I'm so and so and I'm making the decision." In essence they are saying it's my way or the highway so get out of my way. We need a return of humility and accountability at every level of society, and particularly in leadership. Of late, the one example that comes to mind is how did so many companies make poor financial decisions? The easiest answer is a lack of leadership...at the end of the day a leader has no-one to blame but himself. They cannot blame a presidency, an economy, terrorist attacks, or a weak dollar, that's like saying, "I ran out of gas because I was listening to the Jonas Brothers on the radio." My band director had a sign above his podium that read, "A lack of planning on your part, does not necessitate an emergency on mine." Leaders to need to acknowledge that an abuse of power shows a blatant disregard for dignity. They need to be better prepared and like the expert said to plan. Lastly pairing leadership with unselfishness is like pairing wine and cheese, it's a great combination. Unselfishness means that as you rise in leadership, you don't start to use your power to control, but to enable and promote others. Ultimately an Officer will never be successful unless he is a gentleman as well. Take that Richard Gere. I love the last few lines on leadership that expresses one of the ultimate truthes on leadership. No person (I love that back in the 50′s they were trying to be pc) can rise so high as to not be responsible to another. What’s interesting is that as you pointed out in your post on the Art of Manliness, pride is a killer.

For most it seems that as they rise in an organization, those that are not humble begin to slowly but surely start to use their power to control and manipulate people. We’ve all heard those one-liners like, “Well I’m so and so and I’m making the decision.” In essence they are saying it’s my way or the highway so get out of my way. We need a return of humility and accountability at every level of society, and particularly in leadership. Of late, the one example that comes to mind is how did so many companies make poor financial decisions? The easiest answer is a lack of leadership…at the end of the day a leader has no-one to blame but himself. They cannot blame a presidency, an economy, terrorist attacks, or a weak dollar, that’s like saying, “I ran out of gas because I was listening to the Jonas Brothers on the radio.”

My band director had a sign above his podium that read, “A lack of planning on your part, does not necessitate an emergency on mine.” Leaders to need to acknowledge that an abuse of power shows a blatant disregard for dignity. They need to be better prepared and like the expert said to plan.

Lastly pairing leadership with unselfishness is like pairing wine and cheese, it’s a great combination. Unselfishness means that as you rise in leadership, you don’t start to use your power to control, but to enable and promote others. Ultimately an Officer will never be successful unless he is a gentleman as well. Take that Richard Gere.

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