Leadership’s Tough Love Approach

By

Dr. Alfred M. Coke

Leaders must be tough because:

Leadership is not a popularity contest. It is not about the most favored person being elected the captain of the company as common in the American Civil War. Popularly elected leadership soon breaks down when faced with unpleasant and equally unpopular tasks. Leaders often must put followers in harms way and that is difficult. Pirate captains were often elected then held power with a sword.

Leadership is an awesome responsibility.  It should not be taken lightly by those looking to make their mark in an organization. If you choose a leadership career path then understand that the burden of responsibility rests entirely on your shoulders. You will be responsible for the fortunes, careers, and the lives of others. Infantry Platoon Leaders are very aware of this when they assume command of a unit. A revered military axiom states, ‘The commander is responsible for everything his or her unit does or fails to do’. No excuses – ever.

US Navy Commander Scott D. Waddle understood this principle to its fullest extent. His submarine crew broke procedures and surfaced too quickly. Nine Japanese sailors died as a result. The Commander was cleared of all charges yet he followed the long time military code by resigning his commission. His reasoning was that he was the commander and therefore responsible. It was the honorable thing to do.

Leadership is doing the right thing even when it is an unpopular decision. An incident occurred in Viet Nam when a company commander ordered his troops to move out of an area by taking a road. The troops came close to a mutiny claiming the untested commander would get them killed. What the troops didn’t appreciate was the power of a B-52 strike that was scheduled to drop while they were still in the target box. Walk the road and chance an ambush or hack through the jungle with a higher chance of being killed by your own bombs. The young commander was correct in taking the calculated risk.

Leadership is a solo position. It is lonely it is at the top and that cannot be shared. What venue does a leader have to vent frustrations, talk thru situations, or seek peer support? I witnessed this first hand as the senior Aide-de-Camp to the Army’s most decorated general officer. My Lieutenant General commanded both US and Korean troops as I Corps Commander. That assignment came with a huge responsibility for combat readiness against an aggressive North Korean Army. Coordinating the differences in two military cultures was a task of significant magnitude. He also played in the political area with both the American and Korean Presidents while keeping his own military bosses happy. The pressures were enormous!

In Summary

Leadership is not a freebie. It is a tough position requiring the patience of a saint, the judgment of a sage, and the moral fiber of tempered steel. Are you ready for the position?