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A special Veterans Day tribute to the best leader I know

I looked over at my dad to check on him and noticed he was crying. It is not often that my father is moved to tears. He usually does not cry on veterans day. My dad, we call him Opa, is one of the toughest people I know, and he has a big heart. He cries when family members pass away. He almost cried when the Nationals won the world series. I have to confess that I was close to tears as well. What a great day.

Opa in front of the WWII memorial in Washington DC.

Veteran’s Day 2017 was a special one

My brother and I had the privilege of escorting my dad to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. Opa participated in a ceremony with his 1956 West Point classmates. Each year those who are still here gather at the wall to honor one of their classmates who perished during the war. They read the names of the fallen, share the story of one in detail, and then walk down to where the name of that person is etched on the wall to place a wreath.

My father in front of the Vietnam War memorial.

Family members of the fallen participate

It is a simple ceremony – nothing fancy. No long speeches, no politicians, no fanfare. Just a small group of veterans honoring one of their own. It was one of the most powerful Veteran’s Day events I have ever witnessed. I can understand why my dad cried during the ceremony. I teared up more than once while there. Below are some pictures from that special day.

Kicking off the informal ceremony for the USMA class of 1956.

Visiting the wall is difficult for many veterans like my dad

I am really glad that Opa was brave and decided to participate in the ceremony. He usually does not. My dad is a Vietnam veteran. He served three tough tours there. He lost a lot of friends in the war. Visiting the wall is a draining event for him. It is an emotional one. The wall reminds him of the war, battles fought, lives lost, and the complicated aftermath.

My brother and Dad read names on the wall.

Many veterans thrived after Vietnam

Fortunately, my father was able to return to the states and live a healthy and productive life after the war. My brother and I are the direct beneficiaries of my dad’s ability to put the war behind him and fulfill the American dream – to provide for your children so that they have an even better life than the one you lived. I have the same dream for my sons and will do all that I can to make that happen. I want them to have a better life than mine. The reason veterans fight is for a better tomorrow.

Several of my dad’s classmates went on to be generals.

Veteran’s Day is for telling stories

My dad is a generous person, and always willing to help others in need. I have experienced this first hand as his son and witnessed it as he interacts with others. I saw another example of it during this ceremony. After we walked down to the wall Opa called over one of the family members who attended. He was the grown son of a fallen classmate. He is probably my age, or maybe even a little bit older. My dad let this family member know that he was good friends with his father many years ago. Opa shared a funny story that the man had never heard before.

Veteran’s catching up and telling stories.

Veteran’s know stories that family members need to hear

Dad proceeded to tell this son of his fallen classmate about his father. What his dad was like as a man. How he was a strong, smart, and brave soldier. Opa thought the world of his classmate and was very sad when he learned about the untimely death of his good friend. My father was emotional – his eyes welled up with tears. Fond memories mixed with painful blasts from the past. It was a difficult thing for my dad to do, but he did it anyway. Opa gave this man a special gift that morning. The gift of knowing that his own dad was a great man. Afterward, the man thanked Opa for his service, and more importantly for letting him know about his father.

Opa talking to son of fallen classmate — Opa telling a story to the son of a fallen classmate – the gift of memories.

Thank you to all veterans

It is impossible to calculate the toll war takes on a nation, especially its veterans. So it is important that we honor those who have served. The brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. They deserve our respect and gratitude. My father is from a generation that fought an unpopular war, in an unknown part of the world, for reasons that are still somewhat of a mystery to this day. It was tough, but he and his generation did their part.

From this day to the end of time, without our being remembered: we few, we happy few, we band of brothers—for whoever sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother. However humble his birth, this day shall grant him nobility.
Henry V by William Shakespeare

Today’s veterans deserve our thanks

Nowadays our country remains entangled in a long war that has cost our nation dearly. Today’s veterans face many of the same challenges that my dad and his classmates did many years ago. One day many years from now they too will gather together and talk about the wars they fought. As for you – do your part. If you see any veterans – thank them for their service. They deserve it, just like my dad.

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I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!

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Building trust with followers is what strong leaders do

Take a moment right now and think about a strong leader you know. Someone you truly enjoyed working for. Ask yourself a simple question about this leader. Do you trust her? I bet the answer is yes. Now think about a weak leader you know well. Someone you did not enjoy following. Ask yourself the same question. Do you trust him? Your answer probably changed to no. In fact, your answer may be hell no! It is difficult to follow someone you do not trust.

What trust score would your team give you as a leader?

The three hard truths about your personal integrity

All The Way Leadership! believes that integrity is a non-negotiable attribute for leaders. Simply put – if you do not demonstrate integrity your team will not trust you, and you are dead in the water as a leader. In a previous post, I advised that you never forget these three hard truths about your integrity

Your team is watching your every move – what will you do to build their trust?

A novel framework for new leaders

All The Way Leadership! created a novel framework for new leaders. Fundamentally this framework communicates that it is vital for you to possess integrated integrity as a new leader. Having individual integrated integrity means that ‘who you are’ aligns with ‘what you say’ and ‘what you do’. If you do not demonstrate individual integrated integrity your team will not trust you, and your impact as a leader will be limited.

All The Way Leadership! Individual Integrated Integrity Framework. ©2019

A constant leadership challenge

Building trust is a constant leadership challenge that requires attention. Strong leaders invest their energy into building trust with their followers. They do it in small ways like starting and ending meetings on time. And in big ways like providing top cover for their team members when things go wrong. No one ever enjoys being thrown under the bus, especially by their leader. Don’t be that kind of leader.

Most people are willing to follow leaders they trust

After spending decades in leadership positions you start to notice certain patterns. One that is readily apparent is that most people are willing to follow leaders they trust. The follower may not completely agree with every decision the leader makes, but they are willing to give a trusted leader the benefit of the doubt in many situations. It makes common sense. Team members trust that their leader is making decisions for the good of the team, and are willing to follow.

A trusted leader can take a team to new heights.

The opposite trend is also true

Let’s look at the opposite scenario. All The Way Leadership! believes that most people are not willing to follow a leader they do not trust. Why would they? Once again it makes sense that most followers would be skeptical of any leader they do not trust. After all – what if the leader is not competent. He does not know what he is doing. Sure – a team may follow because they have to, but they certainly are not going to put in any extra effort. Instead, they are going to think about what to do when disaster strikes.

Avoid making your team feel like they are walking on a tightrope.

It is difficult to truly trust someone you don’t know

Another dimension of trust is familiarity. How well does your team know you? Do they know about your expertise as a leader? Your experience? Your strengths and weaknesses? It seems like a lot for them to know. The reason to raise this point is that it is difficult to truly trust someone who you don’t really know. Think about it in your own life. How many people do you trust that you don’t really know? I bet the number is low.

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
William Shakespeare, All’s Well that Ends Well

Context counts when it comes to trust

Sure – there are people you will trust without knowing them. In some cases, you never get the chance to learn about someone before you have to trust them. For example, you will trust the airline pilot on your next flight. You trust that she is competent at flying the plane and getting you to your destination safely. No – you will not have an opportunity to interview the pilot before your flight takes off. That situation is different than what is being described here. Your team will get the opportunity to evaluate you as the leader. They will decide whether or not to trust you.

How will others get to know you?

It is important that your team members get a chance to know you. No – they do not need to know the intimate details of your life. That would be strange. Rather they need to understand who you are. Your personality, your leadership style, and your pet peeves at a minimum. Each of us is different with a unique set of skills and experiences. Spend time with your team so that you can gain their trust. Remember trust is not a one-time transaction. Strong leaders understand the importance of building trust with their followers over time. Weak leaders ignore their team members and pay the price. Don’t fall into this trap. It is hard to fix later.

This equation is an excellent way to think about building trust.

What about you?

Are you building trust with your followers? Do you spend time with them so that they get a chance to know who you are? More importantly, do you know who you are…really? If not, then you have work to do. Don’t worry – All The Way Leadership! is here. The next blog post will focus on a commonly known tool to help you better understand your personality. After all – how can others get to know who you are if you are not sure of yourself.

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Introducing a novel framework for new leaders

Leadership is hard, especially for new leaders. I know because I was one. I graduated from the University of Virginia Army ROTC program in 1990 and joined the US Army. My first duty assignment as an Infantry Officer was at Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd All-American Airborne Division. I was brand spanking new and did not know what I was doing. I have already written about the sage advice my father, a retired Colonel, gave me. He also told me to become a student of leadership, so that is what I did.

My father during one of his tours in Vietnam — Colonel Keating, my father and leadership mentor.

There are a lot of leading experts in the world

The list of leadership gurus is long. I read many of their books, listened to their podcasts, attended their events, and completed their training courses. Over the past 25 years, I learned a lot from leadership experts like Peter Drucker, Dale Carnegie, John Maxwell, Colin Powell, Bill McRaven, Tom Peters, Arianna Huffington, Simon Sinek, John Kotter, Marcus Buckingham, Molly Fletcher, Ken Blanchard, Jim Collins, Marie Forleo, Michael Hyatt, Seth Godin, Brene Brown, Tony Robbins, and Sheryl Sandburg. I would list more names, but you get the point.

Peter Drucker is the original leadership guru - his books are excellent. — Peter Drucker is the original leadership guru – his books are excellent.

Many leadership experts do not focus on new leaders

All of these gurus provide excellent content for leaders. You can learn a lot listening to them. The problem is that many experts do not focus on new leaders. No – their target audience is usually experienced leaders who are trying to mature their current leadership skills and abilities. So where in the world do you start as a new leader? The military is a great place to start. That is where my leadership journey began. Unfortunately, many people do not want to join the military. You have to do it for the right reasons. Trust me – good pay is not one of them.

My Company Commander photo - circa 1998. — I learned a lot about leadership serving in the military for over a decade.

All The Way Leadership! believes new leaders need something basic

A company designed with one purpose in mind – to make you a better leader. I am not here to sell a book, or peddle a podcast, or try to get you to sign up for a seminar. Those things will come later, although I seriously doubt I will ever write a book. For now, I am focused on helping you grow and develop as a new leader through curated compelling content and practical training. Nothing more, nothing less. Let’s get started.

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower

The three hard truths about personal integrity as a leader

All The Way Leadership! believes that integrity is a non-negotiable attribute for leaders. Simply put – if you do not demonstrate integrity your team will not trust you, and you are dead in the water as a leader. Last month I advised that you never forget these three hard truths about your integrity. For new leaders, it is a simple concept to understand.

Team members pay special attention to your individual integrity. Yes – they are watching you.
They track who you are, what you say, and what you do. Yes – they are trying to figure you out.
If these three integrity attributes do not align, then the team will not trust you. No – they will not give you the benefit of the doubt. Why should they?

Your team is watching your every move – what will you do next?

A novel framework for new leaders

All The Way Leadership! created a novel framework for new leaders. A basic way to view leadership. It is below. It is not complicated. Fundamentally this framework communicates that it is vital for you to possess integrated integrity as a new leader. Does that simply mean that you need to do the right thing as a new leader? No – it takes more than that. Having individual integrated integrity means that ‘who you are’ aligns with ‘what you say’ and ‘what you do’. I will say it again – this time with more emphasis. If you do not demonstrate individual integrated integrity your team will not trust you, and your impact as a leader will be limited.

What about you?

Are you paying attention to your personal integrity as a new leader? Do your integrity attributes align? Does ‘who you are’ align with ‘what you say’ and match ‘what you do’? If so – excellent. Keep up the great work. If not – do something about it. I will be writing much more about this framework in the next few months. Stay tuned for the details.

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Never forget these three hard truths about your integrity

I stood at attention as my company commander yelled. He was extolling our entire unit about the importance of physical fitness. He was emphatic. All paratroopers need to be in tip-top shape. No exceptions…no excuses. Over one hundred of us endured this speech. I was confused about why he kept going on and on. I completely agreed with him. We all concurred. Little did he know at the time that these words would come back to haunt him later. His integrity would become an issue. It was 1991. I was an Infantry Officer in the 82d Airborne Division, home of the All-American paratroopers.

Entrance sign to Fort Bragg – Home of the Airborne.

He could not keep up with the pace

A few months later our company was participating in a battalion run. I do not recall exactly how long it was – probably four to five miles. The pace was challenging, but not severe. Our company commander was struggling to keep up. He was sweating profusely. He showed signs of complete fatigue. Several of his paratroopers yelled encouraging words. You can do it! Hang in there, sir. I was shocked by what happened next. He quit. Rangers don’t quit. He moved to the side of the formation and stopped running. One of my peers took his place at the front and we kept going.

I will never fail a fellow paratrooper. I cherish the sacred trust and the lives of men with whom I serve. Leaders have my fullest loyalty, and those who I lead will never, never find me lacking.
Airborne Creed

He embarrassed all of us

Officers do not fall out of running formations in the 82nd Airborne Division. It simply does not happen unless you become injured or physically sick. This run was the first time I saw a commanding officer not measure up. He was embarrassed, and so was his entire company. Afterward, he apologized to all of us. The harsh words from his speech a few months earlier came to mind. He was done as our leader, and he knew it. He probably did not understand it at the time, but he had violated the three hard truths about integrity.

Physical standards for paratroopers are tough.

Truth #1 – Team members will pay special attention to your individual integrity as a leader

If you are a leader do not be surprised if your team members spend time and energy trying to figure you out. It is perfectly natural. As a human being, you want to know about the person in charge. Some want to know about how you lead. While others are interested in your background. What shaped you to be who you are today. A few will even wonder why you are in charge and they are not. All of them will be paying special attention to your individual integrity. Are you worth trusting, or not? I know this to be true because I faced this scenario as a new Army Officer and in every situation since then. If you ignore this truth, you will pay the price.

What training do your team members need? — Your team members will try to figure out ‘who you are’.

Truth #2 – They track three integrity attributes – ‘who you are’, ‘what you say’, and ‘what you do’

As a leader, your team members will be constantly gathering data about you. They will track ‘who you are’, ‘what you say’, and ‘what you do’. Many questions will run through the minds of your team members. A dozen examples are provided below.

What are you like…really?
What is your personality?
Are you a nice person?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Are you competent?
What do you want them to do?
Do you care about them?
What are your opinions?
What is the strategy?
Do you have a good plan?
How do you make a decision?

It probably does not seem fair that you face this much scrutiny as a leader. It isn’t. However, it is the reality you face. If you cannot handle it, then do not take a leadership role. Do something else. Your team deserves someone who wants the role at a minimum.

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.
Warren Bennis

Truth #3 – If your three integrity attributes do not align, then the team will not trust you

As a leader, you want your integrity attributes (‘who you are’, ‘what you say’, and ‘what you do’) to align. Disconnects will lead to confusion with your team members. They may question your ability to lead because they do not trust you. Trust is crucial for a leader. In fact, it may be the most important thing you need as a leader. If your team does not trust you as a leader you will face difficult days ahead. Trust me – I have seen leaders violate this truth many times and it always comes back to bite them. Trust matters.

Simon Simek talks about leadership. Worth watching.

A simple example – ‘who you are’ does not match ‘what you say’

Let’s start with a simple example. You go to the gym and are assigned a personal trainer. He is your leader. You meet the trainer and the first thing you notice is that he is not in shape at all. He proceeds to tell you all the things you are going to do to get in top physical condition. The first thought you have is why should I listen to this trainer? If he cannot stay in shape himself, how in the world can he help me? His appearance does not match his words. Who is he? Certainly not an athlete. This disconnect bothers you. You may ask for a different trainer. I know I would.

Would you want this guy as your personal trainer?

Another easy example – ‘what you say’ does not match ‘what you do’

In this example, you work for a leader who is adamant that everyone shows up to work early. She tells your team that all of you have to be in the office no later than 8 AM every day, to include Fridays. No excuses. She punishes those who show up late. After a few weeks, you and your team members start to notice that your boss usually arrives at work around 9 AM, and even later on Fridays. You become disgruntled because there is a double standard. One that you cannot do much about until you are in charge. Make a mental note – your team will hold you to the same standard of integrity.

Some leaders obsess about showing up on time.

One final example – my poor company commander was a hot mess

Let’s finish where we started – my company commander’s speech. He was doomed to fail. He did not think about how his followers viewed him as a leader. They were constantly sizing him up and found him wanting. He underestimated how much attention they paid to ‘who he was’, ‘what he said’, and ‘what he did’. He was not an athlete. You could tell by looking at him. Imagine the response from those in the audience that day who stayed in top physical condition as he waxed poetic about working out. They probably thought he was an idiot. Eventually, my commander’s integrity flaws came to light when he quit the run. He never recovered from that fall and ended up getting fired for other integrity problems that surfaced later.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.
Third stanza of the US Army Ranger creed

What about you?

Are you paying attention to your personal integrity? Do your integrity attributes align? Does ‘who you are’ align with ‘what you say’ and match ‘what you do’? If so – excellent. Keep up the great work. If not – do something about it. Don’t confuse your team members and erode their trust.

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Another trusted perspective from Dwight Eisenhower on how to define leadership

Last week I shared a trusted perspective on how to define leadership. It focused on Colin Powell. This week I will share another aspect of leadership from a well-known and trusted leader, General Dwight Eisenhower. By adding his views we start to appreciate both the complexity and components that comprise leadership.

Who was General Dwight D. Eisenhower?

General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a great US Army General. According to Wikipedia, Eisenhower was an American Army general and statesman who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was a five-star general in the United States Army and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe. He was responsible for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942–43 and the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45 from the Western Front.

Portrait of General Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1947.

What did Eisenhower accomplish as a leader?

If you think Colin Powell’s resume is long, then you will be even more impressed with Eisenhower’s. He was highly successful in both the military and as a civilian. Below are five major accomplishments he achieved while in leadership positions. The list goes on, but you get the picture. “Ike” was one of the best leaders the US has ever seen. Perfect – no. Effective – yes.

Eisenhower led the Allied Forces to victory in World War II. His Army defeated Hitler.
He was one of only a few to ever earn five stars as a General in the US military.
He served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. Ike reached the highest political office in the US.
Eisenhower ended the Korean War. He leveraged US military might to achieve peace.
Eisenhower championed the formation of the Interstate Highway System. A key element to major US economic expansion.

Presidential portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

How did Dwight Eisenhower view leadership?

Like Colin Powell, General Eisenhower demonstrated a pragmatic view of leadership. Eisenhower was known for his somewhat quiet and understated leadership style. According to this Forbes article, Eisenhower had a paperweight prominently displayed on his desk in the Oval Office with a Latin inscription meaning “gently in manner, strong in deed.” Eisenhower shared many thoughts about leadership. The quote below from him is one of my favorites.

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower believed a leader’s behavior is critical

Many underestimated Eisenhower’s leadership abilities. During World War II he was surrounded by leaders who were much bolder and gregarious. Generals like Patton, MacArthur, and Montgomery seemed to seek the limelight while Eisenhower spent his time preparing for the next battle and visiting the troops. Once he commented on why he avoided the more abrasive leadership style of other Generals.

“You don’t lead by beating people over the head; that’s assault, not leadership.”
General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Famous photo of Eisenhower visiting paratroopers before D-day invasion. — A famous photo of Eisenhower visiting paratroopers before D-day invasion.

Eisenhower’s leadership view is correct

All The Way Leadership! agrees with Eisenhower. Your integrity as a leader is hugely important. If you lack integrity your team will not follow you. It is that simple. How you behave as a leader also factors into your effectiveness. It is difficult for anyone to follow a leader who behaves poorly. Don’t be that kind of leader. Instead, lead with integrity.

ATW! is designed to make you a better leader

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A trusted perspective from Colin Powell on how to define leadership

Earlier this year I wrote about the best definitions of leadership. It focused on John Maxwell and Peter Drucker’s definitions. This week I will share an insightful idea from a well-known and trusted leader, General Colin Powell. By adding his perspective I continue to identify the components that comprise leadership.

Who is General Colin Powell?

General Colin Powell was one of the greatest US Army Generals in the last century. According to Wikipedia Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years. He held a myriad of command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. Powell completed multiple combat tours in the Vietnam War. General Powell served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War.

Army Gen. Norman H. Schwarzkopf consults with then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell during Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Two great modern American Generals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. H. H. Deffner)

General Powell is a pioneer

Powell was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first African American to serve in that position. His resume as a leader is impressive. I trust his leadership perspective.

Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. (AP Photo)

What did General Powell accomplish as a leader?

The list of General Powell’s accomplishments as a leader is too long for this blog. For his service, General Powell received numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations. Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal. General Powell also wrote multiple books. I read two of them (My American Journey, It Worked for Me: Lessons in Leadership and Life). I highly recommend both.

My copy of Colin Powell’s autobiography.

How does Colin Powell view leadership?

In his books, Colin Powell describes a practical view of leadership. I trust his judgment. He has more experience than most leaders. His track record speaks for itself. General Powell was highly successful in numerous leadership roles. My favorite leadership quote by Colin Powell is below. It describes the specific actions that leaders should focus on to be successful.

Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
General Colin Powell

Powell and Drucker both believe what you do matters

General Powell’s leadership perspective is similar to Peter Drucker’s. According to both of them what you do as a leader is important. Powell points out that you must be able to take care of your people and solve their problems. Otherwise, they will stop following you. In other words, competency counts and actions speak louder than words.

Solving problems is a leaders job. — Solving problems is a leader’s job.

Powell’s leadership view is accurate

You demonstrate leadership skills by solving problems. If you cannot, then why are you in charge. Also, it is one thing to tell your team members you care about them. It is another thing to actually solve their problems. If you do one without the other you are failing as a leader. We all probably know at least one leader who talked a big game, but never followed it up with actions. Don’t be that kind of leader.

ATW! is designed to make you a better leader

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