“Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand."

– Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State

Tuesday Topic: Why the Frontal Attack Mentality is Bad Leadership

“Do it because I said so.”

You may have heard a leader say this. Or perhaps you have said it yourself, hopefully just in a moment of weakness. But more often than not, this is how people lead. Even worse, this is how people think military leadership works. The leader decides what to do, and everyone else is expected to follow their plan without explanation.

If you’re in the military, you know it does NOT work this way. People want to be involved in the planning process, and if they cannot be involved, they want to understand the purpose behind what you are asking them to do. How else can they commit themselves to a plan and work passionately to accomplish it?

Avoid the Frontal Assault

You would never attack the enemy in a bunker with a frontal assault, would you? I hope not. Instead, you would take a more indirect approach, softening them up with indirect fire and using a support by-fire element to help you maneuver closer to be effective. The same is true when you want to win people over to your ideas. You have to sell them on it. You have to be able to pass the common sense test. Your team must understand that what you ask them to do is essential and in their best interests. This builds their trust in you. You also need to be receptive to feedback or other suggestions that they may have. Sometimes, it is better to be wrong together than be right and alone. These simple steps can help you achieve “buy-in” from your team.

1. Get their input: Brainstorm the solution with others and listen to their ideas, good or bad.

2. Agree on a course of action: Find a solution that makes the most sense to the most people. The right answer tends to be the most simple. But it takes many repetitions to arrive at a simple plan.

3. Make the decision: Don’t forget that it is your job to make a decision. Let your team be a part of it, but the responsibility remains with you.

Need a Good Book?

General Stanley McChrystal has written several books. All of them are excellent reads. However, his book “Leaders” is perhaps the most relevant to leadership at all levels. It goes into detail about various leaders, both military and civilian, and discusses some of the challenges they face. It is always best to learn from others’ mistakes to avoid making your own. Leaders such as Walt Disney, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert E. Lee. It is an easy read that is worthy of your time.