West point is a big campus center "plain", is the student gathering place, in its six cities around the statue, the middle one is of George Washington. You may think it is Washington constructed this school. But that is not the case. Washington did the President to build a military academy, but his secretary of state Thomas Jefferson tried hard to oppose, because it is against the spirit of the constitution, and, therefore, Washington is not continue to promote it. But why is Washington's statue standing in the middle of the square of the west point? This and he in the United States in the war of independence the role. Desperate to get rid of British colonial rule the people ask for Washington led the army to help them fight for freedom and independence. Think about it, if he fails, he will lose wealth, fame, and even lives. Although he knew the other ChuanJianBaoLi, military strength is much more powerful than the colonies, from which Angle, this war is difficult to win. But he still accept, because he believes that, the mission is worth to pay everything.
For the role he service for eight years, will the army together, the main is by his determination and persistence. He made two decisive victory, it is these two battle decided to the victory in the war. A battle of the commander, was considered a Washington most military talent mainland army generals: Benedict Arnold. 1780 Washington appointment for west point--in Arnold commander in the war of independence, because the location is important, the west point was important battlefield. But Arnold style arrogant fierce, life luxury, and Washington is different, he for their own interest, the west point to sell out to the British people, in order to get money and change of the British navy official position. Plan was revealed, Arnold escape on an English ship, finally KeSi London, and don't get the appointment of a promised each other with money.
Character is the foundation of leadership
Benedict Arnold and Washington simultaneously on the campus of the west point, this is the only thing the us on display for Arnold monument in place, but his name was scratched, this means that he has in this country's honor list is erased. In the United States, his name has with "traitors" equal, if the person is called "Arnold", that means the people are not to be trusted.
We will contrast the two people, from a technical perspective, the military can be better than Arnold Washington, but why is cast off, another is well-documented? Between the two is Character (Character). In English, the connotation of the word is very rich. But in here, I use the word character, it is to point to a person in the life all show such a character: happy to serve others. For Washington, it is how to use our own ability to long for the colonists interests, and if you ran a company, is how to use leadership in service to the customers, the employees, the state and society. I think, this is a west point has been trying to practice of a positive character and this is why the statue of Washington will be on the central campus.
Character is the real foundation of effective leadership, in fact, this is the cause of west point be established. We already know, and not George Washington established the west point, then who is it? The answer is that Thomas Jefferson. He was doing when secretary of state have tried to against school, but the U.S. since the establishment of the third President a signed through the shortly set up military college files. Why? Historians have been to this debate, a more compelling ideas that, Jefferson don't believe the army was high, so a lot disarmament, sent the army officials. With problems, how to set these officers? He thought about the set up a military school, let these experienced the war of independence and the founding heroes, patriot to teach the George Washington represent of that kind of leadership, training, able to trust the military power service palm public and not the soldiers of self-interest.
So, what is the character? 25 years I've been thinking about how to define. From the point of view of value neutral, eliminate moral factors, character is a collection of habit. We all have a habit, and habits to make life easier, you need not for what's for breakfast and bother, habit can remind us general should do, it means that we will repeat to perform the same decision. But in here, are used to define the character "habits", then decided to any given environment were most likely to make the first reaction. Of course, we are and have free will, and can be responsible for our decisions. So, we have the ability to change, and change the character. Character can become better, also can become worse.
And usually we mentioned that a man's character, often have the moral connotation. So the moral leadership is to point to??????? I think, is refers to a leader is the habit, decided in an environment, how do in ethics is correct.
So, how should I decision is the moral right, in other words, the decision is the basis of??????? Philosophers have discussed this in 2500, they constantly return to three fundamental questions:
First, a decision or actions to others what effect? First have to make sure that can help not hurt others, to those I have special responsibilities, and should be trying to make them more revenue.
Second, analysis and decision or action itself, compliance with or destroyed some ethical principles, such as honest, truthful, justice, respecting other's rights and so on, these principles is binding, regardless of the outcome.
Third, decisions, or action can reflect his decision makers of character? Action represents a individual is his own, not others, so these action to reflect your virtue and character?
This is a very simple but very effective way to measure in a particular situation in your choice is correct. Among them, the third question is especially important, because the first two sometimes conflict. Probably a decision-making benefit to most people, but against some behavior principle, and a follows the moral principle the decisions, also could be damaging to the others. Such contradictions in the life often occur, and the third question, on that happens to help you make a decision.
Why do we have to abide by the moral? I want to introduce harvard professor cole's research, he studies the moral development psychology (psycholo-gy moral development), he found that the moral ideas and habits is accompanied by people's life cycle and mature gradually. At first, people because it is the moral can help out of trouble, made life easier. For example, I report to west point that day, I didn't follow the rules, consciousness, but the principal told we cannot steal, not lying, or you'll be sent home, that day I asked his haters say even the idea of all don't have, because I don't want to be sent home by the punishment. So first of all, people abide by their own moral is needed. In third grade, I actually have entered the second level. At west point, the dormitory administrator every night to check whether students are in the room, he will knock on the door asked whether everyone in, if someone in the room answer is, he would think that all people in. One night, the administrator just stood on the stairs loudly shout: 1 room, room number 2, 3 room... All the people? In just 45 seconds, he check to the fourth floor all 64 rooms, look, when you believe that the other people all say the truth of the case, life becomes more efficient. From west point graduation, I decided to do a said the truth, no matter how other people do, I responsible for himself, not because you are asked, the moral be spontaneous behavior, this is the third level.
What is "leadership"
About the character of the leaders we say many, now to see the leadership. Leadership is like character, and it is hard to use words to describe. Someone said that leadership is "get others to do things for you," on leadership we can even find more than 200 definition, but these definitions have two key elements, the goal and people. The leader of the influence of their combination together, such, finished the goal, the process, the need of the people are satisfied.
So, how to cultivate the leadership? West point four years, most of the time can teach students to become a leader of the necessary knowledge and skills, etc. But it's not enough, if only teach skills, that we can only get Benedict Arnold, he may use these skills to do good, also may use it to do bad things, and if we take the train on the core position of character, so we will get George Washington such a leader, can in order to others rather than its self-interest to use these skills.
In "leadership spectrum", some scale hundreds of billions, the CEO of the company, because money sought for breaking the law, was eventually sent to prison. Some other people is really very good leader materials, but they too keen famous, they are more like celebrity than the company leaders. Finally, even those who were Jim Collins called "great" company ceos, without exception, these leaders have extraordinary leadership, they not only have management talent, and have strong will and noble personality, a religious belief, they build a great company in the first place, seldom consider personal. They put the constant flow of energy used to serve customers, employees and the society. People trust them, the company began to progresses day by day. And, we have experimental evidence that those dedicated to serving others moral leader, than those from the orientation of the leaders, often can bring higher output, personal income returns are greater.
The four stages of leadership
Let us look at a west point of the new experience. To the first day of west point, he will be led by senior students, were told strictly to the higher or teachers of leadership, swore to perform the national responsibility and obligation. He will take part in many sports activities, military training, every school year participating in the leadership training. Academic course requirements him more questions, focuses on training analysis and problem solving skills and know when to obey, and when asked the right questions, when to criticism. In addition, religious and military school is an important part of life. In the third year new people become old man, can take new....... As a senior, he will act as a higher level of leadership roles, lead the more extensive training. On commencement day, also pledged: loyal service this country.
West point leadership training should be after four stages: new just responsible for yourself, obey orders; The next year, some of them will become some group leader; In the third year, they are more likely to lead the group leader; The big 4, the performance good people will lead the larger group. In fact, the four stages, is applicable to any one organization, the government, companies, universities, etc. At first, you are just a personal contributor (individual contributor), also called the follower (follower), do the foundational work, production product, etc. You may ask, the followers and leadership have what relation? Be a follower so important? Quote Robert general lee of words, I can't believe a own all the bad people can command good people, so to be a good leader should first be a good follower, first learn to management and leadership. If do well, you will have the opportunity to become a grassroots leaders, you need and those in the bottom of the follower face to face communication, this is the second phase of leadership development-face to face of the leader (face to face leadership). Then, you will be promoted to indirect leader (indirectly leadership), you no longer direct management those individual contributors, but management face to face of the leaders. Finally, if the performance is good enough, you will be promoted to be the senior leaders (senior leadership).
We first to see the followers. Some people used to study the follower, the use of two dimensions to examine this group: active degree and independence. Positive followers in this role will act on positive, negative follower opposite. Independence is watching the followers are able to think for themselves. Some followers two targets are very low, they don't care what it should do, also won't positive initiative to do. The initiative high but not independent thinking of people need to tell other people what they should do, the people are very positive, so we have to be careful they do wrong, but as long as enough guidance, and they will be very useful. The third kind of the follower may be the least number of a type, they will think independently, know the current situation of the organization, what should be done about it, but they are not active, often just complain, and won't action. The last one, both independent thinking and active follower, was the best person to be leaders. In an internal organization, we can according to above two dimensions to find and cultivate high efficiency of the fourth follower, in the recruitment of the selection stages, also can set up corresponding tools to explore this kind of a follower.
Interestingly, if we will be a good follower and a good leader carries on the comparison, will be in their body found many similarities, even can't find any big difference. Although the character is different, but they are able to perform well in the objectives of the organization. So, the leader of the follower and face to face the conversion between is very value, it can help us to make it clear, what qualities-including cognition, the practical level, to the ideal of leadership.
Each is a career, we want to pass from the followers to senior leaders this four stages. In an organization members from a role to the role transformation of higher level, if the organization to provide him with enough training, let him realize that are doing things right now and ever is different, and not just on his own experience of setbacks and draw experiences and lessons, and so, in the role of his future success rates would be greatly improved.
Then we have the leaders do face to face should be paid attention to the principle. At west point, we have face-to-face leader 15 principles, help for group leader of the students through his little team leadership. One of those is this: leaders from subordinates get there is not just compliance. To appreciate they have knowledge, initiative and skills, understanding and judgment, and to lead them to play the above-mentioned ability, promoting the task execution. We really need to learn teamwork, but I think the real team building great master to be able to divine human weaknesses are those who, for bad behavior will corrupt the whole team, encourage political wrangling, so must overcome those who affect the entire team operation of the human weakness. The nature of man, for example in natural ego to protect tendency can lead to distrust between person and person: if you use my honesty and trust in turn hurt me? People won't openly debating how to make decisions, what action to accomplish the organization goal, the whole organization will become crumble, members also won't due diligence. Therefore, only the win over such human weakness, play each person's ability, team cooperation can become the core competitiveness of the organization.
For indirect leader speaking, this is the first time he leadership those itself is the leader, mean??????? You need to change the management mode, you can't go to the people and they communicate directly, you need with others to management. Second, you need authorization, if still a large number of energy used to do that as a leader of the face to face should do, will miss as a higher level leaders need to focus on the more important things. And, at this time, you first in the organizational structure of the middle of the level, you should not only to the superior responsible for, but also to you in charge of management, when not two full-time, conflict can produce.
How to deal with conflict? Sometimes, people will turn a blind eye to contradiction, in order to maintain a harmonious on the surface, in the long run, the greater the contradictions will accumulate that cannot be solved. We need to learn to handle interpersonal contradiction, distinguish between the behavior of the constructive and destructive behavior, the face of the conflict, work hard to solve, and promote the conflict resolution skills, the ideal goal of solving conflict is through to consolidate and not weaken the relationship between members.
Finally let us see senior leaders. Senior leaders need to do is to make decisions. In an internal organization, can have a lot of decision makers, but the most difficult decision by the supreme leader needs to do. How to make decisions, and subordinate together or oneself do decisions? Have four choices: no need to subordinate participation; To individual subordinate consulting, his decision; Collective consultation to subordinate, oneself decide; Let the subordinate collective decision.
The particular a, according to the concrete circumstances. For example, the time is pressing, must be immediately decision, so should undoubtedly be choose the first kind, the doctor in surgery and who do not need to discuss, just need to give orders by others to execute. If a decision for the company's future affect huge, so I suggest using the third way, for two reasons: first, through with members brain storm, can fully considering every possible, but also to strengthen your leadership; Second, members of the exchange and reach an agreement, the leaders don't assume alone the consequences of decisions. Still have a kind of situation, if you just need some information, and the decision itself is not important, then use the second method, find a subordinate, get the information you need, and then get back to the office, make its own decision can. Finally a case, you need to everyone knew the current situation, understand the next step should take steps, they need to support decision-making, and work together to efforts to meet the target, then choose to use collective decision, let members themselves make decisions.
We will meet the crisis decision problem. For organizations, it will be for all kinds of reasons and encounter crisis: natural disasters, market fluctuations, product crisis, technology failure, management upheaval and so on, the leadership crisis should be what look like? I was very fond of speaking at shekels (Emest Shackleton) jazz to the Antarctic adventure story. The ship was stuck on the ice, and can't do not know your position, he led his crew by the lifeboat in the cold sea move on 800 miles, and finally in the storm found the island before supplies, save the whole ship man's life, and finishing the Antarctic expedition through. The captain in the face of the crisis at shekels, first openly will true information (crisis) told the crew, but as a leader, he's mission is to protect everyone's life, he asked all people should be strictly obey his command, because in this case, the unity is the most important and then, he listens to experienced crew opinion and to make their own decisions, be assumed by the decision of the consequences. Visible, his use of the third decision method.
Note that, in some cases, the crisis was often the opportunity. We can see toothpick birds and examples of crocodiles, crocodile in order to clean up his food scraps, often open mouth, let toothpick bird to eat stuffed in it the teeth produced. For toothpick birds, for example, it is not the crisis, but opportunity. A lot of good company in a crisis initiative to reform, adjust the new direction, some people go to the new company founded by the crisis the opportunities, will become favorable adverse.
In short, west point leadership stressed that leadership is a combination of personal and the target's process, the success of the people achieve that must have enough knowledge and skills, and has the internal character and strong moral standards, willing to serve others, so that people will get their trust and shout should, attract good follower, they inspired for the former, and are committed to a great goal. Such leadership change the west point, the United States and even whole western society, the hope that we all support such leadership.
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