Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Leadership
Peter Swanson
Lover of sales and marketing. Businessman, entrepreneur and SME owner. NED and mentor. Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University School of Management. Guitar collector and bush-league player.
Colin Powell passed away yesterday. He was a gifted leader; from a very modest background, he became President Reagan’s national security adviser, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under the first President Bush and secretary of state under George W Bush — the first African-American to hold any of those posts.
What I didn't know before reading his obituary is that he had formulated a set of guidelines which he followed diligently. Collected over his career, he published them in a later memoir.
Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Leadership
1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
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8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Some might say that they are trite aphorisms, but I quite like most of them. The messaging does repeat (number 4 and number 13?, number 2 and number 10?), and they may be difficult to reconcile with each other sometimes, but they do distill down into an essence of what leadership is about.
In a world where we all still have some anxiety after the challenges of the last couple of years, I like number 13: Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Optimism is infectious. It also brings energy. Be clear about the vision and purpose you have for your business, and communicate the plan robustly and resolutely to your teams and colleagues - it can be done!
Which one do you like?
Provider of adhesives, protective materials and application equipment to technology-based manufacturing businesses
3 年2, 8, 9 10 and 13 are big for me!
Lover of sales and marketing. Businessman, entrepreneur and SME owner. NED and mentor. Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University School of Management. Guitar collector and bush-league player.
3 年Number 9 is popular
Chair (with experience from FTSE 100 to small youth charity), Trustee, Non-Executive Director, Remco Chair, Audit Committee Chair, Investment Committee member and Mentor.
3 年Maybe 6 and 9??
Communications Manager | PRCA Midlands Rising Star of the Year 2024
3 年These are great - I like 9 and 10.
Training, HR, Career Development & Pupillage Interview Consultant
3 年Number 13 really resonates with me!