Winning the Hearts and Minds?

Some say that leaders are born; some say that leaders are made. Regardless of the perception, it is mutually agreed that leaders are necessary for any society to survive. The military is the ultimate test of character and internal fortitude in the leaders that it grooms; they are tested in the fires of combat. Some come out stronger while others whither from the enormous pressure and stress. There are many “giants” who have emerged from the military, and specifically the Marine Corps, over the course of our Nation’s history. These men have led the Nation in times of suffering, global war, and domestic upheavals—men to include LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, GEN Dwight D. Eisenhower, USA, and more recently GENs Colin Powell and David Petraeus, USA. The questions are, what drives these men at the core, and what makes them successful at what they do?

Leadership in the simplest form is being the one person who leads from the front, makes critical decisions, and ensures that the people he is entrusted to care for are looked after properly. Personally, leadership means responsibility and taking initiative to do the right things. Teaching what you know and how to apply it is instrumental in building strong future leaders. The leader is someone who cares about the means to the end and has the ability to complete a task under any circumstances.

The Marine Corps takes leadership very seriously. From the genesis of a Marine’s career he is taught the principles of leadership, is urged to read Marine Corps books and correspondence courses on leadership, and is given endless classes and speeches about leadership’s importance. But, in all reality, does all of that really stay with those individuals and make an everlasting impact on their lives? I enthusiastically say “yes.”

One of the guiding principles of young and old Marine Corps leaders is the ability to teach their subordinates how to do the jobs above and below them. That alone exemplifies so many principles. Marines learn from early on how to take charge and the importance of controlling the chaos to ensure that the mission is accomplished even if the “leader” is down. Leadership is so much more than controlling a combat patrol or making sure the squad bay is clean in the morning. Leadership is about living your life in service to others. When a Marine is promoted he is given the responsibility of taking care of everyone below him; that means he is no longer part of the massive group but is part of a selected few chosen to serve the people below him in every aspect. Looking back at the great leaders, there is a common virtue that is seen in all of them. These people want to be in the positions they are entrusted with, and they legitimately care about the people below them. In essence, being a leader is about caring for people. It is not about making more money, getting more awards, or getting back at people who have wronged you in the past.

Anyone can recite the principles of Marine Corps leadership, and anyone can remember essential leadership words; however, not everyone can lead a life of service and be successful at it. Leaders are like eagles; they do not fly in groups but soar on their own. There are people who are put into “leadership positions” but are not leaders. The ability to influence others in a positive manner that accomplishes the mission and keeps the morale up is what makes the leader, not the position. A person is respected and viewed as a leader by others when they see that person is different from everyone else and legitimately cares about what he does and how his actions are perceived. There is a coined saying that is currently floating around the Marine Corps as a counterinsurgency principle—winning the hearts and minds. That saying applies to leadership as well because people really do need to be won over and shown that the person in charge is competent, confident, and well versed in his skill sets to truly earn the respect and confidence of the followers.

The Marine Corps does an incredible job of summing up leadership with its “Leadership Traits and Fundamentals”; however, those are just words and phrases. The real leader is defined by his or her actions and attitude. People are drawn to a person who can show them how to emulate the leadership traits and fundamentals, and more realistically, a person who really cares about them as people. I have devised five concepts that I believe sum up how to be an effective leader of Marines.

First and foremost, a person needs to have a strong sense of integrity. Integrity is the ability to make a decision in every situation regardless of the outcome or how it will make the followers perceive the leader. Integrity is choosing to do the right thing even if the outcome is grim and not popular. People need to know that their leader has a moral compass and is willing to put himself out on a limb for his subordinates. Once this is established, it will be trailed by an enormous amount of confidence from peers and subordinates alike. Integrity is the cornerstone on which the other concepts of a leader are built.

Once the base of integrity has been built, the leader needs to show that he has some belief in a higher power. That belief does not necessarily have to mean a definitive religion or ideology, but a sense that there is something bigger than us out there. A higher power for some can be God, or for others it may be their country and larger organization. That belief gives people a reason to fight and a reason to live in the difficult times.

An effective leader of Marines is a person who legitimately cares about his subordinates’ mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. That can be perceived in several ways. A leader is a person who gives the impression that he is approachable and will listen to any type of problem or issue. A leader must absolutely care about the well-being of his Marines because it affects every single aspect of their lives. If a Marine is having marital problems or financial problems, that issue is going to be constantly on his mind and will affect his performance. It is up to the leader to ease that Marine’s mind and solve the problem. Caring about a person really shows when a leader takes time to personally know his Marines thoroughly, which will give him the ability to keenly read any issues when they arise and solve them promptly.

I believe the next principles work symbiotically. Courage and strength really only constitute one concept of leadership to me. A Marine leader must be physically, mentally, and spiritually strong to effectively lead other Marines. Physical courage and strength is obvious due to the rigors of combat; however, being mentally and spiritually strong is often overlooked but equally important. The leader must have the internal fortitude to make life altering decisions and be able to stand up to adverse situations that will test everything he stands for and believes in. The most important thing for the leader to do in this situation is to push on and give his Marines the support and tools to do the same. It is crucial for a leader to show his followers that they should believe in the mission, they should trust their leader, and that from his core there is a spirit that refuses to give up and give in to any hardship.

Finally, to properly tie in the concepts above, I have chosen education to complete the picture. A leader must be tactically and technically proficient in everything to do with his chosen field. The leader must be able to perform any duty and solve any problem. Being educated does not mean that you have to have the answer to everything, just the ability and willingness to know where to find the answer and admit when you do not know. Education for the Marine leader must be continuous. The leader must constantly stay up on current affairs and updates in doctrine, tactics, and weapons. He must learn as much as possible about the current enemy or future threat. An educated leader will possess the tools to think through every situation encountered on the modern battlefield.

Leadership is a governing principle in life. Every task and mission requires someone to take charge and ensure it is accomplished. A true leader leads from the front and never from the rear, always putting others before himself. Through these actions, he is winning the hearts and minds of his subordinates. When people know they are understood and properly utilized, that leader will be respected, loved, and followed to the gates of hell if necessary.

Sgt Pepich’s article was his Hogaboom Leadership Writing Contest Entry.