Leaders change with changing challenges

Alexander the Great was a great leader.
He took the point when his troops went into battle.
Together, they conquered the known world.
Attila the Hun and El Cid fit this model, too.
They led the charge. They were on the point.
Conditions change. Combat is too complicated now.
Today’s captains and lieutenants take the point.
The generals must stay in the rear.
They must plan the strategy.
They must observe what happens.
They must adjust their tactics to meet new challenges.
The enemy rarely behaves as we anticipate.
You can’t be "in" the fight and "see" the battle.
You must work "on" your business as well as "in" it.
There are times when leaders must step back.
We must let our people execute the plan.
We built up our troops before the Persian Gulf War.
That took time, resources and patience.
Our leaders made sure we had what it took to win.
Leaders give their people what they need to win.
That’s difficult in tight economic times.
Investors clamor for higher return on investment.
Managers "right size" their forces to placate them.
"Right-sizing". What a deceptive phrase.
As if our teams were "wrong-sized" before.
Now we must learn to do more with less.
Yet that is what leaders are called on to do today.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the kind of leader you want to be.
For strategies to do more with less in tight times, click here.