Comments

Good list.

Ante-upping a little... the 'best' leaders have a 'cause' larger than themselves and an end to which they cannot see. Plus they master the Warrior twofold Way (he should have a taste for both Ways)... of pen and sword... balance the twofold spirit of heart and mind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. And with forthrightness as the foundation and the true spirit as the Way... they enact strategy broadly, correctly and openly.

Hell, some of 'em may even have read Miyamoto Musashi - A Book of Five Rings
Twelfth day of the fifth month, second year of Shoho (1645)

Posted by g at November 30, 2004 11:26 AM

Given this list, how on earth can anyone "train" a person to be a leader - it would be futile!

Posted by Craig at November 30, 2004 12:31 PM

I would add "Education" to that list. Learning from the successes/failures of those in the past enables leaders to build upon a sure foundation.

Your #8 about Mastery of Craft is what I would call "Experience," which is gained first-hand in the present. It is the application of education.

Posted by S. Thornton at November 30, 2004 1:34 PM

G: "Bun bi itchi" -pen & sword in accord !! All Leadership is based on the "art of war" -Sun Tsu circa 200BC. Every miltary leader has adopted his book and every poltical leader uses his strategy in the manovours !!!

Wisdoms lies in the ways of the old.

Posted by /pd at November 30, 2004 2:29 PM

/pd... coming in on your point - and in no way slating you personally... I want to correct a potential misunderstanding.

The 'embrace' of the 'war art' stuff is dangerously misleading. That's why we too often have such crappy figures in positions of prominence. They're fighters, not warriors - a huge disparity.

Regarding Five Rings... although Musashi was a master warrior - undefeated and usually risking his life without ever thinking of death - that's far from the whole scene. In later years he lived as artist... shutting himself in a cave writing The Five Rings and, with the same spirit he used to master the secrets of the sword, making works of art - reflecting his quiet mind and expressing the depth of his soul with warm and spiritual drawings and sculptures of grass, trees and birds.

In same vein an oft-told tale, recounted in revered and romantic tones, is how Samauri were merciless warriors - devoted to serve a master and so-driven by honor that the death of their charge rendered them dishonored outcasts... doomed to seek lower-grade battle service as simple mercenaries.

Another perspective less spoken-of (and almost as 'concealed' as the existence of female Samauri), particularly among those to whom 'battle cry' and 'flag allegiance' count for everything, is that some voluntarily quit service of a lord, choosing instead to roam helping the poor and weak - or seek mountain top isolation and solitude. To them, poetry and gentler arts were of as great import as slaughter of foe.

If there's a point to be made here - and one that shouldn't be lost through my inability to concisely focus - it's simply that 'most of us simply don't get it'. Courtesy and courage, sincerity and self-control, honor and loyalty have much in their favor. And when was 'kill' ever compulsory? Or even advisable?

Restraint. Dignity. Compassion. These are the true markers of wisdom rather than simple knowledge. They're tacit among true leaders - rather than opportunist seizers of power.

To most of us not gainfully-employed as special operatives in clandestine military ops, perhaps the 'gentle Samauri' example offers a better guide to living well in a world where money has long since replaced honor as a motivator. Live with love.

In much lighter vein, Sam Keen is mentioned elsewhere onsite and offers much.

Posted by g at November 30, 2004 3:28 PM

g: Actually the "art of war" is not about war, its about leadership. Have you read it ???
Wharton /HB / Sloans at one time had that as a 2 credit literature,being part of the management curriculum. Yes, 'go rin no sho' has been one of my principle reading not only in theory , but also in my kendo.. !!

My point, which still remains my main point that many leaders including Neoplon, Nelson, etc etc used the little black book of Sun Tsu. So a lot of his teachings were actually taken by up in past leadership and still used in boardroom leadership.... and no I dont take your comments personally ....its just a discourse of minds and thoughts, opionins and theories... correct ???

Yes, I'll conceed that "Courtesy and courage, sincerity and self-control, honor and loyalty"..are some of the core basic principles of leadership !! :)-

Actually ..I think I need to paraphase Gandhi : "first they'll laugh. Then they'll fight. Then you do nothing. Then you win"- The concept of Satagraha!!

Posted by /pd at November 30, 2004 5:13 PM

/pd... yes, I've read it and suggest it's not about leadership. Whatever others suggest, it's a military treatise based on deception and might - which is perhaps why it's been so embraced by the business community.

An over-rated work among the educated, and dangerous in the hands of fools... I consider it not at all a positive influence toward true leadership.

Anyway... 'you are young and I old', with the sun having long-since set in this corner of the cosmos I am away to my repose and shall leave you with a gentle counter to the 'struttin around like Capt Invincible' machismo...

"i am meek and warm and soft to the touch."

My thinking is that Toltecs and Castaneda readers might consider this a natural part of the 'warrior's battle against self-importance of the ego'. And of course, others may simply consider it stupidity.

Whatever. I'm simply suggesting 'gentle and self-effacing' is a viable alternative to the 'respect only force' ethos... and that 'modesty not might' is, to me, a far better way of conducting our activities. It's the one true marker of real leaders rather than 'men marshallers'.

g'night.

Posted by g at November 30, 2004 7:24 PM

g: one aspect of leadership is about being a light and not a critic.."the test of first-rate intellegence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind and at the same time still retain the ability to function." -F.S.Fitzgerald.

EndNote : Read Philip Selznick - Leadership and Adminsitration - 1957.. an over looked thin blue volume. ".... is in the promotion and protection of values".

Posted by /pd at November 30, 2004 7:53 PM

A recent survey by ICM Research discovered that one in 10 people in the UK think the Battle of Trafalgar was fought in Trafalgar Square!

Posted by Stuart Jones at December 1, 2004 1:37 AM

/pd... Although far from intellectual and workaholic, I'm also no dullard piker and, having tried hard to understand you, I'll admit to 'defeat'... and a waning interest in even bothering.

Entirely constructively, displaying width rather than depth you radiate the sense of having acquired knowledge rather than mastering wisdom - a direction of no interest to me and hence this is the point at which our relative paths diverge.

Posted by g at December 1, 2004 3:28 AM

Stuart: Future battles may well be fought at places like Trafalger square, or at least the ground beneath. One nation's (will there be nations?) Netenabled War Gamers-Hackers vs another's, all from bunkers beneath various squares. Matrix = Life?

Posted by tom peters at December 2, 2004 1:47 AM