Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) we grieve the loss of a great leader who died today due to complications from Covid. Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. A Legendary American politician, diplomat and retired four-star general who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State.
Love this TEDx speech, “Our Youth Must be Ready to Lead. Through a level of discipline, we can create more of a culture of respect.
- Mind your manners
- Respect your peers and colleagues
- Mind your thoughts and actions
Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership
This was a great list published by ClearanceJobs.com by Steven Matthew Leonard
1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
Manage your mind to find the silver lining in every cloud. That’s not always as easy as it sounds. Things might look bad today, but your work is to put in the effort today, to do what must be done, tomorrow will be a brighter day. It’s a state of mind; believe it, don’t quit five minutes before the miracle and you will make it happen.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
Momma told us there would be days like this, where we are pushed to the edge of our tolerance. When you do lose your temper, maintain control. You can make such a negative impression as people always remember the leader whose anger is out of control.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
Stand for what you believe, but do not let your ego fall, if success is not forthcoming. The humbling growth of not always winning, is a simple fact of life. Accept the fact that you will win and you will lose, and keep your ego centered on taking the feedback.
“Great leaders are always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everyone can understand.”
Powerful Words from Colin Powell: Top 10 Quotes from Decades of Service – ClearanceJobs
4. It can be done!
Most any big goal can be accomplished when you keep your mind focused on the work. Seek the resources, and steady action to get it done. Do not give in to the skeptics to halt your goals; listen and consider their words, then do what you think is right.
5. Be careful what you choose.
Do not let pressure force you to rush into making a bad decision. Take the time to find objectivity and consider the facts, and make a deliberate evaluation, so that when you commit your choice, it supports your objectives.
6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
Adversity is in attitudes, unexplored issues and constantly exists to derail, deter, or redirect change that seems threatening. Cultivate a practice of fair and excellent leadership. Be a leader who is an example of sound judgement and practical situational analysis. instinct. Sometimes the only thing people need to do life differently, is a balanced perspective. Become the decision-maker your people can rely upon to explore the best solution.
7. You can’t make someone else’s choices.
Taking ownership for your responsibilities means never allowing someone to make your decisions for you. Ultimately, you decision or indecision, right or wrong, we are all accountable. Do not shy away from decisions that are yours to make, and do not force your choices on someone else’s choices. You can provide information and perspective to others responsibilities, but you cant make decisions that are not yours.
“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.”
11 Priceless Colin Powell Quotes – The Military Leader
8. Check small things.
Leaders must be able to appreciate and validate the little things that could affect the picture, without getting lost in paralysis by over-analysis.
“There is no end to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”
Powerful Words from Colin Powell: Top 10 Quotes from Decades of Service – ClearanceJobs
9. Share credit.
Success thrives from engaging a whole team committed to the direction. Recognize those that are working hard to make the vision a reality. Share credit and recognize accomplishment to encourage your people to emulate your leadership, and continue to do the great things that represent their leadership. Success should not be all about you. It’s about the team that makes it happen.
When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I’ll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.
Colin Powell Quotes – Military Connection
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
Keep calm and keep moving forward. Any meaningful goal will have detours or crisis. Keeping a calm head and kind heart can weather most storms. When everyone is experiencing stress, be the leader that creates calming solutions and restores focus and right action.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
Lead with purpose and consistent standards. Establish the purpose, and demonstrate what it means in practice. Ask others to stand and act on the vision too.
12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
Fear is a powerful enemy to progress. Fear can paralyze a leader or team, making it hard to go forward. Learning to identify and manage fears is a powerful control over negative advise. Managing clarity and rational thought lets you objectively manage emotions and practical forward progress.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Dominant optimism creates a hopeful reality. People will feed off one another’s energy. When thoughts and actions communicate a belief in the vision, mission and purpose, people will be inspired to join. By the same token paralyzing fear has the ability to enlist fearful participation that multiplies negative. If your choice is perpetual optimism or perpetual skepticism, remember that the energy you share is multiplied positively or negatively so perpetual optimism is a practical discipline.
Now more than ever we must cultivate and support our nation’s leaders.
Vouch4Vets is NEEDED Social Change to help put our nation’s leaders to work when they come home!
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- You invite and enlist an “army” of Advocates talking to employers about why you are awesome.
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