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You don’t have to hold a fancy title or official leadership role to be a leader.
You may also think that all leaders are just born with the innate capacity to inspire, guide, and coach others.
The truth is, leadership is a skill. With the right exposure, experience, and mentorship, leaders can be made; and you have many opportunities in your day-to-day encounters at work (and beyond) to become a leader.
One organization that has dedicated a remarkable amount of time, research, and investment in the development of its members’ leadership qualities is the United States Marine Corps (USMC). We in the business world have a lot to learn from the USMC’s efforts on this front.
In this series of Lead Like a Marine posts, I’ll examine key leadership methodologies and practices developed by the USMC and adapt these lessons to our experience in the world of business.
Leaders display courage
The first leadership resource I’ll review from the USMC is the 14 Leadership Traits.
An easy way to remember these 14 traits is with the acronym:
JJ DID TIE BUCKLE
This stands for:
Justice
Judgement
Dependability
Initiative
Decisiveness
Tact
Integrity
Enthusiasm
Bearing
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Endurance
Leaders step up to the challenge
Let’s explore each of these traits in more detail, focusing on what they mean and why they matter in the context of our work. It’s important to note that while we are discussing these leadership traits separately, they are neither isolated nor exclusive, and they often overlap in real life situations. In any scenario you find yourself in, it’s best to consider how all the traits together will help create the best possible outcome.
1. Justice
What it means:Acting impartially and consistently in accordance with the merits of the case in question.
Why it matters: Being fair and impartial is critical for gaining the trust and respect of those with whom you work; justice helps uphold commitment and team unity, especially in the exercise of responsibility.
Example:Fair apportionment of tasks to project team members according to experience and capabilities.
2. Judgement
What it means: The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.
Why it matters:Sound judgment allows us to make appropriate decisions in important matters. A leader who exercises good judgment weighs pros and cons accordingly when making such decisions.
Example: You decide not to respond in kind to a customer’s angry complaint and instead take some time to reflect, empathize, and respond with composure.
3. Dependability
What it means:The reassurance that tasks will be completed and performed to the best of one’s ability.
Why it matters:When tasks or work responsibilities are assigned, it’s important to know that the owner of those tasks will accomplish them with minimal supervision according to the job requirements.
Example: Your supervisor asks you to provide an important report on short notice; despite the inconvenience, you rise to the task.
4. Initiative
What it means:Taking productive action without being asked what to do.
Why it matters:In any role, most of us would prefer to work without close supervision or micromanagement; through initiative, emphasis is placed on being a self-starter. It shows that you can be relied upon and that you are innovative.
Example: Your fellow team member has to take a day off last-minute due to a personal situation; you step up and offer to take on what you can in his/her absence.
5. Decisiveness
What it means:Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear and confident manner.
Why it matters: In a situation where a decision needs to be made, it’s important that we gather all available facts, weigh those facts, choose a course of action, and communicate that action clearly. In most cases, it’s better to make a decision promptly, rather than spending an extended period of time trying to make a “better” decision.
Example: You are made aware that something important has been miscommunicated to a customer. Without hesitation, you consult your team and come up with a prompt communication tactic to correct the misinformation.
6. Tact
What it means: The ability to deal with others in a manner that will maintain good relations and avoid offense. More simply stated, tact is the ability to say and do the right thing at the right time.
Why it matters: The quality of consistently treating colleagues, customers, and vendors (or anyone we encounter day-to-day) with respect and courtesy is a sign of maturity. Tact allows instructions, guidance, and opinions to be expressed in a constructive and beneficial way. Showing respect and deference is a must, regardless of the conditions or how we may be feeling.
Example:After a team meeting, you privately point out to your colleague that an error was reported on one of the presented slides. You offer to provide the correct data to be presented by your colleague at the next meeting.
7. Integrity
What it means: Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty.
Why it matters:At work, your colleagues need to be able to rely on your word and trust that you will act with integrity. This means being honest with company time and resources and doing what’s best for your teammates and the organization.
Example: You find out that there was an overcalculation in overtime hours on your paystub and you inform your supervisor about the error.
8. Enthusiasm
What it means:The display of sincere interest and excitement in the performance of your responsibilities.
Why it matters:Showing (and actually having) interest in a task and displaying optimism that it can be successfully completed greatly enhances the likelihood that the task will be successfully completed. Your enthusiasm is also contagious (as is your lack of enthusiasm).
Example: There’s a new process change that’s been announced to improve business performance. While you don’t necessarily like the change, you educate yourself on why it’s important and show willingness and drive to help the change be completed successfully. Your enthusiasm about the change also makes your peers less hesitant about it.
9. Bearing
What it means: Carrying oneself in a professional manner, in appearance as well as personal conduct.
Why it matters:The ability to look, talk, and act like a leader (i.e. embodying all these traits discussed) shows that you are a leader. Bearing also involves remaining composed in difficult or emotionally laden situations so that you can inspire others and give direction when needed.
Examples: Dressing appropriately according to the situation (i.e. important meeting with a customer’s executive personnel vs. casual team outing); avoiding profane language; taking a deep breath and reflecting before responding to criticism.
10. Unselfishness
What it means: Avoiding personal advancement and not putting your own comfort at the expense of others.
Why it matters: The quality of looking out for the needs of others before your own needs is the essence of leadership. You may have heard the saying, “leaders eat last.” In the Marines, this isn’t just a saying, but a regular practice. A leader eats last to ensure his/her team is taken care of, supported, and equipped for the tasks ahead. To be a leader, adopt the “leaders eat last” mentality.
Example:It’s close to the end of the day and it comes to your attention that your colleague is struggling with a particular task that you can easily accomplish. While it means you’ll have to stay late, you make the effort to show your colleague how to complete the task in a more efficient manner.
11. Courage
What it means:Courage is a mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism yet enables a person to proceed in the face of danger and criticism with calmness and firmness of spirit.
Why it matters: We all face fears and challenges; the inability to confront those fears and obstacles leaves us stagnant and unable to take action. Having courage means confronting what scares us so that we continue to progress. Courage doesn’t just pertain to threats or physical dangers; it also means showing moral character in the face of injustice or wrongdoing.
Example:An opportunity you are interested in has opened up in another department, but you are hesitant to apply, fearing that you will disappoint your current supervisor. You show courage by asking for a conversation with your supervisor, thanking him/her for their continued support, and expressing your interest in the new position.
12. Knowledge
What it means:Understanding of a profession, skill, or field of work. This includes the range of one’s information, including professional knowledge and understanding of interpersonal skills.
Why it matters: The gaining, retention, and application of current developments in our industry and in your domain is important for your growth and development. Seeking out educational opportunities, engaging in training initiatives, and applying this learning will keep you ahead in your field, helping you to lead where others may have less information.
Example:In order to broaden your skill set, you actively seek out mentoring relationships with colleagues/managers who are well-versed in an area of work you want to learn.
13. Loyalty
What it means:The quality of faithfulness to your role, your colleagues, and the organization.
Why it matters: Loyalty builds trust. Trust sustains work relationships, drives positive outcomes, and promotes team unity. A leader’s loyalty is never in question.
Example: You become aware that one of your colleagues is secretly funneling customer contacts to a competitor with plans to leave the company and join the competitor’s team. Your loyalty to the company means that you inform your superior of this important information.
14. Endurance
What it means: The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand stress, challenges, and difficulties.
Why it matters:You’re certain to face difficulties and challenges in any role. Some days and some experiences will be tougher than others. A leader pushes through these difficulties, showing stamina, drive, and perseverance in the face of obstacles. In so doing, a leader motivates and helps bring tasks to completion against the odds.
Example:It’s been a long week filled with one fire to fight after another. It’s Friday afternoon and you’re ready for the weekend, but a critical system failure has occurred, and you need to get it fixed to resume smooth operations for the rest of the team before Monday. You’re mentally and physically tired, but you push through to get the issue fixed.
Leadership is tough, but worth it!
Bringing it all together
As you can see, it’s not easy to be a leader! But that doesn’t mean you can’t be one and that you shouldn’t be striving to be one, even if you’re not in an official leadership role.
With these guidelines in mind, try to strengthen the traits you already possess and work on developing those which you don’t. One way to do this is to recognize leadership traits in your peers and seek out their advice.
The next time an opportunity comes up at work (and there are always opportunities!), see how you can JJ DID TIE BUCKLE your way to making a positive impact and becoming an effective leader in your sphere of influence.
In the next Lead Like a Marine post, I’ll explore the USMC’s 11 Principles of Leadership.
