Attached is a useful article on The Responsibility of Leadership in Command

In addition an excerpt gleaned from the internet regarding the Navy perspective...which when you read it, is right on for the fire service... (http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~vschmidt/notes/ThoughtsOnLeadershipan...)

"Thoughts On Leadership and Command”

Excerpts from an essay entitled “Thoughts On Leadership and Command” written by Admiral Paul Sullivan in September of 1997. The essay was distributed to all the commanding officers in the US Pacific Submarine Fleet in the wake of leadership problems that surfaced on one of the West Coast Trident Ballistic Missile submarines. Some would argue that command of a submarine at sea is far different from the leadership required of, say, a corporate manager, or a research scientist. I would contend that the basic principles are identical and, in fact these basic principles are required of every would-be leader of others. You will find that Admiral Sullivan’s advice to his commanding officers is every bit as applicable and extraordinarily timely.

“What attributes does a successful Commanding Officer have? He cares for his people and their families. He is a good listener. He avoids arrogance. He trusts his instincts. He knows his boat and crew. His is a capable mariner who loves to teach his juniors. He leads by example. He has an unlimited supply of patience and enthusiasm... “

Admiral Sullivan goes on to list these axioms of superior leadership:

· Be yourself
· Lead by personal example – fair standards for all equally applied
· Know and recognize your limitations
· Always share the credit
· Be truthful to all, in particular, yourself
· Communicate effectively, it’s paramount
· Treat people with dignity and compassion
· Know where and when to be there
· Let juniors be stake holders and permit initiative
· Praise in public, reprimand in private, with the exception of when witnessing unacceptable behavior
· Honor our traditions and customs
· Be loyal up and down the chain of command
· Know your people and their families
· Do the right thing, no matter how difficult and painful it is
· With authority, one must accept responsibility
· Know your mission and keep focused on it
· Continue to grow professionally
· Stamina, personal health and physical fitness are paramount
· All Sailors want to come to work to contribute, take advantage of it
· Promise only what you can deliver, both the good and the bad
· Actions speak louder than words
· Be technically competent

Out of these axioms fall extraordinary achievements that cannot be accomplished by any single individual. The compassion, candidness, and professionalism embodied by those in command build up like good Karma in their subordinates and are passed on throughout an organization. Technically competent leaders, who provide effective training, a learning atmosphere, and prevent a zero-defect mentality promote an environment where employees can learn from their mistakes, thereby fostering exceptional technical expertise in their work. Not surprisingly, superior leaders rarely suffer from problems with employee retention.