title: Leadership wisdom.
abstract: Becoming a good leader starts with effectively leading yourself. Good leadership flows from good followership. While leaders need to be adaptive, they need to make sure that change is actually necessary and not merely the illusion of progress. Effective juggling of leadership responsibilities requires identifying the glass balls and making sure that they do not drop. Leaders need to be visible and be out front, especially when things get rough or when they are the most perilous. Anger should never be allowed to reign and cloud a leader's judgment. Leadership is not "one size fits all," those being led are unique and, consequently, different approaches will be necessary to properly motivate followers. When considering important leadership decisions, it is advisable to seek out your own Napoleon's Corporal to be sure that your plan is sound and those who will implement it do in fact fully understand it. Genuine belief in your Soldiers is the most powerful and lasting thing that you can express as a leader. Lastly, mentoring is a solemn responsibility of leaders that must never be eclipsed by the many literal and figurative battles of the day.
authors.affiliation: Health Physics Office, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Melanson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008889:Military Personnel; D015279:Organizational Culture