POHMER ON…
Learning from the Marines
It’s often said management skills can be taught, but leadership
skills are ingrained at birth. But Marine offi cers are trained in
both. What can we glean from their training and expertise as we
face the challenges of 2010?
T
hough 2009 will not go into the annals development of management skills and the appli-
of history as being as outstanding cation of management theory; there aren’t too
year in terms of sales or profi t for our many courses taught on leadership!
industry, we lived to see another day I disagree; I think both leadership and man-
and are now ready to take on the chal- agement can be learned and taught.
lenges of 2010 — which will be daunting, as con- You’ve heard it before: “When things get
sumer spending will still be tight. tough, call in the Marines!” Is this because they
A question for you: Did you manage your way are the dumbest branch of our military services
through the 2009 crises, or did you lead your and too stupid to realize that they are being put
By Stan Pohmer
way through them? Many of you don’t really care at the greatest risk? That the chances for survival
which course you took as long as you survived, but are remote, and they have little chance of success?
there’s a distinct difference in the methods you To the contrary! They are called upon because
could have used to deal with the terrible hand they are the best prepared, both from a leader-
you were dealt. And the path you took could have ship and a situational awareness management
a distinct bearing on where you and your com- and execution standpoint with the best odds of
pany end up when these crises are behind us and success! Marine Corps offi cers are taught to be
consumers start spending more freely again.
“
leaders because it’s recognized that operational
execution is only a part (albeit an important
one) of being successful. In fact, the training and
There’s a lot to learn from Marines’ leadership
application of leadership and management skills
received in the USMC are prime reasons why ex-
and management training and practices,
Marine offi cers are among the most sought after
“
and successful business leaders.
things that you can adopt and use in your
There are 10 leadership principles that
are taught in the USMC that make sense for
personal and professional development.
business leaders:
• Know yourself and seek improvement
• Be technically and tactically profi cient
Some time ago, I read that great managers look • Know your Marines and look out for
inward, inside the company and the individuals in their welfare
it. They focus on operational execution and the • Keep your Marines informed
differences in style, goals, needs and motivations of • Set the example
their employees, guiding each person toward the • Ensure the task is understood, supervised
right ways to convert their unique talents into per- and completed
formance. Great leaders, on the other hand, look • Train your Marines as a team
outward. They look out at the competition, out at • Make sound and timely decisions
the future, out at alternative routes forward. They • Develop a sense of responsibility among
focus on broad patterns, fi nding connections and your subordinates
cracks, and then press home their advantage where • Employ your command in accordance with
the resistance is weakest. They must be visionaries, its capabilities
strategic thinkers and activators. The USMC also tries to instill leadership traits
Chances are you unconsciously employed a in their offi cers, qualities of thought and action
combination of both leadership and managerial that, if ingrained in daily activities, allow them to
skills in 2009, with more emphasis on managing earn the respect, confi dence and loyal coopera-
the situation at hand. But as you look forward to tion of others they work with, both subordinates
positioning your company to take advantage of and superiors. Here are the leadership traits:
the renewed growth potential to come, leader- • Justice
ship will be more critical. • Judgment
It’s been said that you either were a born leader • Dependability
or not, and leadership skills can’t be taught. (But • Initiative
management can.) And this is reinforced in all of • Tact
the business schools. Most of them focus on the • Enthusiasm
48 Lawn & Garden Retailer January 2010 www.lgrmag.com
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