The Surprising 25-List That Successful Corporations Use

And Anyone Can Use It

Work has always been very important to my father, and he is a very curious person, in general. He is full of useful information and fascinating ideas.

Years ago, before my father retired, he told me something very surprising.

He told me that many successful corporations actually use the exact same leadership training as the United States Marine Corps (USMC), because it is considered to be the best in the world. I have, since then, corroborated this with various sources, including Forbes.

Knowing this, I have personally made it a point to apply this insider information to my own advantage, and I now share it with you.

First of all, the United States Marine Corps defines leadership as “[t]he sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, & moral character that enable a person to inspire & control a group of people successfully.”

And here are the USMC’s 14 Leadership Traits and 11 Leadership Principles.

The 14 Leadership Traits:

• Justice 

Giving reward & punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards & punishments impartially & consistently.

A leader must demonstrate fairness & impartiality with his Marines in order to maintain their trust & respect.

• Judgment

The ability to weigh facts & possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.

Sound judgment allows a leader to make appropriate decisions in the guidance, training, & employment of his Marines.

• Dependability 

The certainty of proper performance of duty.

A leader who is dependable gives his Marines confidence in his abilities to make the right decisions.

• Initiative 

Taking action in the absence of orders.

Marines must understand their Commander’s Intent & use it to make appropriate decisions in the absence of direct guidance or supervision.

• Decisiveness 

The ability to make decisions promptly & to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.

It is often better that a decision be made promptly than a potentially better one be made at the expense of more time. A leader who is confident in his decisions instills confidence in his Marines.

• Tact 

The ability to deal with others in a manner that will maintain good relations & avoid offense.

More simply stated, tact is the ability to say & do the right thing at the right time. Consistently treating peers, seniors, & subordinates with respect & courtesy is a sign of maturity & is conducive to mission accomplishment.

• Integrity 

Uprightness of character & soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness & honesty.

Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

• Enthusiasm 

The display of sincere interest & exuberance in the performance of duty.

Displaying interest in a task & showing optimism that it can be successfully completed greatly enhances the likelihood that the task will be successfully completed.

• Bearing 

Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, & personal conduct at all times.

Bearing bestows a Marine the ability to conduct himself as a leader & a professional that others will respect.

• Unselfishness

Avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort & personal advancement at the expense of others.

The quality of looking out for the needs of your subordinates before your own is the essence of leadership.

• Courage 

The moral, mental, & physical strength to do what is right, to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct, & to make tough decisions under stress & pressure.

Marine leaders must know & stand for what is right, even in the face of popular disfavor. Additionally, Marine leaders are expected to demonstrate physical courage in training & on the battlefield.

• Knowledge

Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one’s information, including professional knowledge & understanding of your Marines.

Knowledge gives a leader credibility with his Marines & enhances his ability to make appropriate decisions.

• Loyalty 

A leader expresses loyalty to his subordinates by supporting their needs and ensuring their welfare in a number of ways. Subordinates express loyalty by positively and efficiently carrying out the leader’s orders.

The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, the unit, to one’s seniors, subordinates and peers.

• Endurance

The mental & physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, & hardship.

Marines leaders must be able to hold up to extraordinary feats of physical & mental endurance if mission accomplishment so requires.

The 11 Leadership Principles:

1. Know yourself and seek self improvement. Constantly evaluate yourself to determine your strengths and weaknesses. Work to improve upon your weaknesses.
2. Be technically and tactically proficient. A Marine leader must know his job thoroughly in order to make good decisions and have credibility with his Marines.
3. Know your Marines and look out for their welfare. This allows a leader to keep his forces strong and to most effectively employ them in accordance with their capabilities.
4. Keep your Marines informed. When practical, a leader should inform his Marines of all happenings and give reasons why things are to be done. Informing your Marines of the situation makes them feel that they are a part of the team and promotes morale.
5. Set the example. A Marine leader’s personal conduct is always on display for his Marines. Remember that Marines tend to emulate the characteristics of their leaders.
6. Ensure that the task is understood, supervised, and accomplished. Leaders must give clear orders that cannot be misunderstood and then by close supervision, ensure that his orders are properly executed.
7. Train your Marines as a Team. Teamwork is essential from the smallest unit to the entire Marine Corps. As a leader, you must insist on teamwork from your Marines. Ensure that your Marines know their roles and responsibilities within the team framework.
8. Make sound and timely decisions. Marine leaders must be able to rapidly estimate a situation and make good decisions. Hesitation to make a decision — or failure to make a smart decision — leads subordinates to lose confidence in their leaders.
9. Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates. Doing so allows subordinates to accomplish tasks and remain productive in the absence of direct guidance or supervision. It promotes initiative and wholehearted cooperation in accomplishment of the mission.
10. Employ your command within its capabilities. In order to ensure mission accomplishment, a Marine leader must have a thorough knowledge of the tactical and technical capabilities of his Marines.
11. Seek responsibilities and take responsibility. Seeking out responsibilities will ensure that you continue to grow and remain productive as a Marine leader. Taking responsibility for your actions and decisions is a matter of integrity.

You can find a PDF on Marine Corps Leadership at the following link: https://www.trngcmd.marines.mil/Portals/207/Docs/FMTBE/Student%20Materials/FMST/Block3/FMST%20307.pdf

Thank you for reading! If you found this information interesting and useful, consider following me. I write about life from a Mediterranean perspective.

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