A New Age Of Small-Unit Leadership

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may beThe Marine Corps, an organization with a robust
republished in newsletters and on web sites providedtradition of small-unit leadership, has institutionalized
attribution is provided to the author, and it appears withhigh-level commitment to small-unit leaders. For
the included copyright, resource box and live web siteinstance, in chow lines in the field, the lowest ranking
link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated buttroops eat first, the highest ranking last.
not required: mail to: Word count: 828(How might the cultures of some organizations start to
A New Age Of Small-Unit Leadershipbe changed for the better if, for instance, its
By Brent Filsonexecutives gave small-unit leaders parking perks, while
Recent mergers in many industries remind me of athey, the executives, took their chances in the main
point thatlot?)
Gen. Dwight Eisenhower often made, "Generals moveTop leaders who demonstrate commitment to their
the pins on a map," he would say, "but the front-linesmall-unit leaders will have committed small-unit leaders.
troops have to get the job done."Without top-down commitment, effective small-unit
And the key to the job is leadership, small-unitleadership will not flourish through the whole business
leadership, leadership of the most basic units or teamsbut instead in relatively ineffective, scattered islands.
of an organization.But top-level commitment, though necessary, is not
Without good leadership in front-line units ­ thesufficient. A passion for small-unit leadership should
squad leaders and platoon commanders or theirsoak the entire culture of the organization. Everybody
business counterparts, the supervisors and first-levelmust catch the spirit of and contribute to maintaining a
managers ­ organizations stumble, no matter howculture of small-unit leadership excellence.
skillfully the pins are moved on the map.The word culture comes from the Latin root meaning
Yet in bringing leadership programs to many"to cultivate." To grow small-unit leaders, everybody in
businesses in a variety of industries during the past 20the organization must cultivate them. Spot them early.
plus years, I've seen many companies neglectingBring mentors into their lives. Set their expectations
small-unit leadership.high, not only for themselves but for their colleagues
Time and again, I have seen technologists promotedand leaders above them. Encourage them to develop
right off the lab bench to become team leaders; I'veleadership in others.
seen assembly workers promoted off the line to beA successful executive told me that his career was
supervisors; and salespeople made local managerschanged by a small-unit leader. At one time, the
and yet they were not helped in substantive waysexecutive was a high school dropout working on the
with their leadership skills.assembly line.
Instead, their employers were focusing on the pins and"During breaks," he said, "I always had people gathered
maps, the re-engineering, acquisitions and divestitures.around me. I had this knack of getting them interested
Sure, the stocks of those businesses got quick boosts,in what I had to say. One day, my supervisor told me
but I wonder how well-positioned the businesses are tosomething that changed my life. He said, 'I've been
achieve consistent earnings growth over the long haulwatching you with people, and you're a natural leader.
without skilled, small-unit leadership.With more education, you could go far.'"
Consistent earnings' growth is linked to consistentThe executive said, "Until then, I had never looked at
top-line growth. Such growth rests on a tripod. One legmyself as a leader. Suddenly, I had a vision in life. I was
is strategy, the pins on the map; the other leg issomething I didn't know I was: a leader. I finished high
resources; and the third leg is execution. Small-unitschool, went to college, and came back here.
leadership is the execution leg."That supervisor 's passion for leadership defined my
So I submit that in the coming years, businesses willcareer.. He was always spotting potential leaders and
come to realize the importance of small-unit leadershiphelping them become leaders. His teams consistently
to top-line growth and earnings' growth.racked up the numbers because of his leadership. He
In fact, the coming years will reveal an exciting newhad me understand that his level of leadership is
age in small-unit leadership. Businesses that championtremendously important in our company."
such leadership will be tremendously competitive.Finally, the business that is serious about small-unit
Here are a few ideas on how to make it happen.leadership must systematically develop them through
First, the CEO and senior executives must recognizewell-thought-out, comprehensive training programs.
the vital importance of small-unit leadership. I'm notIn the coming New Age of Small-Unit Leadership,
talking about their simply paying lip service but havingleadership development people will have extremely
instead a passionate conviction that small-unitimportant roles to play. They will be seen as some of
leadership is indispensable to growth.the most important leaders in the organization, since
Senior executives must encourage small-unit leaders.their interaction with small-unit leaders will be
Celebrate their achievements. Help them overcomecontributing directly to top-line growth, to having people
their failures. Measure their leadership performance.get the job done where ever the generals place their
Develop compensation that stimulates them topins in the map.
advance as leaders.