Author discusses 'real leadership' expectations

By Anna PedronFebruary 10, 2016

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 10, 2016) -- Simon Sinek, a leadership expert and bestselling author of the books Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last, spoke to students at the Maneuver Center of Excellence about true leadership as part of the Combat Leader Speaker Program Feb. 3.

Sinek started his presentation by explaining to the students about the impact one's environment has on leadership. He said that humans are social animals, and the strength of an individual is conditional upon the environment in which that individual operates.

"We have to have trust and cooperation," Sinek explained. "Cooperation means I give you a task and trust you'll do it to the best of your ability, and I don't have to double check it.

Sinek also explained the major difference between leadership and authority.

"All too often, we confuse leadership and rank," he explained. "As you gain rank you gain authority - but it doesn't make you a leader.

"Often times we do as they (an authority figure) tell us because they have authority over us - but we would not follow them. Leadership has nothing to do with being in charge, and everything to do with taking care of those in your charge. And it comes at great personal risk."

Sinek explained that a true leader puts the interest of the people in their charge over their own needs, and would sacrifice what they needed to in order to protect their people.

He encouraged students to focus on being leaders and not just faces of authority, and assured them over time they would see how it impacted their own lives and the lives of their Soldiers.

"You cannot measure how good a leader you are on a daily basis because of ups and downs, trials and tribulations - sometimes we are at our best and sometimes we are at our worst," Sinek said. "But it's great to see the measure of good leadership over time - so give yourself the time to become a great leader."

Sinek then reminded the students to remain humble in their careers, saying, "humility is the deep-seeded knowledge that you know your individual success is because of the ones supporting you - the people around you. It's not because of you."