Colin Powell on Leadership - by Benedikt Kantus

For the younger generation among us: Colin Powell was an American general and Secretary of State twenty years ago. He was both admired and controversial.

When the going gets tough, take a step back. Sometimes things look overwhelming. Sleep on it for a night. Your brain will calm down and find new solutions.

Don't take it too seriously. Sometimes it is for the greater good. In any case, you will get over it. It is not about you, it is about the thing.

Be clear about your responsibilities and the responsibilities of others. Respect them. Do what you need to do to be successful and don't let other people who have no responsibility get in the way.

Build a culture where people pay attention to detail. If small things slip, bigger things will eventually slip. If the bar for acceptable behavior is lowered, all behavior will eventually be lowered. Pay attention to the little things.

Never Walk Past a Mistake; make on-the-spot corrections. First, and most obviously, correcting a mistake shows attention to detail and reinforces standards within an organization. Second, it teaches aspiring leaders to have the moral courage to speak out when standards are not being met.

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