How the Marines Can Help Your Online Community
As a member of the Sam Houston Rifles, we had to memorize and practice the 11 Leadership Principles and 14 Leadership Traits taught by the United States Marine Corps. These principles and traits merit occasional reflection by business & online community leaders.
The Center for Leadership Studies at the USAF Air War College posts a brief analysis of these virtues and offers suggestions for personal development and team improvement in each area.
11 Leadership Principles of the USMC
14 Leadership Traits of the USMC
The 11 Leadership Principles
- Know yourself and seek self-improvement.
- Be technically and tactically proficient.
- Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.
- Make sound and timely decisions.
- Set the example.
- Know your Marines and look out for their welfare.
- Keep your Marines informed.
- Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.
- Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
- Train your Marines as a team.
- Employ your command in accordance with its capabilities.
The 14 Leadership Traits
The acronym JJDIDTIEBUCKLE helped us memorize the 14 Leadership Traits.
- Judgement The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.
- Justice Giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
- Dependability The certainty of proper performance of duty.
- Integrity Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty.
- Decisiveness Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.
- Tact The ability to deal with others without creating offense.
- Initiative Taking action in the absence of orders.
- Endurance The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship.
- Bearing Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance and personal conduct at all times.
- Unselfishness Avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.
- Courage The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.
- Knowledge Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one’s information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.
- Loyalty The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, the unit, to one’s seniors, subordinates and peers.
- Enthusiasm The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.
Where can you improve? How can you apply these skills to your online community?