Article 19: 27 Rule of Leadership

Article

Nov 14

Throughout my 15 years of leadership experience, I have learned 27 Rules Of Leadership (ROL). As a note, when I started this blog, it was 24, but it has grown, and I suspect it will continue to grow throughout my leadership journey.

Leaders who can leverage these rules will advance on their leadership bridge. However, if a leader fails to practice adhering to the rules, their progress will halt, and momentum will stall. These 27 ROL will allow you to gain trust, earn respect, and achieve results regardless of where you are on your leadership journey. Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PALs) understand and implement these rules daily while creating their own. Think of these rules as tools in your tool kit. Maybe one will not fit the current job, but I bet another one will.

There is no secret formula to success. However, if you implement a proven Rule Of Leadership in the right environment, you will increase your ability to succeed.
-Joshua K. McMillion

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Rule of Winning

PALs understand winning is important, but how they win is essential. There are two ways a leader can choose to win. One way is sustainable, while the other only erodes your reputation and character. First, the right way is to understand there are no shortcuts, magic pills, or perfect plans to create a winning organization. It takes hard work through routine, accountability, and discipline (RAD). When leaders put in the hours, they are humble in victory and grateful in a loss. Second, the wrong way of winning is to take shortcuts, thinking you will reap the same rewards without doing the work. When leaders succeed without personal buy-in, it causes them to be arrogant in victory and unappreciative of the loss. PALs are grateful for defeat because they understand that the wisdom gained from experience will only improve them.

Rule of Liker-ship

PALs hold the standard in the organization and understand most decisions are unpopular. Regardless of rank or position, leaders can fall into the trap of making choices for others versus the organization. First, new leaders are significantly more at risk of making this mistake. This is due to a lack of leadership intelligence that comes with experience. Second, leaders who start getting results and developing a following can fall into the same trap. When the noise around you becomes noticeable, do not give in to your ego. Instead, stay anchored in the core values that have gotten you this far. Leaders must make decisions for the group's benefit, not individuals. PALs understand there will be people on their team who disagree with their choices, but they will respect them.

Rule of Mindset

PALs understand that they must develop a growth mindset to achieve long-term success. If leaders can create time to think, those thoughts turn into beliefs. Beliefs are powerful because they drive our actions. Actions pave our path, defining our legacy (T-BAL). But it all starts with our mindset and how we view problems. Leaders must not focus on goals but be focused on growth. Focusing on goals leads to a scarcity mindset from a fear of failure or not enough. PALs foster a growth mindset that creates abundant thinking, leading to their chosen legacy.

Rule of 100%

PALs understand that it's physically impossible to give above 100%. Every day is an opportunity to show up. If you have a rough day and decide to quit early, thinking you can make up the work tomorrow, you will fail. If you give 80% today, it's impossible to give 120% tomorrow. Trying to give that extra effort will only lead to leadership burnout. When leaders delay action, those events lead to a negative compounding effect. Each task that was supposed to be performed yesterday now competes with the present job. PALs give each day 100% and demand the same from their team.

Rule of 3C’s

PALs are coachable, curious, and committed regardless of the phase of leadership they are in. First, curiosity is vital for leaders to maintain a growth mindset. The moment you believe there is nothing else to learn is the moment you stop growing. Second, leaders remain coachable toward others and the environment. No matter how high you climb, there is someone on your team with creative solutions. Your job is to break down barriers and allow your team's creativity to flow. Third, leaders are committed to growth for themselves and their team. Once a leader loses conviction, the organization can sense it, and what was once a priority no longer matters. PALs remain coachable, curious, and committed.

Rule of Buy-In

PALs understand that relationships are vital for gaining and maintaining momentum. A leadership position and the authority gained from those titles are temporary. You must quickly move from the title and towards people to create personal investment. To create buy-in, leaders must develop their reputation by consistently making sound decisions and clearly communicating the direction. When a leader can communicate effectively, it helps to guide others toward the shared vision. People do not follow words alone. Ensure your actions align with your vision. PALs create buy-in from their team by developing a solid reputation, aligning words with actions, and inspiring others to take the journey together.

Rule of Flexibility

PALs train leaders within the organization to a point where they can perform their own job exceptionally well. Regardless of your position or leadership phase, the ultimate goal is to train others to fulfill your role successfully. Building redundancy within your teams allows for synergy and resilience. Life has a way of throwing challenges our way, and at times, you may find yourself understaffed. Overcoming these challenges requires building redundancy within your organization. However, as a confident leader, you must be willing to train others to perform your job. As you progress on the leadership bridge, your influence grows, and you face a decision point. Embrace a growth mindset rather than a scarcity mindset. If you fear losing what you've worked towards, you may resist training others to perform your job. But PALs understand that when the team wins, they win. They freely share their knowledge and secrets, actively creating leaders who can perform their job even better.

***Joshua K. McMillion***

It takes courage to invest intentionally with others. A cold hard fact of leadership is you can not be everything to everyone at all times. Choose how you spend your time.

Rule of Power

PALs give power freely to everyone on their team and achieve results faster. If you are unwilling to share power with others, you create bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Power can come in many forms. For example, leveraging experience, sharing information, or connections are all forms of power. Leaders also wield power by holding titles, which provide positional authority, coercion, and reward. These forms of power should never be exerted to control others. As a leader, your job is to share power freely with all. Withholding critical information only builds organizational walls. PALs break down barriers and lead with a sledgehammer mentality.

Rule of Little Things

PALs understand that big things fall into place when an individual or team gets the little things right. Consistent action leads to extraordinary results. What separates extraordinary from ordinary teams? Extraordinary organizations can focus on the process that will create those outcomes. When you can focus on performing routine actions, you will slowly improve each time. However, if you try to take on big goals, it can quickly demoralize you. You're slowly eating away at those large goals and building momentum by performing small routine actions. Eventually, you will achieve a decisive point where enough traction has been gained that success is inevitable. PALs focus on small wins and are willing to put in the extra effort.

Rule of Strengths

PALs understand their strengths and are intentional with their time to improve them. A common error I have seen in military and civilian leadership roles is individuals' spending time on their weaknesses. Regardless of the time you devote to something you're naturally not gifted at or dislike doing, you will be average at best. Only when individuals achieve elite status in the margin between your competition is thin will you benefit from devoting time to developing your weaknesses. Instead, be intentional and master your strengths while allowing others' strengths to cover your flaws. PALs create a culture where it is a standard operating procedure to spend time developing strengths.

Rule of Listening

PALs tap into transformational listening, cultivating a coaching culture and fostering a growth mindset. Being able to listen is a vital characteristic of any leader. Still, most leaders never achieve the fourth level of listening, transformational listening. There are four levels of listening a leader will use. The first is passive listening, which often occurs when a leader experiences mental drift. Second is transitional listening, where the leader is only looking for ways they can benefit. Third is empathetic listening, allowing the leader to better understand what their team is experiencing. The fourth level of listening is where a leader connects not only with the emotional state of others but also with the physical. Once you can connect deeply, it allows you to ask powerful questions that challenge assumptions and elicit self-awareness. PALs practice active listening and cultivate a coaching culture.

Rule of True North

PALs allow their core values to guide critical decisions. Leaders must have an internal compass pointing them to their true North. True North is your core values, character, and morals, ensuring that every action, decision, and word is weighted. Once leaders make decisions outside their true North, they erode their reputation. Your reputation is hard to build but easy to lose. When you are confronted with a challenging decision and reflect back to your true North, the answer will come. PALs allow their choices to be guided by who they are and protect their reputations at all costs.

Rule of Dead Space

PALs surround themselves with people who have unique ways of solving problems. Every leader has an Achilles' heel regardless of experience or position. That weakness is themselves and how they view issues. As a leader, we can only see situations through our lens. When we do, dead space develops. Dead space is an area you cannot see or maneuver in and is often invisible to us. It's essential to surround yourself with individuals that have diverse backgrounds. When we have diversity, it strengthens the organization by harnessing out-of-the-box thinking. Our differences will help prevent dead space from forming around leaders. PALs create heterogeneous organizations equipped to handle complex problems.

Rule of Compounding

PALs understand that steady action over time will create extraordinary results. The Sorites Paradox states if a piece of sand or grain is added to a collection, at what point does it become a heap? The rule of compounding can work in two ways for leaders. First, leaders can develop a RAD action. Each action is added to the previous one, and a mountain is formed. Second, leaders give into temporary discomforts and allow requirements to build upon each other. Eventually, a mountain of work is the result and stymies organizational momentum. As a leader, you can tap into the law of compounding and climb new heights. Or, you can choose in action and be smothered by a mountain of responsibilities. PALs are RAD in their actions and leverage the rule of compounding to take the organization to the summit.

***Darren Hardy***

It's not the big things that add up in the end; it's the hundreds, thousands, or millions of little things that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary.

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Rule of Tribe

PALs are intentional with those they spend time with. A general rule I follow is called my top five. Think about the top five people you experience most of the day with. From that list, exclude your family and even your coworkers. Who are the top five people you choose to spend time with? The fastest way to predict anyone's future is to see who they devote time to. A fact of the human condition is we adapt to the environment around us. Look at your top 5, and I bet you share the values and beliefs of that tribe. PALs surround themselves with individuals that stretch their thinking and abilities.

Rule of Candor

PALs encourage open lines of communication, especially constructive criticism. No team will ever become great unless they can openly challenge ideas in assumptions. However, there is a wrong way to challenge and a right way. First, avoid openly criticizing ideas in public. When A leader criticizes openly in public, it causes the team to build walls. As a result, innovation and creative thinking grind to a halt. Second, never openly challenge in public. If you disagree with others' ideas, having healthy debates is okay; it's not okay to make it personal. PALs praise innovative thinking publicly and challenge privately while breaking down walls.

Rule of Failure

PALs understand that failure is an essential ingredient in success. There are several ways to view failure, but here are two critical ones. First, you can blame the environment on others for your failures and refuse to change. When leaders choose this path, they form transitional leadership traits, allowing their hearts to harden. Second, you can view failure as an essential life lesson and become stronger from experience. When leaders view failure in this light, they develop humility and gratitude. In failure, there are two ways to learn. First is wisdom, which comes from our failures. The second is experience, which comes from others' failures. PALs view failure as an opportunity to improve and seek mentors to learn from their experiences.

Rule of Traction

PALs understand without traction, organizations stall but, with it, become unstoppable. To create traction, leaders need to inspire through a shared vision while creating buy-in from their team. Once leaders connect authentically and start moving in the same direction, they create small wins. Small wins leverage the rule of compounding and start to build upon themselves. As a result, team members build confidence, and the organization gains momentum. Having momentum is critical for sustaining growth because it allows your business to weather obstacles by applying a sledgehammer mentality. PALs create traction and, as a result, develop resilient organizations that can endure and succeed in challenging times.

Rule of Sewing

PALs invest in their team and allow time for that investment to mature. A universal fact in leadership and life is to receive anything, you must first be willing to give. The rule of sewing centers around two mindsets. First, transitional leaders have a scarcity mindset and cut corners while expecting others to give. Second, transformational leaders have abundant perspectives and freely share. Think of it like planting crops. Before you can reap the harvest, you must do the work of laying the seed. Then, you must invest your time and resources to allow that seed to mature and grow. Eventually, the seed will blossom into a towering tree that bears fruit for everyone. A key point with this rule is to be careful of what you sow. Eventually, you will receive in abundance precisely what you planted. PALs relentlessly add value to others, allowing their investment to mature and grow.

Rule of Mirrors

PALs act as mirrors for their team and organization. The actions you choose daily, your words, and even how you care for yourself are watched. How you conduct daily tasks determines how others in the organization perform theirs. What core values and attributes do you want to be replicated in your organization? Leaders are mirrors and reflect what is truly important in their own lives. Ensure your words align with your deeds because someone is always watching you. Leaders' actions create new standards and will be mirrored across the organization. PALs consistently act in alignment and model the way for others.

Rule of 1%

PALs do not chase unrealistic goals. In life, leaders pursue complex plans but never see improvement. As a result, morale plummets in the organization and loses traction. However, you have to rethink how you chase big goals. To knock down 300m targets, you need to make small daily improvements. Those improvements will add up when you can improve just one percent across numerous areas. Think of it as an ice cube. At 29°, there's no change, 30° no change, and 31° no change. At 32°, the ice cube moves just a fraction. Eventually, with enough small improvements, you will see changes, resulting in those unrealistic goals coming into focus. PALs focus on making micro improvements and do not become tunnel-visioned toward unrealistic goals.

***Joshua K. McMillion***

Strive for the 1% improvements in your life – it's not about drastic changes, but the accumulation of small, consistent efforts that lead to a remarkable transformation.

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Rule of 3H

PALs understand their team must be actively part of the process to achieve anything. To get your team on board with your vision, you must follow the 3H rule. First is the head; you must clearly communicate where you're taking your team so they can see it. Being able to visualize the path is the first step. The second is heart. Leaders must create an emotional connection to the vision. Why is it important to the individual, team, and organization if we succeed? Once you have one over your team's heart, there's only one step left. Third, a leader needs to enlist their team's hands. Leaders who allow their team to forge the path alongside them create alignment between head, heart, and hands. PALs understand before they can achieve results, they must first enlist the help of others by showing them the path, explaining the why, and allowing them to help.

Rule of Refraction

PALs are light benders, able to shift a spotlight from themselves to the team. As a leader, you must understand when to be in front and take a step back. When a team member or group achieves milestones and shares in their celebration, do not take credit for their accomplishments. Part of leadership is recognition. You must be able to reward individuals for their efforts, or they will find somewhere else to work. Next time the light is shined on, ask who made this possible. Once you answer that question, allow them to be in front. PALs take every opportunity to publicly recognize others because they are successful when the team and organization are successful.

Rule of Sledgehammer

PALs understand that there are some problems only they can solve. To have a sledgehammer mindset is a delicate balance. Your goal as a leader is to not rescue your team when facing challenges. Instead, your job is to provide guidance and the tools to overcome those obstacles. When a leader consistently rescues their team, they're creating an unhealthy dependency. You become the team's accountability net versus holding them accountable for their actions. Not holding others to a standard leads to a mindset that it's acceptable to fail because of laziness. Leaders only intervene when their team is stretched beyond their capability. At that point, a leader destroys the obstacle and ensures a system is in place to prevent it from happening again. PALs know when to step in and remove barriers with a sledgehammer mindset.

Rule of Fear

Fear is a powerful word, and in leadership, it can prevent you from gaining traction and moving forward. But just like the rule of mindset, you have to understand that fear is a tool for you to use. If we spell it out, fear does not mean finding excuses and reasons not to take action. Fear stands for facing everything and rising. Here's a better one: Fear is failing early and rejoicing. When we take inspired action, it can be scary. But that is good because we genuinely care about what we do when we are scared. Being scared creates cortisol in our bodies, a chemical reaction that has allowed our species to evolve and overcome obstacles. Remember that it is important to you the next time you are scared, so take the time to mitigate the risk and give it 100 percent of your effort. If you do not, your body will produce cortisol or stress, which, over time, can kill. Conquer your fears and limiting beliefs.

Rule Of Tactical Patience

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned throughout my leadership journey is the rule of tactical patience. As a young platoon leader, I acted when the environment stimulated a response. But in a combat zone, that is precisely what the enemy wants you to do. They want you to react to the present situation without thinking and act purposefully. To begin to practice tactical patience in your life, here is an acronym STOP that you can use. First, silence your mind. One of the hardest things to do is block out the noise and focus on the problem. The second is to take a tactical pause, meaning take a deep breath and allow the information to soak in. Third, observe your surroundings. Whether in a combat environment or a boardroom, your surroundings will give you whispers of the truth. Finally, pursue with purpose. Most of the time, we are willing to dive head first, ultimately leading to countless wasted hours and effort. Effort from yourself and others on your team. To be a PAL, you must learn to tap into tactical patients.

Rule Of Fire

So, what do I mean by fire? There will be more obstacles than you can count in this life. Fire is the ability to take a challenging situation and allow it to purify our hearts. Think of it like this. We use intense heat to purify silver and gold. Elements go through the fire, enabling impurities to reach the top. Those impurities are removed, allowing purified silver or gold to remain. The same is true in our lives. You will have trials and tribulations That you must go through, but you can choose one of two paths. First, we can allow those tribulations to harden our hearts, leading to toxic leadership habits. Or, we can use those events to purify our hearts. Here's a quote I love from Matthew 5:18, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Leadership is a journey, and we never truly master it. Do not allow the tribulations you will go through to harden your heart.

Final Thoughts

Leadership is a blend of art and science. To be an effective leader, you must understand that specific rules help you achieve results. Not every rule will be applicable in your particular situation. However, use these 27 ROL as tools to be added to your toolkit. Remember, to be a leader means to inspire. Leaders must understand the tools at their disposal and how to effectively employ them to achieve the desired end state. From this list of 27 rules, here are the top three I believe are universal in any leadership position, regardless of the phase of leadership.

First is the Rule Of Sewing. You must invest in your team and allow that investment to mature. The second is the Rule Of Mirrors. Your organization will mirror the behavior and values you demonstrate. Ensure you're modeling the behavior you want to be emulated in your organization. Finally, the Rule Of Candor. Organizations that can challenge assumptions from a healthy point of view will succeed versus organizations that go with the status quo. Use these 27 ROL to amplify your leadership journey to become a more PAL and inspire others. We all have greatness inside, but it's up to us to forge those abilities. Become the leader your team needs!

After Action Review

Reflecting on Winning and Integrity: How can I ensure that I'm pursuing success in a way that aligns with integrity and sustainable effort, rather than seeking shortcuts that could harm my reputation and character?
Navigating Unpopular Decisions: As a leader, how can I make the best decisions for the organization, even when they might be unpopular among specific individuals? How can I maintain alignment with core values and prevent ego-driven choices?
Developing a Growth Mindset: What steps can I take to cultivate a growth mindset and shift my focus from goals to continuous personal and professional growth? How can I approach problems with an attitude that encourages abundance and learning?
Optimal Effort and Avoiding Burnout: How can I consistently give 100% effort without burnout? How does delaying tasks or not giving my all today impact my ability to achieve long-term success?
Coachability, Curiosity, and Commitment: How can I embrace being coachable, curious, and committed throughout my leadership journey? What strategies can I use to maintain these qualities regardless of the phase of leadership I find myself in?