Oct 03 2007
No Yelling
The JF Book Review
As a leader, being responsible for the welfare of a group of people can be daunting but being responsible for the lives of a group of people, must be the ultimate challenge, which is why I have so much respect for military leaders.
Wally Adamchik is one such person and he has successfully taken the lessons he learned as a leader in the elite US Marines into corporate life, establishing himself as a consultant, speaker and leadership guru.
“No Yelling – The 9 Secrets Of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business” is direct, insightful and masterful: Here is an extract from the Introduction:
“Japan, January, 1987 – You are at my side in an M-60 tank. We are conducting a tactical training exercise at the base of Mount Fuji, operating as part of a Marine battalion, working jointly with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Two days into the exercise, snow begins falling heavily. Of course, battles don’t stop because of bad weather and neither does training. But the snow continues, and our tanks do not have winter cleats on their tracks. We’re in a sixty ton vehicle on the side of a mountain, sliding on ice, with no control. With the situation now unsafe, the battalion calls “time-out”, and we occupy defensive positions as part of the now changed scenario.
We gather our four other tank commanders and explain the situation. We acknowledge the uncertainty, but remind the men that there is work to be done. I leave them with this statement as they go back to their tanks and their own crews; “I’ll be in my tank. Call me with questions. Just make sure you are doing something productive”.
An hour or so later, the Company Executive Officer is knocking on our tank and he is very agitated. “The CO (Commanding Officer) wants to see you. Now! He’s over on the main road in his jeep”. We trudge through the snow several hundred yards to see the Captain. He is red with rage. “Adamchik, what do you think you are doing?” “Sir?” “The battalion commander and I are touring the area and everything is fine – until we come to your platoon. I told him I would take care of it. Now, what the *$§% is that?” he demands, pointing to one of our vehicles.
In front of the tank are two snowmen. More precisely, a snowman and a snowwoman. We know they are man and woman because they are anatomically correct. I am speechless. “Well, what is that?” “Ummm, it looks like a snowman and – woman, Sir. Actually it is a snow couple”. “Really….and why are they there during our tactical exercise? Did they teach you this at Ft. Knox as some new security measure? Or are you just trying to embarrass me in front of the Battalion Commander?” “No, Sir. I told the men to do something productive. I was not as explicit as I should have been”. “No, you weren’t! Now, go fix this! Is that explicit enough for you?” And he is gone in his jeep.
What a lesson in communication! I have never forgotten it. I told our people to do something productive, and they did. They didn’t go to sleep. They didn’t wander around. They built snow people – a snow couple. What else might a couple of nineteen year olds do in a snowstorm? Yet, in this (now) comical moment is a powerful example of the importance of clear communication in leadership. In the coming pages, we will look at actual examples and lessons on various aspects of leading people.”
“No Yelling” includes one hundred interviews with current and former Marines now succeeding in the private sector and I can confirm that this book is inspiring and it is most definitely motivational – I have no reservations about recommending it to you, if you are involved in any form of leadership, you will learn a lot. More about Wally in case you missed yesterday’s post.
Wally Adamchik is the President of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a national leadership consulting firm based in Raleigh, NC. You can visit the website at www.beafirestarter.com or email him at wally@beafirestarter.com. “No Yelling” (www.noyelling.net) is available online.
Today’s News: Colleen Francis - a fellow member of the Top Sales Experts team - is Clayton Shold’s guest over at Salesopedia today: Colleen is one of the most energetic business experts I have ever met, her schedule is awesome - so well done Clayton for pinning her down for a few minutes - not literally of course 
Tomorrow: That man Jim Meisenheimer is my guest author tomorrow - expect something different, as usual.
