Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders

On Thursday, Oct. 25, students in my public relations classes at Marist College will have the privilege of hearing from one of Marist's distinguished alumni and an award-winning leader, Captain Paul X. Rinn, U.S. Navy (Retired).

Captain Paul X. Rinn, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Captain Rinn (Marist College '68) was the commanding officer of USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS (FFG-58) when the ship struck a mine on April 14, 1988, during an Operation Earnest Will escort mission in the Persian Gulf. Despite crippling damage to the ship and several serious injuries to crew members, Captain Rinn's leadership and his crew's heroic actions prevented loss of life and saved the ship from sinking. In recognition of his leadership, Captain Rinn received a personal call from U.S. President Ronald Reagan. He was also awarded  the U.S. Navy League's John Paul Jones  Award for Inspirational Leadership and he was inducted into the U.S. Navy's Surface Warfare Hall of Fame. 

Gen. Martin Dempsey

It seems appropriate then, given the visit of Captain Rinn this week, to share advice about leadership from another distinguished military leader: General Martin Dempsey, U.S. Army, Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Speaking recently at the U.S. National Defense University, General Dempsey observed, "Military service is our nation's preeminent leadership experience." And today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment demands more than ever from young leaders. 

Commenting on the challenges ahead for young leaders, General Dempsey also noted that operating in a VUCA environment "means asking them to lead in diverse and challenging contexts -- to experience and recover from setbacks, unexpected events, and even chaos." He then went on to articulate the personal responsibilities required of leaders.

Leadership Development is Job One. People are any organization's greatest strength. The ability of innovative leaders to think critically about complex problems and "out-think" adversaries or the opposition will trump power and technology any day. 

Leaders Are Readers. Our nation needs life-long learners who are curious and read actively, follow trends in industry and society, continue their educational studies, consider important issues from various perspectives, and continually develop new ideas.

Lead Always, but Use Words Only When Absolutely Necessary. In my opinion, this is General Dempsey's most insightful and important point about leadership. He warned, "The future will be a difficult journey and one that we cannot take alone. He added: "Growing relationships is one of the tools in our leadership toolbox that we should reach for early and often. If we wait until a crisis, we risk being too late."

The general also addressed the importance of leadership communication as it relates to this point. "Words matter in every relationship," he observed. "The higher you climb the ladder, the more important it is to choose words carefully and with precision." And actions are often more important than words. Actions that are inconsistent with our vision, mission, values, policies, goals, and objectives erode and eventually destroy our credibility, which in turn destroys our ability to lead.

When I reflect on this point, I am reminded of one of the important pillars of the Marist Brother's tradition, which calls us to be "humble and modest ... seeking to do good quietly."

Trust is the Foundation of Our Profession. In his final point, General Dempsey stressed the importance of professional and ethical leadership. Senior leaders must trust their subordinates, partners must trust each other, and "mutual trust does not work without ... confidence that we are trustworthy teammates." Trust also determines the quality of our relationship with the people we represent, and those affected by our actions. 

In his final words, General Dempsey returned to his first point, "It is up to all of us to develop the leader after next." So it seems fitting that a leader of the caliber of Paul Rinn will speak with students on Thursday: a member of the Marist College Class of 1968, sharing his ideas with young, ethical professionals dedicated to learning, about to enter the 21st century's VUCA environment ... future leaders from the classes of 2013 through 2016. I can only hope that my students listen, take to heart Captain Rinn's advice, and apply his leadership wisdom to their own professional and personal lives.

NOTE: Click here to read the entire text of General Dempsey's remarks to the U.S. National Defense University.