Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom

＂They’re shooting right down on us from the mountain to the east ... mortars, heavy machine guns, and maybe a thousand rifles. How are you coming in to relieve us?＂ The commander on the ground asked me these questions as our helicopters approached. His company was pinned down in a steep V-shaped valley.He then explained that the only approach was to hover above his company in the midst of all that gunfire and jump right into his perimeter. Getting this company of soldiers in there and getting them would test the leadership skills of the most savvy commanders.The story has a happy ending that you can use to talk about leadership with your team. Each leadership essential is illustrated with a real combat story that’s memorable and guaranteed to generate a discussion you can use to make everyone on your team a successful leader.

Dale Collie is an author and professional speaker with experience as a US Army Ranger, combat infantry commander, West Point professor, Fortune 500 executive, and CEO of a wildly successful international charity. Dale was the first infantry officer permitted to stay on active duty as an amputee after recovering from combat wounds in Vietnam. Fast Company magazine lists Dale as one of America’s Fast 50 innovative leaders.