A message on leadership from General Arthur Hyman

General Arthur Hyman was born in August of 1919. He lived through the Great Depression and served in the United States Marine Corps in World War 2, The Korean War and the Vietnam War. The General continued to progress throughout his career through careful leadership that balanced high standards and accountability with humanity. Below is a quote that serves as an example of leadership that all of us can strive for.

You cannot expect a soldier to be a proud soldier if you humiliate him

You cannot expect him to be brave if you abuse and cower him

You cannot expect him to be strong if you break him. You cannot ask for respect and obedience and willingness to assault hot landing zones, hump back breaking ridges, destroy dug in emplacements if your soldier has not been treated with the respect and dignity which fosters unit espirit and personal price.

The line between firmness and harshness, between strong leadership and bullying, between discipline and chicken, is a fine line. It is difficult to define, but those of us who are professionals and who have also accepted a career as leaders of men must find that line. it is because judgment and concern for people and human relations are involved in leadership that only men can lead men and not computers.