Patton on Leadership

Some Patton leadership maxims that are applicable to Taekwondo instructors are:

• Do more than is required. When the minimum requirements have been met, true leaders are just getting started. They know excellence comes from doing more than people expect of you.
• Act beyond your fears. Do not deny fear. Learn to live with it. Courage is a learned skill.
• Maintain a quick-acting line of communication. Do not put too many assistants between you and those who you lead. Directly communicate with the lower ranks (students) so you know their needs.
• Be generous with praise. Being generous with praise, both in private and in public, will build loyalty.
• Take action. When a decision needs to be made, make it. Subordinates fear indecision in their leaders.

George Steinbrenner, the principle owner of the New York Yankees, considers General Patton the "go-to-guy" of World War II. A "go-to-guy" is the one everyone turns to when everything is going wrong. Sometimes, that person is not the formal leader; instead, he or she may be the informal leader. When things are going terribly wrong, people flock around the one who inspires and exudes confidence, the one they think has the ability to save them.

General Patton stressed preparation, teamwork, pride, motivation, and discipline. He would never ask his people to do anything that he was not willing to do himself.