Leadership Lessons from General H Norman Schwarzkopf

Website design By BotEap.comH. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. as a child he dreamed of a military career.His father, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr., had attended West Point, “served in World War I,” and then in World War II rose to the rank of brigadier general in the US Army. After World War II, General Schwarzkopf, Sr. was posted to Iran and stayed on to help “organize and train the national police force.” (achievement.org H Norman Schwarzkopf)

Website design By BotEap.comDeveloping Discipline and Character:

Website design By BotEap.comIn 1946, the family of Brigadier General Schwarzkopf Sr. joined him in Iran. Norman, Jr. was 12 years old and attended school in Iran and later in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. He became an outstanding student and became fluent in French and German.

Website design By BotEap.comSkills Development: Attend West Point:

Website design By BotEap.comReturning to the United States, like his father, Norman Jr. attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point, along with his studies, he “played on the football team, wrestled, bled, and led the chapel choir.” (achievement.org H Norman Schwarzkopf)

Website design By BotEap.comA teacher’s lesson lasts a lifetime:

Website design By BotEap.comWhile at West Point, assistant coach Vince Lombardi taught Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.’s football team his ’49’ “Lombardi Sweep.” This play would later become a staple in the Green Bay Packers’ dominance of the NFL under Lombardi’s leadership.

Website design By BotEap.comLombardi Swept: His ’49’:

Website design By BotEap.comYears later, the eager young Schwarzkopf was now General Schwarzkopf. He was 6’3″ and 240 pounds with a gruff and direct communication style, and had a fearsome temper.

Website design By BotEap.comThis temper and a hatred of losing helped him lead his troops to victory during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. “He spoke French and German to coalition partners, showed awareness of Arab sensibilities, and served as an operational agent for the General Colin Powell on the ground”. (General Norman Schwarzkopf-ABC News)

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. would remember and use his own version of the “49 Lombardi Sweep” during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. This football play from his youth helped play a crucial role in the Coalition of United States’ victory. United in Desert Storm.

Website design By BotEap.comRon Kramer, a former football player for the Green Bay Packer under coach Vince Lombardi “was watching the news about Operation Desert Storm when he noticed General Norman Schwarzkopf detailing an assault by his forces on Iraq, using arrows and diagrams to illustrate the maneuvers.

Website design By BotEap.comKramer had played tight end for Green Bay from 1957 to 1964, squinting at his television screen. “He remembered that play. He had seen those arrows before!” Kramer remembers yelling at the television screen.

Website design By BotEap.com“I wrote a letter to General Schwarzkopf. I sent him ’49’ and told him that he had plagiarized Vince. I was in the army when Vince was there.”

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Schwarzkopf responded to Ron Kramer that he “had played football at West Point” and shared “his memories of the famous coach.” Related: Lombardi Sweep

Website design By BotEap.comTaking action:

Website design By BotEap.comSchwarzkopf’s first assignment was “as executive officer of the 2nd Airborne Battle Group of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.” He then went to work “with the 101st Airborne and the 6th Infantry in West Germany.” In 1960 and 1961, he “was an aide-de-camp of the Berlin Command.” It was a critical period “in the history of that divided city.” (achievement.org H Norman Schwarzkopf)

Website design By BotEap.comObtaining a master’s degree in engineering:

Website design By BotEap.comReturning to the United States, Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California.

Website design By BotEap.comTeaching Engineering at West Point:

Website design By BotEap.comSchwarzkopf returned to West Point in 1965 to teach engineering. Many of Norman’s classmates had gone to “Vietnam as advisers to the South Vietnamese Army.” In 1965, Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. applied to join them.

Website design By BotEap.comCaptain Schwarzkopf, Jr. served as an adviser to the South Vietnamese Airborne Division and was promoted to commander.

Website design By BotEap.comHe returned to teaching at West Point:

Website design By BotEap.comSchwarzkopf, after completing “his tour of duty in Vietnam”, returned to teaching at West Point.

Website design By BotEap.comLieutenant Colonel & Marriage:

Website design By BotEap.comMajor Schwarzkopf was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1968 and married Brenda Holsinger. Later they had three children.

Website design By BotEap.comIn Leavenworth, Kansas, Schwarzkopf continued his training at “the Command and General Staff College.”

Website design By BotEap.comColonel Schwarzkopf “as American casualties mounted in Vietnam, he became convinced that it was his duty to apply his training and experience there, where they could save the greatest number of lives.” (achievement.org H Norman Schwarzkopf)

Website design By BotEap.comReturning to Vietnam in 1969:

Website design By BotEap.comColonel Schwarzkopf returned as a battalion commander to Vietnam.

Website design By BotEap.comDoing the Ethically Right: Courage Under Fire: Vietnam:

Website design By BotEap.comDuring the Vietnam War on May 28, 1970, when General Schwarzkopf was a lieutenant colonel, “he ordered his helicopter to descend to rescue his troops who had run into a minefield.

Website design By BotEap.comSome were airlifted, but he stayed behind with his troops. A soldier tripped over a mine, breaking his leg and injuring the colonel, who crawled on top of the victim to prevent more mines from going off. Three other soldiers were killed by a mine explosion, but the colonel led the survivors to safety.

Website design By BotEap.comLt. Col. Schwarzkopf was willing to risk his life for his men.” (New York Times article by Robert McFadden)

Website design By BotEap.comBarbara Walters was interviewing General Norman Schwarzkopf and asked him to define leadership.

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Schwarzkopf said: “It is skillmore important, it is character. is taking values. That doing the right thing (ethical)stuff.”

Website design By BotEap.comIn the business world, these are the same four qualities necessary for success.

Website design By BotEap.comBarbara Walters asked General Schwarzkopf “What do you want on your tombstone?”

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Schwarzkopf said: “I want him to say: ‘He loved his family and he loved his troops, and they loved him.’

Website design By BotEap.comIf you were asked, “What do you want on your tombstone?” what would you say?

Website design By BotEap.comZig Ziglar, motivation expert, says: “Compassion, love and sympathy are definitely part of the formula for success. Having the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is paramount. When you really know how the person feels, another person, you can communicate with him or her more easily and lead more effectively. General Schwarzkopf knew it!

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral H. Norman Schwarzkopf said, “There is nothing wrong with being afraid. And true courage is not being afraid. True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyway, that’s what courage is.” .

What are the five leadership qualities that General Schwarzkopf identified, exemplified, and taught for success?

Website design By BotEap.com1) Competition,

Website design By BotEap.com2) Character,

Website design By BotEap.com3) Take action,

Website design By BotEap.com4) Do the right thing at all times (ethically) and have

Website design By BotEap.com5) Brave.

Website design By BotEap.comBy developing these five leadership qualities of General Norman Schwarzkopf, you too will become an exemplary leader!

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