NO YELLING: A Study of Leadership Development of a Former U.S. Marine

Today we begin a new journey into our practical study of leadership development titled: NO YELLING. The lessons contained within our study stem from a book by Wally Adamchik entitled "NO YELLING: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business".

Many within (and outside of!) the Delta Companies, Inc., organization will know Wally from his many training sessions at Colas University, various Colas meetings, and even our own Delta Days training events. As a former U.S. Marine Officer, Wally led a tank battalion before becoming a pilot of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters. Today, he serves as President of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting. To learn more about Wally, visit his website at www.firestarterspeaking.com.

To begin, let's first look at the excerpts from the introduction of "NO YELLING: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business", to properly set the tone and expectations for the coming lessons.

Consider the following excerpts:

1. "Bosses lament and surveys show that too many workers are watching the clock, biding their time until they can go home. They show up day after day, uninspired, giving far less than one hundred percent of themselves to the job. Companies following this 'work as drudgery' model are marked for extinction."


2. “The organizations that thrive in the coming decades will be the ones that energize their employees. Machines and technology will only take you so far. The difference between success and failure is in the people in the organization – the very ones you are leading. The knowledge and information economy of the new millennium presents new challenges. Yet, effective leadership remains the key that unlocks the drive and desire in employees so that they, and the organization, win. And when that happens, you win. Effective leadership can be learned."


3. “Leadership is a conscious behavior, developed through application and ongoing assessment. It is both an art, learned and refined over time, and a skill that requires practice and introspection. It’s what makes people want to work for you. And, as you will see, it’s about trust. Successful leaders earn the trust of those they lead, allowing them to advance their agenda in support of the larger effort.”

Take a good look at your organization. Are employees watching the clock? Are they merely "getting through the day"? Or are the employees so engaged in their work and professional atmosphere that they are able to not only take pride in a day's work, but also look forward to the next day?

How does your leadership reflect on the answers to the questions above?

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc