Introduction
Colin Luther Powell was an officer of the United States Army and the first African-American Secretary of State during the Bush Administration. Powell was the son of Maud Ariel, a seamstress, and Luther Theophilus Powell, a shipping clerk. He grew up in South Bronx, where he attended Morris High School. Powell was a hardworking and intelligent individual from a young age. His military career began when he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), where he found his true calling. Powell described this occurrence as the happiest moment of his life because he found something he liked to do and was good at it. Upon graduation, Powell started training in Georgia as an Army second lieutenant, where he faced various racial discrimination. His character and discipline favored him in the army and led him to rise in the ranks. Powell visited Vietnam during the Vietnam War and, upon returning to the U.S., earned his Master’s in Business Administration. During the following years, Powell served various presidents in Washington, D.C., including Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. He broke racial barriers when he became the First African American National Security Advisor for President Ronald Reagan. This career projection continued to garner fame for Powell as soon after he earned the four-star general award from President George H.W. Bush. Powell’s achievements were remarkable to warrant his appointment as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position is the highest in the Department of Defense. He organized the military and oversaw Operation Desert Storm, which raised the bar for the United States in the international community. The battle was in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and witnessed victory with minimal casualties. This level of success highly esteemed Powell. At this time, he appeared to be in line for the presidency but refused the suggestion claiming that his talents were best fit for public service. President George Bush appointed Powell as his Secretary of State following his endorsement for the presidency. This feat of success ended poorly for Powell, given the erroneous information he presented to the United Nations Security Council concerning the rationale for attacking Iraq. Powell resigned from his post and embarked on his involvement in Philanthropic endeavors and advisory roles. He died in 2021 following complications from COVID-19. Powell remains the epitome of leadership in Americans’ minds. This article will analyze his personal, professional, and organizational leadership qualities.
Leading Yourself
Powell’s life and legacy illustrate extraordinary humility that made him an incredible leader of self. Tao Tzu said, “a leader is best when people barely know that he exists.” This statement shows the importance of humility in an effective leader. Humility begins at a personal level where an individual brings themselves to the level of their subjects without consideration of their ranks. Powell demonstrated this trait in various ways during his life. In his autobiography, Powell mentioned several officers who positively impacted his life through their treatment of subordinates and their care for others. He said Major General Henry “Gunfighter” Emerson was the most caring officer her ever met. Emerson was concerned for the welfare of his soldiers and strived to make himself approachable whenever they had issues. Powell followed Emerson’s example in his relationship with others. General (Retired) Mark Welsh, dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, testified on Powell’s humility when working as the Joint Chief of Staff. Powell made time to take pictures with his staff members, which is an incredible depiction of humility. Another show of humility is the ability to listen to others and heed their instructions. When Powell became, the Secretary of State, diplomat George F. Kennan advised him to avoid making unnecessary trips that would undercut the duties of ambassadors. Instead, Kennan told Powell to focus on his tasks. History shows that Powell heeded this advice and traveled less than any U.S. Secretary of State in thirty years. Another demonstration of Powell’s self-leadership was the impact he left behind on the nation and the people he interacted with routinely. Dwight Roblyer, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, narrates Powell’s interest and ambition in solving problems that faced his soldiers. Powell was not an aggressive leader that instilled fear in others. Instead, he was gentle, caring, and listening to others. These traits made his subordinates feel appreciated and drove them to perform excellently at their duties. Finally, Powell was wise and knew where he would best thrive with his talents. General Welsh recollected Powell’s response when he inquired concerning his political ambitions. Powell told him that his skill sets would be better suited for other roles. This testimonial shows that Powell was not greedy for power like many people today. This analysis shows the personality and ethics of Powell as a leader of self.
Leading Others
Powell possessed emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills in leading others. Emotional intelligence is a leadership skill with five elements; self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. Self-awareness is the ability to identify what you want from life and stick to that path despite the rewards and punishments of an alternate option. Powell demonstrates excellent self-awareness throughout his life and career. The first example is when he refused to run for the presidency despite numerous encouragements from outside sources. He was a grounded leader who understood his skill sets and knew where to put them at work. Powell’s achievements indicated that he would make an excellent president, but that was different from the path he wanted for himself. This example illustrates self-mastery. The second example of self-awareness is when he faced discrimination while training in Georgia. Powell was a young black man who had started his career and faced racial discrimination from restaurants and hotels. This hiccup did not hinder him from pursuing his career as a soldier. Self-regulation is the ability to maintain a calm posture and a clear mind despite the chaos and pressures of life. Powell demonstrates this skill during his interaction with Secretary of Defense Leslie Aspin. Powell and Aspin were at odds during the preparation for Operation Gothic Serpent. Aspin was arrogant and did not pay attention to Powell’s presentation. Regardless, Powell defended Aspin for his decision during the Battle of Mogadishu, which ended in disaster. This event shows that Powell did not allow his issues to affect the nation’s welfare. Another example of self-regulation is the nonpartisan spirit that enabled him to make decisions that neither served the interest of Republicans nor Democrats but the nation as a whole. A significant example was the endorsement of Barrack Obama, a Democrat, for the presidency when he was a Republican. Powell was a problem-solver who led the army to victory during the Gulf War. In his autobiography, Powell states that leaders should go beyond making decisions and implement these decisions for the benefit of their team. Problem-solving is at the core of every successful leadership. Gen Mark Welsh says that Powell was well-informed and was committed to getting the correct answer. The examples above show Powell’s emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills in leading others.
Leading Organizations
Powell was a visionary leader in leading various organizations under his authority. Successful leaders are those that care for the well-being of others. Powell defended U.S Diplomacy in every decision and advice he gave to his seniors. He favored non-militant actions over aggression to deal with conflicts. Powell lobbied for the international community’s support before embarking on any military action that would impact the trajectory of America. The U.S. military has faced criticism for its various unethical and illegal actions during conflicts. The Vietnam War lowered the public’s trust in the government because of the atrocious acts that were going on. Media coverage revealed the atrocity that soldiers did to women, children, and older adults. Powell was criticized for his inability to display the facts of the war. In later years, he atoned for his actions by encouraging peaceful ways of handling conflict that would maximize success and minimize casualties. He sought reforms in the Department of State through organizational culture and the optimization of resources. Powell’s commitments to the welfare of his country demonstrate the values of authentic leadership. Another example of his administration was when he pushed for the nation’s commitment to fighting AIDs and assistance funding. He also lobbied for the cessation of the nuclear weapons program in North Korea and Iran, which partially succeeded with Libya’s compliance in 2003. Finally, Powell founded America’s Promise, which provides young Americans with an opportunity to succeed in life through access to education, health, and service. America’s Promise Alliance aims to educate people on the Five Promises that guarantee success. These promises include having caring adults, a safe space, a healthy start, adequate education, and an opportunity to serve. The mentioned traits show that Powell was committed to leaving an impactful legacy that would help future generations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Powell was an excellent leader of self, others, and organizations. As a self-leader, Powell was ethical in all his dealings. He failed on certain occasions, particularly in the Iraq War, but these shortcomings did not deter his pursuit of excellence. Powell apologized for his mistake and stepped down from his position without coaxing. This action demonstrates his good faith and willingness to serve his country in whatever role. After his resignation, Powell participated in community development and enhancement of America’s Promise Alliance. He also wrote books on his life and achievement which are resourceful for contemporary leaders. Powell carefully selected friends who advised him how to lead and approach life. During his brigadier ceremony, he received a frame from Secretary Harold Brown’s protocol officer. This frame contained a quote from Abraham Lincoln that exhorted people to become humble. Powell received instructions not to open the letter therein for ten years. He obeyed this instruction and remained humble for the rest of his life. Powell is a powerful demonstration of the traits that leaders should possess to leave a remarkable legacy.
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