A group of U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen got an unexpected lesson in leadership from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Midshipmen came to the Center for Strategic and International Studies to listen to Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford speak to the topic of “Today’s Global Challenges” writes Jim Garamone (DoD News)

In a Q&A session after a recent speech, Gen. Joe Dunford told a group of midshipmen what changes when they are commissioned.

“To this point,” he said, "someone cared about your grade point average. Someone cared about your level of physical fitness. Someone cared about your personal appearance. Someone cared about your accomplishments, your achievements.” But now? Nobody cares, he said. Why? Because those basic things were now assumed. Being on top of it, keeping healthy and performing with excellence, "that’s all in the sticker price of being a leader."

No more credit for those things. It’s just part of the job. What remained to be seen—what people did care about—is what they were able to do in their position of leadership.

“What you get credit for is the impact that you have on the young men and women that you’ll be so fortunate enough to lead. That’s actually what you get credit for.”





Article originally found here by Jim Garamone