Marines


News
Base Logo
Official U.S. Marine Corps Website
Crossroads of the Marine Corps
Photo Information

Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; Patrick A. Burke, assistant chief, Washington, D.C. Police Department; Zachary T. Lowe Jr., section chief, FBI Academy; and Col. Allen D. Broughton, chief of staff, Marine Corps National Capital Region/Marine Corps Base Quantico speak during the U.S. Marine Corps Leadership Roundtable held at The Clubs at Quantico on Nov. 13.

Photo by John Hollis

Marines, civilians talk leadership

20 Nov 2014 | John Hollis Marine Corps Base Quantico

Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations, likened effective leadership to the coaching style preferred by the late Bear Bryant.

 

The legendary University of Alabama football coach was long renowned for overseeing his Crimson Tide practices from the tower that sat alongside the practice field. The high vantage point afforded Bryant the opportunity to see all of what was going on with his team.

 

Bailey advocated for a similar big-picture approach for effective leadership.

 

“When he was up there, he was looking, learning and absorbing,” Bailey said during the U.S. Marine Corps Leadership Roundtable held at The Clubs at Quantico on Nov. 13. “When he was up there, he could see everything.”

 

Bailey was among the four distinguished speakers to address the 60 guests in attendance, joining Zachary T. Lowe Jr., section chief, FBI Academy;  Patrick A. Burke, assistant chief, Washington, D.C. Police Department; and Col. Allen D. Broughton, chief of staff, Marine Corps National Capital Region/Marine Corps Base Quantico.

 

Dr. Kenneth D. Dunn, director, Marine Corps Leadership Seminar, served as the moderator.

 

The panel, whose theme was “Interagency Leadership: Bridging Gaps in security, law enforcement and force protection,” took turns speaking about the different characteristics required for effective leadership before breaking for lunch and later opening the forum to questions.

 

Bailey effectively characterized the traits necessary to be an effective leader with his acronym of “BALCONY,” that called for leaders (B) being above by seeing the big picture, (A) adapting to whatever comes at you, (L) listening, looking and learning, (C) concentrating your time and efforts in the most efficient manner, (O) seizing precious opportunities as they arise, (N) telling your own personal narrative and (Y) yielding to your own natural instincts.

 

Lowe echoed similar comments, but also stressed the importance of building a climate of trust and continuing to work at it at all times.

 

“Leadership is a skill,” he said. “It’s a skill you have to work on every day.”

 

Broughton cited “the ability to make timely decisions at the right moments” as yet another characteristic of a strong leader.

 

Burke added that strong leaders consistently surround themselves with good people and have a readily apparent passion for what they do.

 

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to get things done and take care of people,” he said.

 

Writer: jhollis@quanticosentryonline.com


Marine Corps Base Quantico