In this module, General Hood and/or General Horst discuss their personal lessons learned along their journeys leading American Soldiers in peacetime and in combat.  Additionally, Generals Hood and Horst can expand the discussions to their experience being led by some of America’s best military leaders, as well as “expectations” of a leader.

Max DePree’s thought-provoking book, “Leadership Jazz,” provided me a new and  interesting perspective on the similarities between leadership and jazz music.  Good leadership is similar to good jazz music.  Leadership is the unique blend of both art and science, just as jazz music is the blending of improvisation and traditional music training.  Accomplished jazz musicians are all trained on their instrument in a traditional method (science), but their accomplishments and successes are the result of their ability to improvise their music in a unique way (art).

Similarly, accomplished leaders are trained in a traditional manner (science), but the best leaders improvise by injecting their own skills and qualities to create a leadership style that is unique to their ability and personality (art).

The next time you hear good quality jazz music, think about your leadership style and the quality of the leadership you demonstrate each day. 

— Karl Horst