10 Leadership Lessons From General George Patton


I recently had some time on my hands and got to watch one of my favorite movies, Patton.  It's the story of 4 star General George Patton and his exploits during World War 2. Written by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North, it's based on the biography, Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley's memoir A Soldier's Story.  

If you know anything about Patton, you know that he was a great leader.  He had many faults that got him into trouble frequently, but no one can argue with his numerous victories including his most heroic at the Battle of the Bulge.  So here are 10 things we can learn from General Patton.
  1. Honor your men. Patton was quick to give out recognition and even medals for valor.  He made it clear frequently his appreciation for their sacrifice and heroism.
  2. Keep an eye the big picture. Leaders can see all the moving parts and how they fit together. However, many leaders make the mistake of watching just the big picture or getting lost in the details.  Patton knew the balance between the two and was frequently one step ahead of his enemies.
  3. Believe in your men. Even when his men didn't think they could win, Patton did, and he wasn't afraid to tell them about it.  He knew he had trained them well and that they could get the job done even when everyone else thought it would be impossible.
  4. Obey your authorities. After Patton slapped a soldier for cowardice, he was sidelined.  It clearly frustrated him and almost drove him crazy.  Nevertheless, he did his duty and obeyed his superiors even though he thought they were wrong.  His example earned him even more respect amongst his men.
  5. Use your creativity. You have to be creative to solve problems, and presents a whole lot of them.  Patton frequently did things differently just to make sure the job got done.  Some thought he was crazy, but he didn't care as long as it worked.
  6. Define the objective and go after it. At the Battle of the Bulge, Patton had to move his men 100 miles in 48 hours.  No one thought he could do it, but he set a goal for his men and made sure they accomplished it.  The men of the 101st Airborne, and probably all of Europe have their lives and their freedom to thank him for it.
  7. Listen to those around you.  When Patton thought he was right he could be stubborn, but he also wasn't too proud to listen to the people around him.  He frequently sought their opinion to inform his own.
  8. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. In the movie, several of his vehicles got in a traffic jam.  Instead of complaining and getting one of his subordinates to fix the problem, he got into the dirt to direct traffic. Leaders have to be willing to get into the trenches and get dirty.
  9. Do your research.  Patton never went into a battle blind.  One of his greatest adversaries was Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. Patton read his book and used the knowledge to beat him in Northern Africa.  Leaders gather information before moving forward to make sure they make the best decision possible. as well as be quick on their feet when troubles come.
  10. Never give up. Patton was known for never giving up and keep driving forward.  He won many battles simply because he kept moving forward.  If leaders want to really do something we can't give up when it gets hard. In fact, they have to push through to get the true rewards.
General Patton was a great leader and one we can learn from despite his flaws.  Imagine what we could do for the Kingdom of God if we led like he did.

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