Army Strategic Leadership Primer

Was doing research for another class, and found the Army's Strategic Leadership Primer at the Army's War College.

It had an interesting introduction:

"It became clear to me that at the age of 58 I would have to learn new tricks that were not taught in the military manuals or on the battlefield. In this position I am a political soldier and will have to put my training in rapping-out orders and making snap decisions on the back burner, and have to learn the arts of persuasion and guile. I must become an expert in a whole new set of skills."

George C Marshall

General Marshall is alleged to have made this observation as he reflected upon his early years as Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) in the beginning months of World War II Marshall apparently believed his previous education, training, and experience had not adequately prepared him for high-level leadership1

As the CSA, his success depended upon his ability to persuade influential people and organizations, both in and out of government, to employ their efforts on behalf of his vision of a winning wartime strategy and to mobilize the Army to make that strategy a reality. General Marshall’s particular insights in this matter support the belief that beyond the direct and organizational levels is a third level of leadership: the strategic level. This Primer is intended to set the stage for a greater understanding and more in-depth study of leadership at the strategic level—the context, challenges, characteristics, and requirements of strategic leadership.

The Primer is located here: http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/dclm/slp3.pdf