The General George Patton Museum Leadership Institute :: WebQuest
General
George Patton
Museum

Building Legendary Leadership: A Leadership Training Program

WEBQUEST

We believe that one of the ways to think about leadership is from the perspective of six characteristics or sets of behaviors that we associate with leaders like General Patton. We call these the six imperatives of Legendary Leadership and they are Values, Teamwork, Excellence, Commitment, Action, and Perseverance.

Values: Values ground and guide behavior; they provide boundaries; and they form a framework for self-respect, self-confidence, and self-discipline. The key behaviors we look for are honesty and truthfulness, ethical behavior, self-respect and respect for others, and the courage “to do the right thing when no one is looking.”

Teamwork: The exercise of leadership requires working with others. Teamwork, collaboration, communications and other interpersonal skills are essential to effective leadership. Things we look for are trusting and being trustworthy, sharing credit and rewards, listening to others, communicating effectively, and supporting others.

Excellence: A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of leadership and self-respect; it reflects the Legacy of General Patton’s Legendary Leadership. Things we look for are leading by example, striving for excellence, a sense of humility, and “encouraging the heart.”

Commitment: Passionate commitment and perseverance have long been recognized as leadership essentials. Effective leaders must be committed to their organization and to their teammates, and they must be willing to take personal risks for the success of the team. Things we look for are inspiring a positive vision, being good at what you do, never giving up, and trying new things.

Action: Leaders “make things happen” and that requires not merely commitment but well developed critical thinking, analytic, problem solving, and decision making skills. We want our leaders to be “where the action is” and to be positively influencing the action. Things we look for are decisiveness, taking responsibility, personal action, supporting action in others, following through (completing things), continuous learning, and sharing rewards.

Perseverance: General Patton described leadership as “how high you bounce” when you have suffered a set-back. Effective leaders are tough minded, self-confident, and persistent. Things we look for are encouraging others, maintaining a positive attitude, rejecting “failure,” overcoming handicaps and personal weaknesses, innovation (trying new things), and just plain hard work!

In this exercise, we want you to go on a Web Quest to think about each of these imperatives and write down some of your finding and thoughts.

  1. VALUES
    http://www.pinetreeweb.com/values.htm
    After reviewing the information from the site above, where did you learn values? What can we do about the “moral decay” in America? How can you Scout without being a scout? List 3 easy actions you can take to improve your values and those around you.
  2. TEAMWORK comes in all shapes and sizes and requires knowing when to take charge and when to listen. Find your favorite web image of teamwork. Describe or draw what it looks like and record the website.
  3. EXCELLENCE
    http://www.ushistorysite.com/patton_quotes.php
    Choose two quotes from this site that in your opinion most represent Patton’s passion for EXCELLENCE. Explain and support your choices.
  4. COMMITMENT
    http://www.armchairgeneral.com/gen-george-s-patton-jr-at-west-point-1904-1909.htm
    General Patton had a COMMITMENT to being great although he was constantly faced with a struggle. While reading through this site, describe the struggles he had to overcome in his early military career. What label or word did he use do describe himself then? What word would you use to describe him during this time? How would you have handled this adversity? How can you relate to his struggles?
  5. ACTION
    Patton Museum Official Website --- Leadership Quiz
    http://www.generalpatton.org/education/leadership_quiz/index.htm
    Explore the link above and complete the leadership quiz. What kind of ACTION do you take on a daily basis as a leader? Begin reflecting and thinking about yourself as a leader. Write a brief summary of your results.
  6. PERSEVERANCE
    Go to You Tube and search the following titles; ‘Perseverance’ Derek Redmond, PERSERVERANCE Quotes/DavidQoutes.com
    How do these videos change/shape your definition of perseverance? Explain.