My latest salvo at Business and Politics is on the subject of Leadership.

I make the point that valiant character and moral virtues are not enough. It’s all about technique too – linking those qualities intelligently and effectively to Real Life.

Take two generals in the heat of battle:

General Noble exhibits all sorts of positive Steareish moral virtues such as humility, self-discipline and courage. But in his righteous zeal to end the conflict he does not check quite enough. He presses the button and the Predator blasts the wrong compound in the Afghanistan mountains, killing a wedding party

Down the road in Iraq is General Meany, mean-spirited, proud and greedy for success. And a suspicious sonofabitch. He checks the target 200% before he presses his button. Bang. A top terrorist and his minions go up in smoke, with no collateral damage.

Who wins the conflict? Who ends up being accused of war crimes?

And this:

I think that ‘character’ is important, but not enough.

The best leaders need all sorts of technical and operational skills too. The ability to motivate a huge team and impart a sense of discipline and loyalty. The ability not to be deflected by squalls of protest.

The ability to be accurate: to hit the target and only the target. But also the determination and purpose – even ruthlessness – needed to see off the howl of complaints when, as must happen sooner or later, the wrong target is demolished and innocent people lose out.

And the funny thing is this. Leaders in politics and business alike may not know themselves whether they have these qualities until a crisis happens. People thought to have all the right qualities may not deliver. People believed not to be able to cope in fact can do wonders when given a chance…