When thinking about military leaders who have led the nation on the front lines, General George S. Patton distinctly stands out among the others over the years.
General Patton, a renowned US Military officer, gained recognition for his exceptional leadership during World War II. His family lineage of military leaders fuelled his interest in the military and set his goals towards becoming a military hero. Patton's unique leadership style and strengths proved to be key factors in his many battlefield successes.
General Patton's military career was fueled by his early passion for the field. He became a successful leader due to his vast knowledge of military techniques, as well as his innovation in creating new cavalry saber and training methods while stationed at Fort Riley, KS (Hickman, 2012). Additionally, one of General Patton's most notable strengths was his goal-oriented
...mindset - he remained persistent and passionate while always keeping his purpose in mind. To achieve these goals, he utilized three out of the six "P's" of leadership (Sandlin M, 2012).
General Patton was known for his exceptional courage and discipline, two of his numerous strengths. According to reports, even great leaders can be incapacitated by fear. However, General Patton overcame this by relying on his instincts and making decisive choices that often caught the enemy off guard, resulting in victories. Moreover, Patton was highly disciplined, which was possibly the most prominent trait of his leadership style. Although his strict policies were often unpopular with his subordinates, they eventually earned him their respect and improved morale among his troops. Ultimately, this set the stage for General Patton and Allied Forces to gain the upper hand. (Adapted from Leadership With
You, Sept.)
According to Pannone (2012) and tkdtutor (Feb. 2012), General Patton was a skilled situational leader who effectively adapted his leadership style to different situations. He also entrusted competent individuals to carry out their work.
Despite General Patton's many leadership strengths, he also had weaknesses that accompanied them. His arrogance, recklessness, and excessive pride were considered weaknesses. Although he was goal-oriented and had a strong passion for his mission, this sometimes interfered with following orders from his superiors. His prideful nature made him believe that there was only one correct approach - his own.
Moore (2012) states that the "Tannenbaum and Schmidt Model" is best represented by the Authoritative style on the far left. Despite obtaining results, Patton often used unorthodox methods to achieve them. His military tactics were deemed reckless and he regularly defied orders, raising ethical concerns about his conduct during warfare. However, his extensive knowledge of military techniques and hard work resulted in numerous opportunities, including his appointment as commander of the 1st Provisional Tank Brigade during World War I in August 1918 (Hickman, 2012).
Patton was named the leader of the Third Army of America on August 1, 1944. He skillfully employed Katz's Three Skill Approach - which includes technical skills, human skills, and conceptual skills (Moore, 2012) - during his military service to take advantage of his chances. Patton displayed both technical and conceptual abilities by competently guiding and commanding his troops through the use of his knowledge and experience.
By utilizing his interpersonal skills, General Patton successfully maintained the morale and respect of his soldiers while achieving his goals as Commander of the Third Army during WWII. He faced many
challenges, such as German attacks in Normandy and Bastogne, but is most renowned for triumphing in the Battle of the Bulge - regarded as his greatest achievement. Furthermore, he had to deal with threats from individuals within American forces who were influenced by his powerful and respected leadership style.
General George S. Patton was renowned for his exceptional leadership and military acumen. Despite facing constant pressure to maintain his commanding position, he remained a passionate and driven leader who consistently achieved success. Although he employed unconventional tactics that were sometimes viewed as disobedient, he consistently delivered outstanding results.
Undoubtedly, General George S. Patton will be remembered as an outstanding and distinguished leader throughout history.
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