The picture you are looking at above is of junior U.S. Army National Guard sniper Pfc. William Snyder. Taken on April 7, 2018 by Army Staff Sgt. William Frye, you will notice a black racer snake slithering across the scope of his rifle. It is my favorite photo of the last year.
Pfc. Snyder was going through sniper training at Eglin Air Force Base when the photo was taken. The image is loaded with numerous leadership principles. The following are 8 leadership lessons we take from the Pfc. Snyder:
- Elite Performers Do Things Differently Than Average People Do – Which leads to my next point….
- Elite Leaders Must Have Elite Training – The picture above does not happen by accident. Snipers go through rigorous training to remain still for hours.
- Effective Training Must Take Place In Real Life Situations – Practice must happen at game speed. A sanitized training environment often leads to poor performance on the back end.
- Trained Leaders Remain Calm During Times Of Crisis – Smart leaders trust their training. How would you have reacted if a snake slithered near your face?
- Smart Leaders Understand What Actually Constitutes A Real Threat – One of the reasons the sniper could remain calm was he undoubtedly knew the snake was a black racer and non-poisonous.
- Trouble Often Comes Into A Leader’s Life Unannounced – Because of their skill and training, no one realizes snipers are on the scene and ready to execute their assignments.
- There Are Great Benefits To Remaining Still And Quiet – Stillness allows leaders time for strategic and forward thinking. Stillness allows you to quiet your mind. Stillness allows you to gain perspective. Stillness brings you peace.
- Successful Leaders Are Always Inviting Others To Join Their Team – This photo was for promotional purposes to attract people to join The National Guard.
What is the first thing you think of when you see the picture above?
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