126: Col. Everett Spain, part 2: West Point’s Head of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
Would you expect the army to change sooner or later than other institutions—say business, traditional education, or non-profits?
Col. Spain committed to using less plastic bottled water for 30 days. He reduced his typical use from 40 bottles to 1. At what cost? It sounds to me like the “cost” was of practicing discipline and selflessness, which sounds positive to me, what leads to long-term change.
I suggest listening for the emotional timbre of his change. Would you say he considers his life better or worse? He practiced personal leadership. He affected his family in a way I think he’d call positive. I heard him sounding satisfied for leaving the world better for his new behavior. I heard him want to continue.
For those looking to learn leadership, you’ll hear me explain, about 15 minutes in, my leadership technique from my book and practicing here my emerging Leadership and the Environment technique to motivate people through intrinsic motivation.
Why not follow the leader of the leadership department of one of the top places for teaching leadership?
Having interviewed him at West Point, I can’t help asking, why are we following other countries on something that improves our lives?
I hope you’ll ask yourself: Why wait for laws or others to start? Why not start yourself?
Read the transcript.