Leading with purpose: Lessons from a four-star general

Key Takeaways

What do a county leader and a four-star general have in common? More than you might think. Both roles demand resilience, vision and a deep sense of purpose — and the lessons they learn are often universal and enduring.

On July 13, NACo Board members had the opportunity to hear from retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal, renowned for his leadership of the Joint Special Operations Command and later as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Gen. McChrystal joined NACo President James Gore for a candid conversation during the board’s meeting in Philadelphia. Gore opened the discussion by asking how county leaders can overcome “mission fatigue.”

“First, keep returning to the mission — keep coming back to the core purpose of what you’re trying to do,” McChrystal said. “The specifics can get extraordinarily hard, but if you can step back and remind yourself, ‘We’re really trying to make something better,’ that perspective can carry you through.”

His advice was clear: “Do what you can do. Something is more than nothing. No matter how hard it gets, you’ve got to stay focused.”

One quote he finds particularly inspiring comes from President Obama: “Just because we can’t do everything doesn’t mean we can’t do something.”

Gore also asked how leaders can maintain their integrity and leadership when facing difficult state or federal policies, unfunded mandates or the loss of programs that are working.

“You’re going to have times when you disagree,” McChrystal acknowledged. “But you’ve got to be loyal and follow through. Be the kind of follower you’d want to have — and the kind of leader you’d want your children to follow.”

McChrystal also shared how important it is for counties to create a welcoming community for veterans returning from service and advised not to “treat them as if they are weaker than they are.”

He also said he believes that some sort of public-private partnership requiring civic volunteer service for young adults would go a long way toward “making better citizens for the future.” He expressed frustration though that while “everybody’s for it, nobody will do it.” 

Many of McChrystal’s insights are captured in his newly published book, “On Character: Choices That Define a Life.”