GSB Welcomes General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Four-Star General Discusses Leadership with Students
Praveen Mellacheruvu
Issue date: 5/12/05 Section: GSB News
Addressing a question about a recent controversy where a magazine had quoted him as disagreeing with General Tommy Franks, General Pace emphasized the importance of the free press and said that if he had to choose between the free press and the military, he would choose the free press. As a related point, he noted that having a strong military is essential to helping ensure that such a free press can exist.
General Pace also took a few questions about the leadership aspects of his role in the military and the lessons he has learned from his experience. Some of the lessons included:
1) Caring for others. General Pace said that, first and foremost, people must take care of the ones with whom they are working.
2) Listening. Listening to the concerns of employees, he said, helps demonstrate to those employees that they are genuinely cared for.
3) Trust. General Pace said to be wary of anyone whose opinion never differs from yours on any issue.
4) Have fun! Having fun with subordinates helps to ensure that other people are having fun doing what they do.
In General Pace's afternoon session, Dan Fickel, a current student at the University of Chicago Law School and soldier who recently returned from Baghdad, asked General Pace to comment on the difficulties soldiers in Iraq face to "do more with less" due to a lack of troops and equipment. Pace began his answer by explaining that he truly understands the pain that this situation has caused the troops in Iraq. However, he said, the main issue is that in a country like Iraq, which is so resistant to foreign occupation, it is in the best interest of the United States to limit its troop numbers in Iraq and instead encourage the participation of the Iraqi army (much like the idea that it's better to "teach a man to fish").
In conclusion, General Pace reinforced the idea that as future business leaders, we have a great opportunity to shape the world around us throughout the course of our lives. He said that the economy of this country is the engine which drives all the other parts. "I would trade Usama Bin Laden tomorrow for a vibrant economy today," he said. We need to work together, he said, to reach that kind of success.
General Pace also took a few questions about the leadership aspects of his role in the military and the lessons he has learned from his experience. Some of the lessons included:
1) Caring for others. General Pace said that, first and foremost, people must take care of the ones with whom they are working.
2) Listening. Listening to the concerns of employees, he said, helps demonstrate to those employees that they are genuinely cared for.
3) Trust. General Pace said to be wary of anyone whose opinion never differs from yours on any issue.
4) Have fun! Having fun with subordinates helps to ensure that other people are having fun doing what they do.
In General Pace's afternoon session, Dan Fickel, a current student at the University of Chicago Law School and soldier who recently returned from Baghdad, asked General Pace to comment on the difficulties soldiers in Iraq face to "do more with less" due to a lack of troops and equipment. Pace began his answer by explaining that he truly understands the pain that this situation has caused the troops in Iraq. However, he said, the main issue is that in a country like Iraq, which is so resistant to foreign occupation, it is in the best interest of the United States to limit its troop numbers in Iraq and instead encourage the participation of the Iraqi army (much like the idea that it's better to "teach a man to fish").
In conclusion, General Pace reinforced the idea that as future business leaders, we have a great opportunity to shape the world around us throughout the course of our lives. He said that the economy of this country is the engine which drives all the other parts. "I would trade Usama Bin Laden tomorrow for a vibrant economy today," he said. We need to work together, he said, to reach that kind of success.