Know Yourself and Seek Self Improvement:

     This principle of leadership should be developed by the use of leadership traits.  Evaluate yourself by using the leadership traits and determine your strengths and weaknesses.  Work to improve your weaknesses and use your strengths.  With a knowledge of yourself, and your experience and knowledge of group behavior, you can determine the best way to deal with any given situation.  With some Marines and in certain situations, the firm, hard stand may be most effective; however, in other situations the "big brother" approach may work better.  You can improve yourself in many ways.  Self-improvement can be achieved by reading and observing.  Ask your friends and seniors for an honest evaluation of your leadership.  This will help you to find your weaknesses and strengths.  To develop the techniques of this principle you should:

• Make an honest evaluation of yourself to determine your strong and weak qualities.

• Strive to overcome the weak ones and further strengthen those in which you are strong.

• Seek the honest opinions of your friends or superiors to show you how to improve your leadership ability.

• Learn by studying the causes for the success or the failure of other leaders.

• Develop a genuine interest in people; acquire the human touch.

• Master the art of effective writing and speech.

• Have a definite goal and a definite plan to attain it.

REFERENCE:  Marine Corps Values and Leadership User's Guide for Discussion Leaders