Page 79 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Making Winners Fail

insightful observation as we stood there shoulder to
shoulder watching the jets take off on their

respective training missions.
“The average age of the instructor pilot in each
one of those jets taking off is about 25,” he said.

“They’re flying multimillion-dollar airplanes,
carrying with them student instructor pilots still
learning the trade, and with every mission my career
is on the line.” I looked at the general and asked,
“How is it that your career is on the line when they

are responsible for what happens?” He responded,
“As the leader, you can delegate authority, but you
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can never delegate responsibility.” =

t was a poignant moment for me—a leadership
I lesson seared into my consciousness forever. As the
leader, General Peterson had delegated authority to his

instructor pilots to fly the Air Force’s jets and train
their students, but the ultimate responsibility was his
and his alone.

Not unlike the world of sports, where a losing
team results in a new coach before it results in new
players, poor execution in an organization results in
a new CEO before it results in new team members.