Another leadership tactic applied to Shaw is his ability to ask for advice when he needs it. He is open to change, but he also can recognize his weaknesses and wants to do something about them. He surrounds himself with a good, loyal staff, and realizes they need help in training, so he brings in an expert. This is another well-recognized leadership tactic. No one can do anything, and no one knows everything. To take command is sometimes to recognize defeat and then fix the problem. Shaw had the ability to do that, and admit that he could not be an expert in every facet of the Army. A good leader will bring in people to act as experts in areas where they may be weak or need additional training. A good leader will also recognize when they need advice or help, and are not afraid to admit they need this help.

Finally, Shaw had a great moral sense, and a strong sense of what is right and wrong, and this is another mark of a fine leader. Shaw tried to right some of the wrongs his regiment faced, from prejudice to cheating and low pay. He was a moral man who wanted justice and equality for his men at a time when blacks were still slaves in the South. A fine leader has morality, common sense, and a sense of fair play. This helps develop loyalty in the people they lead, and security, too. His men knew they could trust their leader and that he would never cross them or turn his back on them. That develops loyalty, and loyalty is one of the things a good leader...

Clearly, Shaw was a fine leader. That is why he rose to the rank of Colonel at the young age of 25. I viewed the film in the past, and saw it as an historic work, rather than a work that inspired leadership ideas and growth. Viewing it this time was like seeing the film for the first time, again. In fact, the film's basis was leadership, training, preparedness, and indoctrination. It shows how good leadership can take a diverse group and turn them into a cohesive and close-knit unit that is loyal, brave, and trustworthy. Perhaps more leaders should view this film and seek messages from it. It was a good exercise to view the film in this light, and compare it to corporations throughout America and the world today. Some leaders possess many of the qualities Shaw possessed, and many more do not. It is not easy to blend leadership with compassion and fairness. Perhaps if more leaders had the ability to do that, working for someone would become less of a chore and more of a positive experience. I think I will view other films differently too after this exercise, and will look for leadership qualities in places I might not have thought of before.