When training young managers, having a discussion of sources of power is fundamental.

When I am mentoring officers on effective management, I use this approach: I help them see how their effectiveness is multiplied by their use of informal sources of power rather than relying on formal sources like rank and position in the hierarchy. These lessons on Army style leadership have broad application to all lines of business. These managers and leaders will be least effective when they require formal authority to trigger action, whereas if they had informal power through their human connections to the non commissioned officer corps for example, their effectiveness can increase by an order of magnitude. The techniques for how to grow informal power sources EW extremely important among professions such as the Army when leadership and management positions are retained for one to two years at most and the leader must quickly secure the consent of the governed to be effective. 2. In any discussion of influence, you will notice the name Robert Cialdini highlighted as an expert in influence and I can recommend his books highly. You'll see his name quoted almost everywhere persuasion is discussed especially among the practitioners of neuro-linguistic programming. 3. Information on interpersonal influence strategies should be copied and placed inside every leader's notebook. (Available on request) 4. The discussion on values with respect to increasing power is extremely important. The leader must navigate a fine line between pure effectiveness and the ends to which the effectiveness is applied. People are very sensitive to being gamed or worked by insincere, and authentic managers and leaders who are using buzzwords and techniques that do not reflect their soul. Artificiality is the fastest road to ineffectiveness I've ever seen. I am also reminded of the important distinctions between cultures and their expectations. Culture has a lot to do with not only how power and influence are secured but appropriate ways in which that power may be employed. Being unaware of cultural differences in this dimension can be fatal. Power and influence are important discussions for mentors to have witht heir young students. These life lessons will stay with them their entire career, so make sure you give them appropriate insights. Ken Long, Chief of Research, Tortoise Capital Management [http://www.tortoisecapital.com] Adding value through independent research, combining technical analysis and human behavioral psychology. 30 day free trial of reports and live trader chatroom. Providing mentoring and coaching for professional traders.

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Colin Powell was--and wasn't--born to greatmess. The son of working-class Jamaican immigrants, Powell was born during the Depression and reared in new York City's tough South Bronx. Those roots wouldn't seem to be a springboard for success, certainly for someone destined to become one of this country's most powerful and influential leaders. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But Luther and Maud Ariel Powell had high hopes that son Colin and his older sister Marilyn would be achievers, and they laid a strong family foundation. His parents "did not recognize their own strengths," Powell once told a Parade interviewer. "It was the way they lived their lives" that established values the children adopted. The Powells worked hard, commanded respect and insisted their children attend college." My parents and my minister, my aunts, uncles, cousins--they were nurturing my beginning in life," Powell tell SUCCESS." They said, 'Don't disappoint us and don't shame us.'" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That admonition was not lost on powell, who ultimately gained admiration and respect from members of both political parties and the American public, His resume would include stints as national security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state, as well as leader of volunteer initiatives such as America's Promise Alliance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Touted as a possible candidate for the presidency in 1996, Powell's popularity crossed party and racial boundaries. In declining to run, he said he was nevertheless heartened that a black man was considered a serious presidential prospect by both parties. "That's the realization of a great dream, even though I may not be the one to fill it," he was quoted by The New York Times as saying. "In one generation, we have moved from denying a black man service at a lunch counter to elevating one to the highest military office in the nation and to being a serious contender for the presidency." Rewards of Honesty As a youth, Powell remained a worry to members of his boisterous, supportive family because he did not excel or even apply himself academically as a youngster. "I wasn't a particularly good student," he says. In his autobiography, My American journey (written with Joseph E. Persico), Powell describes himself as generally well-behaved but a "directionless" youngster. One of his worst transgressions was sneaking away from church camp for beer when he was in his teens in the early 1950s. Powell was sent home where he faced his parents' wrath, but was redeemed by almost-divine intervention. A priest told his parents "Colin stood up and took responsibility. And his example spurred the other boys to admit their guilt." That turned the experience around, Powell writes. "My parents beamed. From juvenile delinquent, 1 had been catapulted to hero. Something from that boyhood experience, the rewards of honesty, hit home and stayed." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That lesson has played out many times for the soft-spoken Powell. Generally regarded as

noncontroversial, he nonetheless has not been afraid to voice his conscience. Most recently Powell crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Barack Obama for president over Republican John McCain. In an interview with Meet the Press, Powell said he saw Obama as "a transformational figure" and cited "his ability to inspire because of the inclusive nature of his campaign." He also said he regretted disappointing McCain, whose campaign he had supported and whom he considered a friend. Powell's support was critical for Obama as he sought credibility with voters concerned about his lack of experience. Powell also famously reversed course on the Iraq War. As secretary of state in February 2003, Powell propelled the United States toward an invasion when he asserted in a U.N. statement that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. But in September 2004, two months before resigning from the cabinet, he told a Senate committee the statement was based on erroneous intelligence. Powell has since called the U.N. speech a blot on his record. Earlier in his professional life, Powell's principles put his career on the line when he pressed a couple of thorny issues with his commanding officer in 1982. The general, who was notoriously hard to please, later gave then-Brig. Gen. Powell a lukewarm written review that Powell expected to end his military service. "I had no regrets," he wrote in My American Journey. "1 had done what I thought was right." After that, Powell retooled his resume for the Civilian job market. He didn't know then that movers and shakers already had noticed his potential and made sure he got a second chance. Finding His Direction Powell chose a military path when he was in college. He had been accepted at New York University where tuition was $750 a year, but City College of New York required only a $10 fee. So CCNY it would be. Powell's mother wanted him to study engineering, but difficulty with mechanical drawing convinced him to change his major to geology. He graduated from CCNY with a C average. But Powell gained something much more important: purpose and direction. At CCNY, he discovered the Reserve Officer's Training Corps, and that provided a spark that would fuel his dreams and goals throughout life. "1 liked the order in [cadets'] lives--the order they could put in my life," he says. Upon graduation, Powell was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army and in 1962 was sent to South Vietnam as a military adviser. During a second tour of duty in the late 1960s, he was in a helicopter crash and, despite his own injuries, was able to rescue fellow soldiers from the burning wreckage. For his heroism, he was awarded the Soldier's Medal, one of several commendations earned during his military career. During this period of his life, Powell excelled in military and academic pursuits. Although an average student in his early years, he made excellent grades in his 30s while earning his MBA at George "Washington University, despite lacking many undergraduate prerequisites when he enrolled. Also while in his mid-30s, Powell served a coveted White House fellowship, honing his knowledge of national issues and the inner workings of the federal bureaucracy as well as his understanding of how the Army functioned within that bureaucracy.

Path to Success Although Powell considered the fellowship a detour from soldiering and had been reluctant to apply until the Army ordered him to do so, the time spent in the White House paved the way for his future success. In 1987, he was appointed national security adviser, followed by appointment in 1989 as chairman of the Joint Chiefs. In this role, he oversaw crises including Operation Desert Storm, and gained a reputation as "the reluctant warrior" who favored diplomatic solutions before military intervention. Once committed to military intervention, however, Powell advocated use of overwhelming force to maximize the potential for success and minimize casualties. He applied this strategy to Desert Storm and was widely viewed as a hero of the Guff War. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Powell's military approach earned him respect among members of both political parties. Democrats admired his moderate stance while Republicans associated him with successes attributed to Republican administrations. In his later years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Powell's name surfaced among members of both parties as a potential vice presidential candidate in the 1992 election. But Powell was careful not to align himself with either party until the day he announced he would not seek the presidency in the 1996 election. On that day, he reportedly registered as a Republican, according to The New York Times--but he maintained his influence, saying he would evaluate candidates of both parties before offering his support. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In declining to seek the presidency, Powell cited a lack of passion for politics and a desire to spend more time with his family after so many years of public service. Today, Powell says his greatest source of pride is "my family and my kids--and that's not a dodge." He refers to Alma, his wife of 46 years; their children, Michael, Linda and Annemarie; and his Sour grandchildren. "There's no single other thing 1 can point to." An Obligation to Give Back For all his career achievements, Powell says he did not build his life around goals: "1 never put chalk marks on the wall [that indicated] I've got to do this. I've tried to do my best at what has come my way. ... I'm not without ambition, but I'm not driven by ambition. I've had a full and active public life." Powell says he would like to be remembered "as a good soldier who served well and is well thought of by his fellows." Those fellows include his greatest mentors, "the captains and majors who taught me as a lieutenant and kept me going straight ahead." His best advice for others: "Look for something you love to do and you do well Go for it. It will give you satisfaction in life. It could mean money, but it may not. It could mean a lot of titles, but it may not. But it will give you satisfaction." Today Powell lives in McLean, Va., and lends his influence to youth programs, many with an educational focus. He is a key supporter of America's Promise Alliance, which aims to ensure that all American

children have access to fundamental resources so they can become productive adults; the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center, which helps youths graduate from high school and go on to further education or training; and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provide safe, caring sites for kids to learn and grow when not in school. He also has served on the boards of Howard University, the United Negro College Fund and the Children's Health Fund. He founded the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at his alma mater, City College of New York, which aims to develop students from underrepresented populations into leaders. "Every American citizen has an obligation to give back" to a nation that has created so much opportunity for him or her, he tells SUCCESS. "That means being a good citizen ... but it also means performing community service and public service, sitting on the board of a nonprofit or even running for elective office. They can also help people through their church and workplace. With America's Promise, we encourage people to get involved in the life of a young person." Powell was the America's Promise founding chairman, and he and his wife speak on behalf of the organization and other causes by encouraging donations and volunteerism. He says he respects generous volunteers, including people working on HIV/AIDS, Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill Gates, Berkshire Hathaway CEO and billionaire Warren Buffett, and U2 musician and humanitarian Bono. But Americans "spend too much time admiring people with big names," says Powell, who is more impressed by a woman in his church who helps disadvantaged students and by a retiree who goes every day to a Boys & Girls Clubs to positively influence youngsters there. "My admiration is for the unknowns who give their time, their talent and their treasure--their money" to help others. Lavish in praising others and modest about his achievements, Powell nevertheless commands respect and admiration through his very active retirement. The ability to lead has been a hallmark of his career. "I have inspired more people by example, and I do that by giving them a sense of purpose that what they do is important. That must be conveyed throughout an organization." RELATED ARTICLE Colin Powell's Rules 1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look batter in the morning. 2. Get mad; then gel over it. 3. Avoid having you ego so close to your position that when you position falls, your ego goes with it. 4. It can be done! 5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it. 6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. 7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours. 8. Check small things.

9. Share credit. 10. Remain calm. Be kind. 11. Have a vision, Be demanding. 12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers. 13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Source: My American Journey, autobiography written with Joseph E Persico Points from Powell * ON LEADERSHIP: A leader must make hard decisions. This was a lesson he learned in college. A friend on the trick drill team was distracted by girlfriend problems. Powell was tempted to take over an upcoming competition for him, but didn't. "We came in second," Powell writes in My American Journey. "1 was angry, mostly at myself. I had failed the trick drill team, and I had failed [my friend], too, by letting him go on that floor unprepared, when I knew better." Powell also supports servant leadership, having realized "leaders are nothing without followers," and that a leader must make sure his team has everything it needs to complete its mission successfully, according to The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell by Oren Harari. Ultimately, "leadership ... is responsibility," Harari quotes Powell as saying. * ON INSPIRING OTHERS: "I do try to inspire," and inspiring goes beyond motivating, Powell tells SUCCESS. People must feel that their efforts matter. Powell says he conveys that by "giving them what they need to get the job done," which includes equipment and training. * ON MISTAKES: "We all make mistakes. Young people worry about making mistakes. I make mistakes every day, although hopefully fewer than they make because I have more experience. What you do with a failure is study it and see what you did wrong, what you did to fail in the situation. Once you've analyzed it and learned from it, roll that mistake up and throw it over your shoulder [and move on]," Powell says. "I know so many people who keep looking at a mistake in the rearview mirror." That's self-defeating, he says. In his autobiography, Powell says he advised his team that "if you screw up, just vow to do better next time. I don't hold grudges. I don't keep book." * ON EMPATHY: "1 try to be empathetic, trying to see the other person's point of view. In the military, I tried to understand soldiers. In diplomatic life, when I was trying to work on a problem with a foreign minister, I would try to see what he wanted, not just what I wanted. I tried to see what we both would need" to make progress to benefit both sides. * ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE: "I have a family that understands the Army had to come first, but that my family wasn't last. I had to go to Vietnam and Korea. I was blessed with a wife and family that understand." While at home, Powell made sure to attend family events such as school performances and holiday celebrations. When he was stationed away from home, "My wife applied most of the balance," he

tells SUCCESS. He tried to convey the importance of balance to his subordinates, as well. In an early speech to State Department personnel, according to the Harari book, Powell said, "I am 63 going on 64.1 don't have to prove to anybody that I can work 16 hours a day if I can get it done in eight. If I'm looking for you at 7:30 at night, 8 at night, and you are not in your office, I will consider you to be a very, very wise person. If I need you, I will find you at home. Anybody who is logging hours to impress me, you are wasting your time." * ON DECISION-MAKING: Don't let experts snow you, because they may have more data than judgment, Powell advises in the Harari book. Challenge them and keep looking below the surface, even if you might find something unpleasant there. "We do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely," Powell writes in his autobiography. "At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide," he writes, explaining that he goes with his gut feeling when he has acquired 40 to 70 percent of the information about a situation. When faced with personal decisions, Powell writes in his autobiography that he often draws up a balance sheet of pros and cons to help him make up his mind. * ON LEARNING: Powell tells SUCCESS he believes in constantly building on your knowledge. These days he's absorbing advances in technology, the environment and ecology, medicine and science, and the information revolution. He tells youngsters to get a diploma and follow up with specialized training or college. * ON OPPORTUNITY: Powell still sees America offering unlimited potential for all its citizens. He also recognizes that the Army offers now--as it did when he entered--a level playing field for Americans of varied socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. He tells American youths to choose a worthy role model who might be a general or a teacher or parent. "Dare to take the harder path of work and commitment, a path that leads somewhere," he writes in My American Journey. * ON RETIREMENT: Powell plans to keep working and stay busy. "I don't like golf, and I don't play tennis," Powell tells SUCCESS. He is a public speaker and serves as a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a Silicon Valley venture-capital firm. He also serves on the board of directors of Revolution Health Care, which develops strategies for consumer-directed health care. RELATED ATRTICLE: A Story from Colin Powell Retired Gen. Colin Powell likes to tell stories. A favorite he shares with SUCCESS concerns ambition. At one Army base where he was stationed, "there was a second lieutenant who wanted to be a general. He bugged everyone, asking, 'How do I become a general? He saw a general at the officers club and asked him, 'How do I become a general?" Powell says the general told the young officer he should study all the time, show courage and take care of his troops, "And the young officer said, And that's how 1 become a general?' "And the general said, 'No, that's how you become a first lieutenant"

message: Don't get ahead of yourself. Put in the necessary hard work every step of the way. Powell supports many youth initiatives and is helping raise money for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and for the construction of an education center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, both to be in Washington, D.C.

Though many youngsters are contributing to their respective nations in different ways, there are some disturbing incidents in the recent past in Andhra Pradesh which involve youth. In places like Vijayawada, Warangal, Ongole, and Anantapur, some engineering students went on a rampage. They attacked girls with acids, knives and other lethal weapons as those girls did not respond favourably for their love and marriage proposals. In warangal the police encountered the guys and killed them. The developments in internet facilities, excessive violence in movies, the increase in the number of television channels from abroad and India, developments in communication technology and easy availability of weapons, etc are some of the most important reasons for such a violent attitude among the youth. Adding fuel to the problem, there has been a decrease in the vigilance by parents on their children's activities. Most of the parents go for work in the wee hours and return only late in the evening thus the children have been getting a lot of free time to do whatever they like in the free time. Most of the children are also wasting their time in chatting and smsing. If the youth spend their valuable time for productive purposes their nations get benefitted in many ways. Lack of education among the parents, the quarrels among them, lack of awareness about the importance of discipline in life, economic factors, cultural and social factors are some other reasons for poor character levels among some youth. For instance due to poverty some youth dropout from the educational institutes and involve in anti social activities including theft. If the relationships between parents are strained some children may leave the house and become orphans leading to a directionless life due to lack of guidance, love, security and support. In some cases the youth would become bonded labourers, child labourers, etc due to debts, crop losses, and other family problems. The successive governments have been taking several steps for the over all well being of youth but the targeted people hardly get benefitted from such welfare programmes due to many reasons. One of them is lack of awareness among the youth about the schemes being implemented by the government. The other causes are heavy competition, misappropriation of funds by the officials and politicians, etc. The youth clubs are good for the society but they should involve more in productive activities. For instance there is a need to create awareness in the society about many aspects of life such as the importance of voting, value of a disciplined life, importance of non-violence, truthfulness, educating the masses about law, and many such issues which play an important role in their day to day life.

Thus the youth of any nation should cultivate all those habits which contribute to the over all well being of the people of respective nations. Such an attitude would help them in becoming role models for the future citizens of any nation. The youth is the most energetic and the future of any nation depends on them hence they should act in a responsible manner. Swami vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Obama, Gautham Budha,Sachin tendulkar, Muralitharan, etc are some of the great inspirers for today's youth as these men achieved great heights in their respective lives by cultivating a certain set of qualities.

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