What the M60 Taught Me About Leadership

In Leadership Imbalance, Mike Lerario uses the M60 machine gun and its traversing and elevating mechanism as an analogy for leadership. That comparison immediately resonated with me because I served as an M60 gunner in the Air Force.

Operating an M60 wasn’t simply about the power of the weapon. You had to understand your equipment, your position and your mission. You had to remain steady while also being prepared to traverse, elevate and adjust quickly as circumstances changed.

Leadership requires much of the same balance.

There are times to stand firm and times to adjust. Sometimes you need to change direction. Other times, you need to elevate your perspective. The challenge is knowing which response the situation calls for without losing sight of the mission.

I’ve found the same principle applies outside of work. Priorities shift. Challenges arise that we didn’t anticipate. Plans change. We can't control every circumstance, but we can control how we respond to it.

That’s one reason I believe strongly in setting goals and writing them down. A clearly defined goal gives you a target. The path toward it may change, but knowing where you’re headed helps you make better adjustments along the way.

My experience as an M60 gunner taught me to understand the mission, stay focused and adjust when necessary. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my career and my life.

Stay balanced. Stay focused. Be willing to adjust. Keep moving toward the target.

Success rarely comes from following a perfect plan. More often, it comes from knowing when to hold steady, when to change your perspective and when to make the adjustment necessary to keep moving forward.

Keep pounding.