Another great article Mike.  I almost lost my cookies with the cousin Eddie example.  Hilarious!

If you have ever been on active duty in the military it is easy to see the difference of someone that believes his leadership is based on his position or has leadership that is based on character.

The military has the enlisted ranks and the commissioned officer ranks.  Almost everyone can enter the enlisted ranks if they choose.  To enter the commission officer ranks it is by appointment and the lowest rank has more authority than the highest enlisted rank even if you have minimal or no leadership skills.  Ever enlisted person is required to salute any commissioned officer out of respect for the position they hold.  They are saluting the position and not necessarily the person.  The most effective leaders (ones with character) will have their command with the highest discipline, morale and their troops will follow them into battle even to the point of giving up ones live for the greater good if needed.  Those without character have commands that never function to their full potential.  It often requires leaders like a Norman Schwartzkopf to step in an assume command of a unit to bring the unit up to it's full potential.  General Schwartzkopf spent his entire career taking units that were dis-functional and brought them up to their full potential.  Due to his character he had the highest respect from his troops.

One side thought.  The smartest and most effective commissioned officer will follow the instructions of the senior enlisted over the junior commissioned officer, while he works to bring the junior commissioned officer up to his full potential.

"Do the right thing for the right reasons."