No Substitute for Victory: Lessons in Strategy and Leadership from General Douglas Macarthur

Chapter 47. Forge Emotional Bonds

Leaders build emotional connections between people. To be successful, they must connect stakeholders into cohesive groups—in business, for instance, these groups include employees, customers, and communities. They also build connections between various constituencies so that different groups can effectively work together. In other words, leaders forge the emotional bonds that hold groups together and enable them to perform.

MacArthur first demonstrated his ability to create emotional connections with soldiers. In his first command at Fort Leavenworth, he transformed the worst company on the post to one of the best. Later, as Chief of Staff of the Rainbow Division, he was responsible for melding National Guard ...