As one of those aides recalled, he “always gave a person a chance to have his say.” He might not accept your advice, the officer recalled, but “you knew you had your full day in court.” And when he did overrule a subordinate, he turned it into a teaching moment by explaining why.13 He made it a point to compliment others for their contributions because he believed that men responded better to praise and encouragement than to threats or warnings.
