How is it that some managers get those around them to actually WANT to stay at the office until midnight to finish projects, or proposals? Leadership.

It’s the special something that some military officers have that makes subordinates want to jump into the line of fire to accomplish the mission. For business leaders (although never as serious as combat), it's the critical difference between your doing well and doing fabulously well.

The connection between leadership and success is evident in sports. It the 2005 college basketball tournament known as "March Madness", twice in a single day, March 26^th, victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat by leadership. Both contests are instructional on how we managers should conduct business for success.

With the score 38 to 18, Louisville was a hopeless 20 points behind West Virginia. Throughout the game, Louisville came close, but then fell behind, again and again. Louisville coach, Rick Patino, told the players at half time that the game could be won. And they believed him. Patino is a leader. He has taken three different teams from three different schools to the finals.

They caught up in the thrilling final 18 seconds, and then won in overtime, 93-85. One of their stars, Larry O'Bannon overcame painful injuries to score 24 points for his coach and his team.

On that very same day, in another contest, thousands of miles away in Chicago, Illinois refused to give up against an Arizona 75 to 60 lead with only four minutes left. Instead of becoming depressed and lifeless, like you know you’ve felt whenever you’ve been told you lost a sale, they became energized and refused to accept defeat. They overwhelmed Arizona to tie at the buzzer. Again, the coach never gave up, never stopped being a leader and the team responded, winning by a single point in overtime.

Want those results for your own team? I recommend these leadership principles, tested and honed by the U.S. Marine Corps:

1. Be technically and tactically proficient.
2. Know yourself and seek self improvement.
3. Know your Marines (employees) and look out for their welfare.
4. Keep your Marines (employees) informed.
5. Set the example.
6. Insure that the task is understood, supervised, and accomplished.
7. Train your Marines (employees) as a team.
8. Make sound and timely decisions.
9. Develop a sense of responsibility among subordinates.
10. Employ your command in accordance with its capabilities.
11. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions

These principles start with and end with you leading yourself and then go on to lead those around you. Follow these 11 principles and your team will excel at any mission.