For a dozen years or so now I've been going to different packaging, converting and printing association meetings. In that time, I must have heard something like 300 separate speakers covering every topic either directly related or totally unrelated to the audience at hand. The true standouts are few and far between.

One such speaker is General Hugh Shelton. The now-retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior military adviser to President George W. Bush provided the keynote address at last month's Winter Management Meeting for the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators in Phoenix. Spending 38 years serving his country in a variety of command and staff positions, Shelton has been honored with numerous military and Congressional medals as well as having been decorated by 15 foreign governments.

On the subject of leadership, he knows a thing or two. Good leadership, Shelton says, is applying a combination of elements—values, people, working climate and teamwork to any situation.

"First and foremost, a true leader knows, goes and shows the way" the organization should be going. Value, honesty and integrity are of the highest priority because (at least in Shelton's former line of work) death might be the result of a leader's actions and decisions. The right ethical choices are also key because "the higher you go, the more people are watching" to see if your talk is backed by the appropriate action.

People, Shelton says, expect leaders to define standards and expectations. Feedback and praise are necessary for morale. Along with this is creating a work environment that fosters loyalty, individual achievement and demonstrates personal concern for the employee. Leaders need to share the good and the bad. How do you know you're going well? "The evidence will be spontaneous praise by employees for the company," he says.

Placing a premium on togetherness, whether things are going well or not, is an important aspect of the teamwork element. While individuals play a sport, it's the team that wins the game, Shelton says.

Now, you may not command an army of several hundred thousand employees in your flex-pack, label or carton converting operation. And your business is certainly not in a position to put people's lives at risk. Still, Shelton's four pillars of leadership are just the things any good manager should emulate.

Do so, and you'll be a standout as well.