I don't think the average person understands just how open General Petraeus was to advice from below.
He had an open e-mail channel to anyone in Multi-National Force-Iraq — and often received messages from junior leaders on problems in their areas that they could not get resolved through their chain of command (or problems that the chain of command were creating).
I often discussed issues with General Petraeus and found him willing to listen — provided you had something intelligent to say and were ready for the give and take that followed.
I think this aspect of his leadership style is one that other leaders can and should follow — but they have to be willing to listen and accept advice and thoughts from below (which means reining in their egos)."
