Sitting Bull realized he could not order people to follow him, he had to inspire them to believe in him. He did this by starting with a commitment to the people, the tribe and the greater good. When he met with Crazy Horse and the other chiefs, he talked about the need for their particular talents in achieving success. While Custer looked for glory for himself, Sitting Bull looked for others' contribution to success.
A hundred years later, the management best-seller, from Good to Great by James Collins, identified these same factors as the common key among companies that had enduring success, that is, they had a vision of what their purpose was in existing. They might change products or methods but they always followed that purpose. Second, they had leaders who developed the strengths of those around them, and focused on the success of the organization, not themselves personally.
A key factor in Sitting Bull's success was his integrity. As Collins says in another of his books, leaders have to live their values. He gives the example of a company where the president said, "We are all part of one team" but the executive officers had special parking spaces, dining room and elaborate offices. Click here for more on integrity in Sioux history and future.