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I understand that times have changed and that technology allows us to do things that we could not do before but leaders have to realize texting and emails are just tools. They should not be your primary way of communicating with a soldier. What happened to a face to face conversations? Stop emailing me when you are ten feet from me. I believe leaders now use these tools as a crutch, instead of engaging soldiers. That lack of real communication hinders leaders from really knowing their own soldiers. You cannot assess how your soldier is doing physically or mentally over a text or email.
Posted in these groups: 
Technology
Technology
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 17
Though I agree that texting/emailing is not leadership, neither is the act of passing mundane information verbally or face to face. That is just an administrative task, not leadership. <div><br></div><div>If mundane information (formation time, etc.) is being passed through more efficient electronic channels, I don't think that makes you any better or worse of a leader. It's just basic administrative requirements. As long as the job is getting done, what does it really matter?</div><div><br></div><div>That said, it doesn't replace the need for leaders to engage with their unit members face to face. I'm just saying that the act of passing basic, mundane information in person does not make you a better or stronger leader. </div>
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Agree sir!
The technology to mass text information like details of the following days PT, or special activities, etc. to the entire squad means that I don't have to call 15 people. It is not always possible to have everyone in one place at the same time for any number of reasons.
However, part of the art of leadership means being able to decide what information is mundane, and what information is face-to-face, and leveraging technology to maximize your efficiency.
I hate texting and would rather speak to someone face-to-face. Texts are difficult to gauge emotion, context, and understanding. Having someone in front of you assures that you can read the person's eyes, facial expressions, tone of voice, and get a "brief back" to assure comprehension of the entire message.
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SSgt Dan Montague
Maj I have to disagree. Too many times leadership via email or text has failed. You never know when a phone drops a call or a text sits in cyber space for 21 hours. A service member can claim they never seen the email. When our battery was locked on to the BLT for pre-deployment training, most communication was email. Many times meetings were canceled, moved and info on training was missed.
On the battle field communication is key. We have to eliminate all possibilities of miss-communication when possible. One of the ways is having leaders at the lowest levels be confident enough to get word from leadership and pass it to their troops in the most direct manner so nothing is missed or misheard. SSG Unger, If that means as a leader you need to track down 15 Soldiers to make sure word is past then that is what you need to do.
PT at 0600 next day or a pre deployment inspection is just as important. Why take chances that electronic means will fail.
On the battle field communication is key. We have to eliminate all possibilities of miss-communication when possible. One of the ways is having leaders at the lowest levels be confident enough to get word from leadership and pass it to their troops in the most direct manner so nothing is missed or misheard. SSG Unger, If that means as a leader you need to track down 15 Soldiers to make sure word is past then that is what you need to do.
PT at 0600 next day or a pre deployment inspection is just as important. Why take chances that electronic means will fail.
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LTC Yinon Weiss
SSgt Dan Montague - Does that mean the military should stop using radio communications (electronic, uses batteries, etc.) and rely on all battlefield communications to be in person, at least in ground operations? Take away radios from every unit? Radios can be hard to understand after all and may lead to miscommunications, plus batteries and crypto can fail. Why take chances that electronic means will fail then? By that logic, we might as well get rid of the entire signal/commo MOS field... since in-person communication is the most reliable, we wouldn't need any kind of technology and can communicate like it's the 1700s.
I'm obviously being sarcastic. Technology is not the problem -- misuse of technology is the problem. The military shouldn't pretend that it's living in the 1850s or the 1950s, we need to embrace technology and use it responsibly.
I'm obviously being sarcastic. Technology is not the problem -- misuse of technology is the problem. The military shouldn't pretend that it's living in the 1850s or the 1950s, we need to embrace technology and use it responsibly.
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SSgt Dan Montague
No Maj we must rely on technology as times change. Personally I hate radio traffic because it is hard to understand, but we still need it. However, we still need to maintain the ways of communicating face to face as well. Look at teenagers now days with all the multi media. they are losing touch with real face to face communications. Everything is a text or email. As war fighters, we depend on communication in life or death situations. We as leaders need to make sure our troops can not only operate comm gear and modern systems, but have an understanding of how to talk to each other face to face. Getting infant of your troops and talking to them daily and passing word from higher is the best way. You can also hold your jr leaders accountable for passing word to those who aren't there. I would always task them to do a face to face or a PHONE call if they are not in the area.
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I see texting and emailing being used to cover up for a lack of planning or to make last minute changes when before cell phones, we would have had to execute. Officer meeting running long? Don't wrap it up! Just text everyone and move formation back 30 minutes. Didn't bother to get handouts for the meeting together in a timely fashion? Fine, just email it to me 10 minutes before the meeting and act like it's my fault for not printing it out myself.
I agree that communicating electronically is preferable to holding another meeting, but only if it is facilitating communication. I often find that people are more rushed than taking care when communicating electronically, and while they claim they told everyone something, I don't think it counts if the message was not understood.
It's a tool. It's a good tool. But in my experience, I see a lot of poor usage.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Wolfer, you make a great point. I have seen so many times where a lack of planning has turned into personnel jumping through hoops to cover someone's 6. Do you find that this problem is rampant at your level?
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CPT (Join to see)
I think Officers are the biggest offenders and we leave the NCOs with no choice. If I send a last minute text to my NCO, what choice does he have but to text everyone else? He may realize that the guidance is something that will need more explanation or will cause confusion, etc, but I didn't give him the option to pull everyone together. This is even worse in the NG when things get put out after drill or at 1630 Sunday afternoon. Then the email flurries start. I love what technology has done, and I consider myself a tekkie, but there are some drawbacks.
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SSG Plato, You are correct; texting is not leadership, but I do use it as a form of communication when voice to voice or face to face is not practical or possible. In fact, I just sent out a mass text that we have payday activities next Friday and most of everybody reciprocated. Working a shift interferes with face to face communication, however, I will ensure this information is put out during a patrol brief, PT, and next week when we will all be in the same place at the same time. In reference to leadership, I do not use it chew out a soldier's fourth point of contact; I try to save that for face to face meetings. I do understand what you are stating though; you have made some excellent points.
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