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Counseling is an integral part to effective leadership. Counseling is extremely effective when done in a professional and proper manner. Negative counselings seem to be pushed and endorsed by PSG and above when the situation seems necessary. Have Army leaders forgotten about the positives? I am not saying I am the greatest soldier, because I am far from it. What leaders do not seem to realize is, when things happen and all that represents a soldier to BN level command and above, all that is seen is the standard monthly counseling and the negative ones that the leader was forced to write. This is all good and dandy for soldiers who do NOTHING good whatsoever. To be honest, though, I have not seen anymore than a handful of soldiers like that in my three plus years in the Army. Do you think junior leaders need to take a step back from the daily grind and realize that a soldiers counseling packet is looked at with the same conviction as that NCO's NCOER. It is a wonder that leaders do everything in their power to get that one over one that they feel they deserve, yet they will not take an hour to write a counseling for PVT Joe Snuffy for doing a great job conducting PT. Give me your thoughts on this topic and if you are a junior leader who already does this, please let it be known. I would not mind getting advice from an effective and dedicated leader.
Counseling
NCOs
Mentorship
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 5
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I concur PFC Marrow, there's never a bad time to let a subordinate formally know that they have done something great. Unfortunately, I also have to concur that positive counseling happens less often than negative counselings and of course that accolade is often forgotten by the time end of month counseling time rolls around. It sounds like to me you have identified a leader trait that you will carry with you as you move up the ranks. Just remember, teach, coach, and mentor your junior leaders down the road to take that little extra time to say job well done.
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This is a tough one PFC Morrow, mostly because in my experience my Soldiers are doing great things 99% of the time. Soldiers do not always needs a 4856 as a pat on the back. As a good leader you will acknowledge your Soldiers achievements verbally and through your actions. There is just not enough time in the day to write a 4856 for every Soldier that is doing great things. The same goes for Soldiers that mess up as well depending on the situation. You don't always have to write a counseling to get the point across to a Soldier. When the problem happens repeatedly you need to document it as another step in helping that Soldier make the needed corrections. Basically what it boils down to is knowing your Soldiers and interacting with them on a daily and personal basis. They will know when they are doing good.
On a side note I am not sure a Soldiers counseling packet is looked at with the same conviction as an NCOER. However I believe I understand what you are getting at.
On a side note I am not sure a Soldiers counseling packet is looked at with the same conviction as an NCOER. However I believe I understand what you are getting at.
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SGT (Join to see)
Especially since a counseling packet doesn't follow the SM when they leave the unit, unlike an NCOER that follows you wherever you go.
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PFC Morrow I actually put out more positive counselings than negative. I have found that if you treat your soldiers good they will in return treat you good. Everytime I notice a soldier or young SGT doing an outstanding job I let them know about it with a 4856.
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SPC (Join to see)
That is the type of leadership I like to hear about SSG Woodard. It is good to see leaders who embody, at least, what I feel leadership should be.
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