Posted on Jan 10, 2014
Favorite leadership style: Loud or Soft spoken?
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There are a myriad of various leadership styles in the Military. At some point we've all had that crazed, mad dog that favors loud, attention drawing outbursts as well as the soft spoken, verbose, drawn-out explanation type of leader. Allowing that all things are equal as far as intelligence and physical fitness, what is your preferred leadership style?
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Leadership
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Responses: 34
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Every person in authority that I had the utmost respect for while on Active Duty (and still do to this day) were soft spoken. Loud, to me, just means someone is aggravated that you don't agree with what they have to say and they are trying to bully you into agreement. "A soft word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in trees of silver". You can show a lot of intelligence, class, and authority with the right words at the right time; especially when instructing someone in discipline. When that person is willing to listen; their application of what you said in their personal life will be the proof. It will sink in because it gets them... it makes them think and reach/draw their own conclusion(s).
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My preferred style of leadership is that of even-toned, no-filler and straight to the point. I'll explain things as needed but I find that its easier for a soldier to understand if you give it to them straight and fairly quick so as to not lose them in unneccessary verbage and loud inflections. It takes time to develop your style of leadership. Its a combination of the leadership you yourself were and are around and your own personality. Are you naturally soft spoken/deliberate, loud/abrasive? Im loud but I have no reason to be around my soldiers because the task gets understood and received better if I talk in a manner conducive to a professional which is what we as leaders are. If the job doesnt get done, then the situation/circumstances dictate if I raise my voice or not.
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I've always been the quite guy. I just do what I'm told and do it with a purpose. When ask for volunteers, if no one steps up, then I always do. But now that I just made my E5, I'm getting real frustrated with soldiers attitudes these days. I ask soldiers nicely to complete simple tasks, like sweep the bay, and get attitudes back. I don't want to be that NCO that always yells but sheesh it's getting ridicules with troops now a days. If possible, I would like feed back from peers and superiors that can help me out on what to do because since I have that authority, I would like to use it without taken it up with chain of command because I can't get soldiers to do simple tasks. I am about to walk around with 4856's prefilled out and just need a name to put in it.
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1SG Steven Stankovich
One approach would be to grab a different one of your Soldiers each time there is a task to complete. Spread the wealth. "Let's go PFC Smith, we have to knock this out." If the bay needs swept, then you and one of your Soldiers execute the task. Then they will see that you are going to lead by example and that may provide that additional "push" for them to see what right looks like and want to do things before being told.
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SSG (Join to see)
MSG Stankovich brings up a good point. I was the same way when I pinned on in 2008 but learned quickly you have to adjust your style to what fits YOU and to what is EFFECTIVE. As a newly promoted Noncomm you are sure to get soldiers who you may have shot the breeze with as a SPC and still think they can do so. Show them that you are a leader and that you will not tolerate any disrespect as well as showing them that you are not too good to get your hands dirty from time to time. You have to draw that defined line and stand by it.
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SGT (Join to see)
Tried. Young soldiers are just to careless and lazy now a days and rather play on their phones. Once I see all the troops doing the task I ask, then I help them out. But just the morale is different then when I came in. I ask someone to clean the bathroom and the two senior SPCs start walking towards it. Then I tell them to sit back down and call on the PVTs to get up and do it and I try to explain to them why I did that and get attitude. It sucks smoking is gone now. Because I think for some people, like me, it worked for them.
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1SG Steven Stankovich
Well that is a little disheartening to hear SGT Lund. Contrary to popular belief, "smoking" is not gone. You need to be creative and think outside of the box when it comes to recommending and executing corrective training. If you are having motivational issues with you Soldiers, start then with sitting down with your Section Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant and talk about it. I am sure that they can assist you in finding proper ways to motivate your Soldiers.
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I am soft-spoken but assertive. Not in a way that can be construed as overzealous, just very detail-oriented and always respectful. I believe in certain circumstances that our behavior affects people and if your job is stressful you can operate relatively stress free. Or you can wilt with anxiety.
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