Favorite leadership style: Loud or Soft spoken?

I think it all comes down to knowing your soldiers and adaptability. Each soldier is an individual and each responds to ques differently. For some all it takes is a simple explanation as to what their deficiency was/is, and what needs to be done to correct it. Others need someone in their face yelling at them in order to understand the gravity of the situation. Also each situation is different and merits an appropriate response. As such, I like a mixture of both.

My style is a happy medium between the two. Oddly enough when I get mad my voice is soft rather than loud. The intended effect is always achieved.

I would assume a yeller will facilitate toxic leadership.

This is an interesting question. When I was a young NCO I started off with the loud iron discipline leadership style. Honestly, it was not effective at all. My mentor suggested I look at changing how I did things and see what happens. I changed to a more calm respecting style where I asked my subordinates to perform the tasks and I was shocked at the results. They responded really well to it. Even when they messed up I didn't raise my voice, I talked to them or counseled them privately. As a society the values have changed. The younger generation is brought up to question things and generally has a need to understand the purpose behind what they are doing. Taking a few extra seconds to explain why they are being told to do something can save you a mountain of headaches. As leaders we need to adapt to the changing society in our delivery. I am not say that the standards should be reduced at all, just simply how we deal with others should be adaptable.

Loud if I need to get your attention, very soft spoken when I want you to hear me while I am talking to you, face to face.

Something about carrying a big stick....

Soft spoken with a big stick...

I have always been laid back, or soft spoken. I always let my Soldiers know that even though I am easy going, when the right buttons were pushed I could be the biggest a$$hole on the earth. Even when I smoked my guys, I did so in a calm manner.
As far as constantly yelling at joes, I dont think that ever worked. Except maybe in the movies. Being loud dosent accomplish much

With the direction the military has taken, and taking in to consideration modern times, I believe neither loud or soft spoken. In efforts to train and lead Soldiers we as leaders must educate ourselves and develop our counseling skills as well as our vocabulary. We are in the business of teaching, mentoring and training Soldiers and developing them to the best of our ability. Our style must be and continue to be both tactical and technical.

90% of the time softly spoken and God help you the other 10%.