How are you enhancing character for greater performance in your Soldiers?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:50:40 -0400

There are more leadership styles than we know in our leaders serving today. How are you using your leadership style to teach, coach, and mentor today's Soldier?

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Oct 5 at 2015 4:55 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:55:21 -0400

Slap upside the head still works -- ONLY KIDDING

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 4:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:58:51 -0400

But seriously..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 4:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 16:59:51 -0400

For me I take my prior experiences with all my leader and my leaders now I take the good from the bad and the bad from the good! Regardless of the leader you have had you will always learn from them. My soldiers I strive to always be their for them, I want to really know them and ensure that is they are in need that they can count on me to help them! As leaders sometimes we forget that those Soldiers were exactly where we started at and we were molded to the leaders we are now or striving to be! Leaders we learn from our peers and our Soldiers knowledge is an ongoing part of life!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 6:16 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:16:54 -0400

Be Know Do. Leaders set the standard. Give new troops something to aspire to. Then take the time to develop leaders. Encourage troops to push themselves. Don't tolerate mediocrity, and certainly don't tolerate substandard performance. This is what I try to do. And I look towards the leaders that shaped, and still shape me as I mature as a soldier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 6:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:24:51 -0400

I say lead by example and Be Know and Do! If all else fails a light coat of sweat never hurt nobody!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 6:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:45:03 -0400

You can over analyze leadership styles but a few fundamentals will always remain. As you came up through the ranks EVERYONE was a leadership example. Some people were GREAT examples of what you wanted to be and others were GREAT examples of what you didn't want to be. Take those lessons and apply them to your own leadership principles. Secondly, there is no cookie cutter. You have to understand and know your Soldiers to know what they respond to. Some Soldiers need minimal steering guidance and others require constant supervision. You will never get away from having to spend 90% of your time with 10% of your troops because there are always those few that will inevitably need some reinforcement and potentially UCMJ to fly right. Lastly, the tenet of Be, Know Do will carry you through. If you strive to be the most professional and stay beyond reproach while always serving those that you lead and setting the example you will succeed. Good luck!

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Oct 5 at 2015 6:55 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:55:52 -0400

Elementary, set the standard, be the example and live by the Army Values.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 7:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:35:20 -0400

Take the Values in Action Survey at http://www.authentichappiness.org it will give you a list of 24 character strengths and the top 5 to 7 are what you bring to your A game, utilize those, recommend your subordinates take the test and how best to help them bring their A game based off their signature character strengths

Authentic Happiness | Authentic Happiness

The Character Lab will award a total of up to $1.2 million in grants to support two-year, school-based research projects focused on character development interventions during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 7:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 07:38:22 -0400

Daily communication, makes monthly counseling a lot easier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 11:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 11:18:02 -0400

Lead by example is a good way, and explain why you are doing what you are doing to those you are mentoring. It's one thing to know the right answer, it's rare these days to know why it's the right answer, even though EVERYTHING in the Army is written down somewhere.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 6 at 2015 1:37 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:37:28 -0400

I focused on treating everyone with dignity and respect, letting the NCOs do their business, monitor morale, help soldiers grow personally and professionally, and recognizing the studs.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 7:04 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 19:04:17 -0400

I use the same techniques I do in my kitchen. Standard are set but my approach to mentoring is based on the individual. Some need a directive approach while others just need minimum guidance. It truly is about knowing your subordinates and tailoring your approach to their motivations.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 9:19 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 09:19:57 -0400

When I train soldiers, I use the facilitate and guide methods to encourage them to use critical thinking. As easy as it would be to give them the answer, it leaves a far more lasting impression when you help them answer their own question. Put the soldier in the pilot seat and point out the obstacles, but let them steer through them.