How can one be a Good Leader?

2016-02-24T23:44:21-05:00

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. —Aristotle

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 11:56 PM

2016-02-24T23:56:48-05:00

He who desires peace, prepares for war.
-- Vegitatus Renatus, Roman Proconsul and historian

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Feb 25 at 2016 12:14 AM

2016-02-25T00:14:37-05:00

A good leader knows the strength and weaknesses of the people in their team and manages them appropriately. A good leader takes care of their Soldiers in order to keep them motivated and independent. A good leader provides direction, intent and limits and gives their subordinate leaders the time and resources to accomplish the mission. A good leader accepts responsibility for all failure in their team and gives are praise for success to their subordinates. If my team screws the pooch, it's my fault. If they succeed beyond expectations, I just gave them the mission and they made it successful. A good leader rewards excellence and uses failure as a learning opportunity.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 25 at 2016 12:41 AM

2016-02-25T00:41:36-05:00

Two elements; being capable and then actually doing it. Book learning, mentoring, etc. tend to fail if there is limited capability. Stepping out and taking risk, recovering when you fail, doing better next time, always moving forward and up; all good things that point to desire and diligence.

We've all seen great potential in SMs for leadership but then see they have no desire for it. Happens in the commercial sector as well. My wife could lead in a hospital setting but vastly preferred direct patient care. So she never felt an urge to chase management roles.

Always keep in mind why you're chasing it, what you do when a tougher leadership role is assigned, and if it results in a touch more humility, then you're likely on the right track.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Feb 25 at 2016 4:17 AM

2016-02-25T04:17:00-05:00

From the view of someone who has more people to follow, than to lead at the current moment, here is what I admire:
1. own your mistakes
2. listen even if the person talking is of extreme lesser rank
3. don't ask a question if you don't really want to know the answer
4. practice what you preach
5. don't sugar coat s@#&. adding sweetener doesn't change crap into chocolate
6. if I'm not your job, why am I following you? (yes I had a supervisor tell me I wasn't his job)
7. if every time I ask you a job related question, your answer is "IDK", don't expect me to come to you when I have a real problem
8. stand up for yourself, for others, and for the right thing.
9. people won't care, until they know that you do.
-and-
10. don't lose sight of the little things. Yes the big picture is important (which is mostly what leaders see), but when you only focus on that you miss what makes the big picture big (the everyday tasks that the lower ranks do daily). Its like a house. Focusing on the roof is pointless when your foundation is crumbling.

Hope this helps.

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Feb 25 at 2016 5:17 AM

2016-02-25T05:17:51-05:00

Know your profession and your mission, and most importantly know your people. As a leader, you are the mentor, big brother/sister of your team. You have to set high and achievable standards and show your troops that you are committed to team and unit success. A good leader establishes a positive and supportive culture where people thrive. Train your folks to be responsible and independent thinkers who can take charge of the mission if you are incapacitated. Encourage your Soldiers to expand and improve their skill sets and learn new things. A leader gives the time, tooks, and resources needed to get the task done. Good leaders are to be seen amongst their troops, sharing their challenges and hardships. Good leaders lead from the front. Good leaders are the strong bulwark that protect their troops from the insanity and confusion that is sometimes visited upon them from higher headquarters. You are a leader: it's your unit and your people. Leaders take charge, own mistakes and let their people get the credit. When you take care of your troops and treat them fairly, they will be hell bent to complete the mission.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 5:25 AM

2016-02-25T05:25:49-05:00

Looking up the Army Leadership Requirements Model gives a great breakdown of leadership qualities the army is seeking.

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Feb 25 at 2016 9:14 AM

2016-02-25T09:14:53-05:00

I have had some outstanding leaders in my life and military career! Some loud and forceful, others quite and guiding, but each had a few things in common.
1. Ownership of their actions and decisions.
2. Willingness to get dirty, share the work.
3. Approachability.

I would follow a leader that stood by what they said, helped in the task and was willing to listen to a, possibly, better way of accomplishing the task.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 1:36 PM

2016-02-25T13:36:39-05:00

"Saying that in order to lead, you must first learn to follow is like saying that in order to float, a ship must first learn how to sink".

-Dr. Lawrence J. Peter

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-02-25T19:22:39-05:00

Learn when to shut up and listen.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 6:14 AM

2016-02-26T06:14:30-05:00

To be a good Leader, one must have followers (Soldiers); therefore, Be shepherds of your flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3 

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Feb 26 at 2016 6:17 AM

2016-02-26T06:17:11-05:00

The one that being a good leader is the one willing to learn and step up to help they soldier every step of the way.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2016 10:16 PM

2016-02-26T22:16:15-05:00

Just remember this. Make sure as a leader your soldiers do not follow you because they have to but because they want to.

Response by SPC William Biles made Mar 1 at 2016 12:23 AM

2016-03-01T00:23:45-05:00

Always have a destination and teach and care for the ones helping you get there.

Response by SPC Brandon Hamilton made Apr 2 at 2016 4:15 PM

2016-04-02T16:15:33-04:00

Lead from learning from your surroundings!

Response by SPC Chris Rozzi made Apr 21 at 2016 2:06 AM

2016-04-21T02:06:48-04:00

A good leader does what he or she is told and does what he or she needs to when they need make time to teach and learn and teache what you learn. They become a great leader by setting examples, let the compliments come from other mouths dont be a douche to someone who doesnt know something, teach them and make sure they know what they need to do and last but not least dont be a fuck up