Is it more stressful to be a leader or a staff officer/NCO?

2017-01-19T04:08:49-05:00

For those who served in both a leadership position and on staff which was more stressful to you? Some would argue leadership as you are in charge of and are responsible for others. Some would argue that staff is due to not being in charge. What are your thoughts?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2017 4:12 AM

2017-01-19T04:12:36-05:00

For me it was totally dependent on my superiors and subordinates. My stressful times where when I had leaders who's heads were echelons above reality, or subordinates that were toxic. When I had great coworkers everything was very easy, leadership vs staff really didn't matter so much as the individuals I worked with.

I do imagine responses to this question will ally with individual personality preferences.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 19 at 2017 4:26 AM

2017-01-19T04:26:45-05:00

Never was an Officer, Can't say. I can comment though that having served on 2 Admirals Staffs and in Direct Support of 1. Staff Duty definitely has it's Perks for Enlisteds are Treated Much Better on Staff Commands. At CINCPACFLT and COMSPAWARSYSCOM I walked on Water. Not so Much in "The Fleet".

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 19 at 2017 6:46 AM

2017-01-19T06:46:34-05:00

Being the leader, who is then put in a Staff position...is tougher then either.
Had the stress of leadership, then moved to a staff position "because you know what its like be waiting on resources, info, help"
Now that Infantry leader that has led patrols is the support platoon PSG, "to fix things and get it done" or the Battle NCO in the TOC "Because we have to get this right of lots die" or the S-1 PAC "Because that idiot in there now is killing morel and confidence in the unit with all the crap he is screwing up effecting spouses at home"
All reason I have seen mid and senior NCOS moved from a successful role as a team leader, sqd leader or PSG, to a staff position because the very smart commanders knew, mediocre NCO as a SQD leader means a somewhat less effective platoon...mediocre NCO on the radios and tracking board in the TOC means the entire battalion is at risk anytime an element is outside the wire.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Jan 19 at 2017 7:10 AM

2017-01-19T07:10:14-05:00

Team,

I have found that both are challenging in there own terms.

I will offer that I felt that I learned more as a Staff Officer/NCO and that made me a better leader.

But I would never.... ever... forget the honor and oppurtunity... yo lead the soldiers and civilians I have... regardless of the challenges. The jobs were intrinsically rewarding... and help me grow.

my 2 cents

peace out

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2017 7:15 AM

2017-01-19T07:15:24-05:00

One does not stop being a Leader based upon duty title. Leadership is stressful because one cares. Staff is stressful because no one cares. It's quite the conundrum.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2017 8:53 AM

2017-01-19T08:53:21-05:00

Having bounced back and forth, in Staff positions, it seemed I got all of the stress and none of the glory. Very little job satisfaction, and it seemed a daily grind of reports that effectively moved paper from one in basket on my desk to another in basket on another desk.
Whatever stress I experienced in leadership positions was always offset with the feeling of accomplishing something with my Soldiers.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Jan 19 at 2017 9:30 AM

2017-01-19T09:30:14-05:00

Leaders work through direct lines and get things done. Much of staff work is dotted lines and you are forced to invest a lot of non value added admin time to get things done, because your position does or does not have any real authority. Granted building buy-in is important, but command is infinitely better than staff.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 19 at 2017 10:49 AM

2017-01-19T10:49:12-05:00

Leaders, that is commanders, may have to make decisions that could, and sometimes do, get people under their command killed. I was a staff officer and Army Civilian in a staff-officer type position for over 10 years. No decision I made or order I wrote or edited directly endangered the lives of military members or civilian employees. The people with "commander" below their name were ultimately responsible for those orders and the associated successes or failures. My job was to make sure the orders or directives were written clearly and coordinated as completely as possible, within time constraints, to set up the subordinate units for success. The staff job often involved lots of "paper work" and maybe some long hours, but not the heavy responsibility of command. That's why the Services tend to promote people with command experience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2017 11:02 AM

2017-01-19T11:02:09-05:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member I think I got 90% of my white hair from my time in staff and all the b.s. that comes along with it

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 23 at 2017 9:41 PM

2017-01-23T21:41:13-05:00

Thought I knew stress having done both sides. Depending on what you're doing, it's a different type of stress, but still stress. Then all that pales when you get that Skipper job and have total responsibility for a lot of people thrown into different areas of the world. Force protection becomes very personal to you. I'd get the double whammy of being tasked mission without force protection. That would stress and set me off pushing back upline. It caused me not to make flag, but I got mission done and brought my people home. That results in far less stress for the rest of your life. So if you don't stress over keeping your people alive, punch out because you're too risky to have around.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2017 9:59 PM

2017-01-23T21:59:23-05:00

I absolutely loved working as the schools NCOIC. I was still a leader of an NCO and a few Soldiers, but it was a lot less stressful than working in the building and being a leader.

Response by CMSgt Gary Fichman made Jan 24 at 2017 9:16 AM

2017-01-24T09:16:43-05:00

Staff, justification of others ideas is a pain

Response by CMSgt Lloyd French made Jan 24 at 2017 10:24 AM

2017-01-24T10:24:09-05:00

Stress is reaction to the combination of environment and ability. You may not always control the former, but the latter is largely in your hands. Leaders are not necessarily commanders and staff members are sometimes leaders. What you really want to ask yourself is this: If I am given the responsibility and authority to act, am I truly ABLE to do so? If the honest answer is "no" then you have the moral responsibility to pass that empowerment to someone who can...especially if it could lead to fellow warrior's demise. People in combat and staff positions are important to each other...they are not mutually exclusive. The supply sergeant (staff member) could certainly impact the soldier if they don't (or can't) do their job. If shipments don't arrive, there's your stress. If the platoon sergeant can't get rations from supply, there's your stress. Both are victims of their environment (lack of materiel flow) and both experience stress. I recommend we lose the "leader vs. staff" differentiation mindset...instead let's embrace the "we" and the "us" words that will help reduce stress for everyone.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 10:26 AM

2017-01-24T10:26:00-05:00

That depends on what problems present themselves today.

Response by SMSgt Robert Anderson made Jan 24 at 2017 12:28 PM

2017-01-24T12:28:24-05:00

Being an NCO you not only give orders and follow up on those orders but one of the most important aspect of being an NCO is to be a positive role model as well as a mentor!

Response by SFC Wade W. made Jan 25 at 2017 1:03 AM

2017-01-25T01:03:08-05:00

I voted same but that isn't right either. They both have their stresses and every person handles each office differently. I would also say that the leadership and peers you are working with can either reduce or exacerbate the stress in each position. During my time I worked in both, within my MOS and at BN and above positions. The people I had around me made me succeed as all I did was my job and duty. I would reiterate that I believe they both can be extremely stressful but both can also be very rewarding.
Excellent question, BTW.

Response by PO2 Paul W. made Feb 13 at 2017 8:55 PM

2017-02-13T20:55:30-05:00

Having done both, though not all in the military, I believe stress reactions to be the same but the stressors are different.