Leaders, do you think that your personal beliefs influence the way you lead your Soldiers?

MSG (Join to see)

Your personal beliefs definitely influence the way you lead your Soldiers, even if you don't realize it. Your upbringing has been cemented into you and you will never lose that, it will affect the way you conduct yourself for the rest of your life.

The key is to continue to develop your Army leadership by constantly improving your character, presence, and intellect. It's ok to inject your leadership with personal beliefs, if you have good strong personal beliefs and it doesn't go against the Army Values. Just don't push or force your beliefs on your Soldiers, if they are good beliefs your Soldiers will accept them just by following your example.

I believe for a good portion of my "younger" NCO years that the beliefs/experiences I was in contact with while a simple Soldier directly influenced the manner in which I led my Soldiers. I was more authoritarian/dictatorial in the manner in which I conducted myself, and this was not always the best way to lead, especially as we transformed to a "kinder, gentler" Army in the mid-'90s. After returning from Recruiting duty, I realized that I had "blossomed" into an NCO that was far less "authoritarian" and for lack of a better term, more "democratic", as dealing with "Joe Q. Public" had helped me become more of a listener and allowed me to be a better leader. At least that is how I viewed things from my perspective, I know that there were still times after becoming a SFC/PSG that I had to be authoritarian, but those times were definitely far fewer than when I was a young CPL/SGT.

CSM (Join to see) well said, Sir.