Riding Herd or Herding Cats. What are your most effective leadership/management methods?

MSgt Ryan Tanner — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:42:51 -0400

Wall to wall counseling, impromptu parking lot combatives, or choke-slam. What works best for you?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2013 5:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:16:37 -0400

MSgt,
I’m going to go a little “Captain America” here but, I have to say that knowing your soldiers is one of the most valuable things to a leader, ESPECIALLY when it comes to counseling. Knowing how my people act and react enabled me to counsel them more effectively than my peers. As a leader of mine once said “ If you don’t know Joe, how can you talk to Joe about himself?”. It was a crude but effective statement. I could go into more detail, but I’ll cut it off to prevent a novel from being written.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 3:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:53:29 -0400

I have to say that I agree with the young SPC. I would say the most effective counseling is good Ole Fashion Oak tree counseling, take time to find out what your Soldier's (err Airmen) are doing for the weekend and use that as an opportunity for professional development. If they are going on a trip, do others know where they are going, how far is it and what are the trip plans. Same for going clubbing, do they have a plan for getting home if the original plan falls through?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 4:02 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:02:15 -0400

MSgt, I'm sure you probably know this but if any of you haven't learned Active Constructive Responding (from the Army MRT curriculum), I highly recommend it. It is an outstanding way to build rapport with your seniors, peers, and subordinates.

Also, we don't stop being people just because we put on a little rank. Leaders need to look to the side and even up when looking for an opportunity to be a wingman (battle buddy).

Response by SGT Stacy Bouvy made Oct 29 at 2013 6:21 PM

SGT Stacy Bouvy — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 18:21:31 -0400

A very well respected NCO told me to take the time to get to know my soldiers. If I didn't know one piece of information about them other than the obvious, I was wrong. That has stuck with me. We are soldiers but we are also people and deserve to be regarded as such.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 2:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:14:09 -0500

I heard of wall to wall counseling but not sure if it was more urban legend than literal. Oh sure, maybe it happened at times, but I just wonder. My style is job performance first but also with the sense we are a team and that nothing is important than people. Without people it would be pretty lonely. lol

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 5:26 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:26:37 -0500

As an avid outdoorsman and traveler I try to get to know my Airmen outside of work, and even more importantly here in Japan, off-base. I try to schedule team-building events such as mountain hikes, snowboarding trips, and even dinners off-base. It gives my guys a chance to socialize and enjoy their assignment, and helps build some team unity. They still know I'm the boss - but they also know that I'm a human.

I don't show favoritism and I open these events up to everyone, and usually try to include families if it's appropriate. Even rotating who rides in what vehicle is a great tool, because you really can learn a lot about an Airmen on a 2 hour drive to a mountain! Not to mention a 6 hour hike! I've usually come away from these trips knowing more about my guys than I ever would talking to them at work.