Transitioning from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant is no joke.

I have always tried to set the example to my platoon. I may have been the oldest In the company (56 years old) but I ran with the platoon and did PT with them. I set the pace on everyone of the 12 mile road marches and I enjoyed it. Being the PSG meant to me that I set the example. I still out did some of my platoon members on the run, push-ups and sit-ups. My platoon kept me feeling young.

SSG,
There isn't anything wrong with assisting your Soldiers. Get in there show them then Supervise. Appoint a high-speed that you can trust to back brief you on what happen. I was the same way until a old man told me one time, he said most Employers that fail at their business is because they still think like employees. Now I know that may not mean anything right now, but just think about it for a second. Your job as a Staff is to ensure those in your care are trained, mentored and taking care of. So I say put your hand in the cookie jar every now and then but remember that you are now the Employer, not the employee.
Anthony

SSG Russell
when it comes to leadership and making the adjustment you will combine various styles and principles of leadership in order to establish leadership that you are comfortable with. Being comfortable allowed you to supervise more effectively.

SSG,
you can work with your soldiers by being there during prep time and teaching them. I had the same issues the further I moved up the chain. Luckily I am in the engineers where everyone regardless of rank works together. Remember everything is a 4 man lift. Thats what I used.

You are going to learn to trust your subordinates. It's something I had to learn. Luckily for me I had groomed my people to tell me to get the hell out of the way. Respectfully of course

From a former NCO, this is one of the better statements I've seen on RP. A lot of it depends on how well you know your soldiers and understanding the best way to communicate with them. Respect them, don't go out of your way to prove your rank. Most importantly, mentor and develop the E-4's and 5's by giving them some responsibility, your people will understand.

I had a 1SG that would had eaten you alive for helping the soldiers when I was younger. That's the way I was brung into the ranks. You watch and observe not do the work for your soldiers. You lose respect from your troops because they look at you as an equal. Allow them to do their job, so they can earn their promotion!

Hey I feel you but now as a SSG you have to learn how to balance both you have to do the supervisor coach job and hands on as well so when you get SFC you know how to do NCOER, awards manage paperwork no just your MOS

I still get my hands dirty if it doesn't interfere with my other duties. Nothing build moral like a soldier watching a SFC out there getting dirty with them. Eventually they'll be the people telling you to "relax SSG, we got this"

I am going through the same transition too. On the first couple months after my promotion, I found myself trying to be more personnel with my subordinate by having hand on in all they had to do. I found out quickly that I did not have enough time to continue with my ambition because of meetings and tasks that I had seating on my desk. So my new approach is to take care of any tasks or meetings on my schedule and if I had those days where nothing is going on (which is hardly never), I will take the time to mentor and coach by participating in hand on duties with my subordinates. The key for success for me is flexibility.