What are the defining characteristics of a truly outstanding officer?

2015-06-13T14:49:23-04:00

What defining qualities facilitate true greatness for an officer? What habits should be cultivated in order to achieve excellence throughout one's career? What does exemplary leadership look like? This question is deliberately broad, because any detail or anecdote would be incredibly helpful in my own professional development. Thanks so much in advance to any officers, warrant officers, NCOs, and junior enlisted who take the time to provide their valuable input!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 3:02 PM

2015-06-13T15:02:58-04:00

A true leader inspires others to improve, to grow, and to succeed.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Jun 13 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-06-13T15:27:37-04:00

If they are a 2LT, they must be able to determine whether they are required to salute a 1LT. ;)

But in all seriousness, no one person, no matter how wise or experienced, knows everything. Doesn't matter if an officer is a green-around-the-gills 2LT or the Chief of Staff, they need to be able to take input from those around them and make a decision.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 3:42 PM

2015-06-13T15:42:44-04:00

Willingness to learn.
To learn how to get things done, use your NCOs. From your earliest days, the Army issues officers at all levels a Senior NCO to be part of your team. Use that knowledge to your advantage! You are in charge, but part of leading is knowing when to follow advice.

Which leads me to the next part. Find the best officer in your unit and cultivate a mentoring relationship. Do this at all levels as you progress, and as you make rank, find rising stars and do the same for your subordinates. I learned as much or more from my Soldiers as I did from my leaders. Build a culture of taking care of each other, and they will take care of you.

Any Lieutenant with the sense to ask this kind of question is ahead of most.
Good luck, CPT Private RallyPoint Member. I like you already.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 13 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-06-13T15:43:14-04:00

Quality Leaders need to "Know when to lead from the front and know when to lead from behind!” Set the example for others to follow and know when to allow your Junior Officers and Senior NCOs the ability to move the organization in the right direction without overshadowing their efforts. Never take credit for what your team plans, directs, and executes. You provide the Commander Guidance and Intent, and then let them take the ball and run with it. Always give credit to your team before yourself! You will be a successful Commander or leader when you build a competent team that can excel and grow with the success of the organization! Other qualities include being honest, as described above the ability to delegate, good communicator, a good sense of humor (don't be a grump), Confident in your decisions and position, Committed to excellence in the organization and personnel, PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), intuitive by nature, ability to inspire others, and be creative with solutions, ideas, and ways to improve the overall organization and it's assigned individuals!

Response by CMSgt Mike Esser made Jun 13 at 2015 3:51 PM

2015-06-13T15:51:23-04:00

Intelligence
Wisdom
Integrity
Loyalty
Servitude
Patience
Impartiality
Compassion

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 13 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-06-13T16:07:15-04:00

They set the example.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 13 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-06-13T16:17:16-04:00

Know yourself.
Know your trade (read and study assiduously)
Know your people (not just their names know ABOUT them)
Know your capabilities and limitations.
Listen carefully
Don't make snap decisions.
Don't be compromised professionally or morally.
Know your unit's mission and if you don't understand ...clarify.
Keep your senses about you when things are going wrong ...don't panic and never show fear.
Never ever, ever quit !
Don't take yourself too seriously.

My own personal motto "Never believe your own bullshit"

Stay on the tank!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 13 at 2015 4:24 PM

2015-06-13T16:24:50-04:00

I like the old "Officers make policy, Senior NCOs interpret policy, NCOs enforce policy" concept.

"A" (singular) quality of an outstanding officer is the ability to develop policy that requires neither interpretation nor enforcement. The ability to share a "Vision" that will be carried out correctly from the simplest of explanations.

Think Napoleon's Corporal.

Response by SGT Joe Sabedra made Jun 13 at 2015 6:03 PM

2015-06-13T18:03:46-04:00

Cares for the troops even if he must send them into battle.

Always shows his appreciation to his soldiers and never talks down to them.

Is genuine.

I had a Great Battalion Commander at 7th ID. LTC Truesdale. He was a great commander.
When he rotated out we got a new LTC who was an Ass. Always said we were like his children.
How we weren't doing enough.
He refused to sign for awards. Said it was our job to do that well.

Be some one you would gladly go into battle for.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 13 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-06-13T19:29:09-04:00

Set the example. No double standards.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 13 at 2015 7:56 PM

2015-06-13T19:56:51-04:00

I'd recommend the book "once an eagle". I've molded my style after that. To answer your question, be willing to learn and seek advice. Don't shirk the hard duties, stand up for yourself and your subordinates when you are right and cultivate a culture among those you work with of responsibility. There is no one correct method but those have served me well both enlisted and on the "dark side" of the commissioned officer world.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Jun 13 at 2015 8:03 PM

2015-06-13T20:03:27-04:00

Being truthful, set example.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 13 at 2015 8:07 PM

2015-06-13T20:07:45-04:00

1) INTEGRITY: There is no No NO substitute for total honesty, especially with your superiors. That lie could cost a battle some day.
2) DUTY Concept "Doing what ought to be done, when it ought to be done, with a Spirit of Service
3) Care for your troops. This does not mean be soft on my troopers, quite the contrary. IN PEACE TIME GARRISON, troops will seek out the weak leader that will give in to an easy life, HOWEVER in Wartime and when prepping for deployment troopers WANT the tough Leader that will make sure they and their troopers KNOW the job, what to do and the right way to do it. Caring for your Troopers means that you want to teach them what it takes to stay alive.
4) WILLINGNESS to do anything you are willing to order to be done. Leaders LEAD from the Front. The TOC is a great place for a meeting but a cruddy place for a Leader after the meeting is over.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 13 at 2015 8:51 PM

2015-06-13T20:51:29-04:00

I like General Collin Powell Leadership philosophy.

Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which
means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It's
inevitable, if you're honorable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign
of mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting the
people who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differential
rewards based on differential performance because some people might
get upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying
not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardless
of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind
up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization.

http://www.blaisdell.com/powell/

http://mic.com/articles/65663/colin-powell-s-13-life-rules-for-any-future-leader

Response by James Jones made Jun 14 at 2015 1:43 PM

2015-06-14T13:43:23-04:00

Know your job, your boss's job, and your subordinates' jobs. Be the subject matter expert. Delegate tasks, then trust but verify. Don't ask someone else to do something you won't. Don't be too familiar, but also don't be standoffish. Be a paragon of honesty and virtue. These are all clichés, and all true. None of those are new concepts. Putting them into practice is where the difficulty lies.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 14 at 2015 7:38 PM

2015-06-14T19:38:50-04:00

be the example in action, not just word... this was a big issue for at the unit I was in, lot of talk not so many good examples in practice.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Jun 14 at 2015 8:05 PM

2015-06-14T20:05:56-04:00

Treat everyone with respect no matter their rank, if they don't give it back let their boss handle that, unless of course you are their firstline.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2015 1:29 AM

2015-06-15T01:29:11-04:00

Each one of the responses I've read so far have outstanding advice to build your career on. I'd like to add that using your ingenuity on how to take that advice and make yourself a complete officer is key. Your people come first. They do the job, not you. It is your job to be the glue and keep them together in a cohesive unit to accomplish the mission. Don't strive for recognition; strive for excellence and you will be noticed.

Response by MSgt Roger Lalik made Jun 15 at 2015 4:15 PM

2015-06-15T16:15:39-04:00

Personal Integrity
Personal Honor
Personal Courage (physical, moral and mental)
Personal Character
Personal Knowledge of his billet
Freely given loyalty to subordinates and ensure you earn theirs.
Personal Appearance (look like a leader!)

Mission is first. Always first. Train your men/women to that standard.

Ensure your senior NCO's (Staff NCO's) are 110% behind you. If not weed them out.

Explicitly trust your senior NCO's (Staff NCO's). Give them tasks that will both grow and challenge them.

Inspire your senior NCO's (Staff NCO's) to success and they will inspire their charges.

Never miss an opportunity to praise your men in public.

Be the same off base in civilian attire as on base in uniform.

Mission first is not a license to ignore, mistreat or abuse your subordinates. Take care of your men. Always go the extra mile for them. Ensure they know the chain of command also means they answer to you and to you only.

Never allow anyone else to chew your men our or to discipline your men. Make the other officer speak his issue to you. Then you do the correcting. It may make you the black sheep of the outfit. But, eventually your peers will catch on that that is part of respecting the chain of command and your men will follow you anywhere.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 1:43 AM

2015-06-17T01:43:07-04:00

Ma'am, I recently submitted a commentary piece at our base addressing this very topic and is something of very personal interest to me.
http://www.osan.af.mil/news/commentary/story.asp?id=123450945

Commentary - Leadership is a choice

The imperative to making smarter choices despite austere times with ever-shrinking resources amidst competing commitments can only be accomplished successfully with the right leadership. Leadership is a term often cited, seldom practiced and requiring more than just lip service. Question is: are our

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 3:15 AM

2015-06-17T03:15:11-04:00

Be yourself. Read about what makes leaders great; but integrate into your own personality rather than try to "copy it" Take care of your soldiers and build them as a team. While you are in charge and make the decisions, make sure you listen and consider advice from your Platoon Sgt. and other NCOs. Make sure you learn in detail your branch and specialty knowledge as general soldier knowledge. Try to be inspirational and enthusiastic but firm; friendly but not buddy-buddy. The fact that you are asking for this type of advice and input shows me that you are already showing leadership; the desire to learn by seeking advice from others. I learned a lot of this stuff the hard way. During my ROTC and Lieutenant years, I had to work on self-confidence. One thing that helped me was Toastmasters. Many military bases or nearby communities have a local Toastmasters club. Great for development not just formal speaking skills but overall self-development. Welcome to the US Army! I envy you just starting out your great adventure! My best to you for a rewarding career; I know you'll love it!

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Jul 25 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-07-25T21:58:18-04:00

Quite simple. Just a management answer. Treat people like people and they will respond. Don't wear your rank on your shoulder. do it from the heart and you will be a Pide Piper.