What's the best advice on leadership you ever received from a leader?

Best tactical advice I remember came from Col Adolph Schwenk, CO, 27th Marines when he stopped by the JO hootch one night while making his rounds of the area. Surrounded by a bevy of admiring Regimental and Battalion Staffers, he regaled us with tales of WWII and Korea where he was a company commander. The only thing I remember him saying were words to the effect that "In combat the safest place to be is on the objective. So get your ass on the objective as fast as you can." While what he said may not have been new then or now, it seemed to sum up a thousand hours of tactical training, reading, field exercises and the real thing. It has always stuck with me as practical words of wisdom leaders of all ranks could profit from.

Learn to read... I know that sounds silly but when I was an AIT a SFC kept telling me to learn to read. For the longest time i didn't understand until a different SFC try to get me in trouble… Then I read the commanders policy letters, SOP, as well as some regulations and found out that she was in the wrong! So I will never forget that Sfc Price taught me to read!

Leaders Lead...From the Front...ALL the time...Never for their own glory, but always for their men. Never will a leader use his position to make his situation better. Never will a Leader take from his men. A Leader Eats last making sure that all the men are fed first. New equipment goes to the men first...Get the picture?
It never failed me....not one time.

1. Never task your personnel without establishing a deadline. This equates to leading through guesswork and shifts the locus of control to your subordinates.
2. Inspect what you expect.
3. Trust, but verify.
4. When tasking, it's extremely important that you allow your personnel a degree of ownership, meaning: you might be able to perform a task better; however, in doing so, you will exhibit a lack of confidence in your subordinates' abilities when reinventing their wheel.

There is much, much more; however, the best lessons are best learned through experience. In doing so, you must take the time to evaluate a situation after it is happened if you are to garner experience from both your actions and those of your employees.

Warrant

Best advice? You need to be flexible and open-minded when it comes to leadership style. Be true to yourself, but also realize that one style doesn't work in all occasions.

-Different followers require different types of leaders. Adjust for the person.
-Different organizations require different types of leaders. Adjust for the culture.
-Different situations require different types of leaders. Adjust for the scenario.

"I am the Leader." Hmm, sounds good if it's you, but now ask yourself "Why am I the Leader?" Look back at what you went through to get where you are now and recognize the fact that you didn't do it on your own. What were the qualities of the people who trained you? What made you listen to that E5 or that O2 but not really absorb the manner of that E7 or that O5? Rank doesn't mean they know everything!
Yes you can read and learn a lot from books on "Leadership," but if you didn't read the training manuals and get the SOPs down pat, if you didn't REALLY learn your job both up hill and down, and then from the middle to the flanks, your soldiers, airmen or sailors are going to know it and you have lost from that point on.
Clichés maybe, but: Self knowledge, respect for all, always participating and Leading from the front thereby demonstrating your knowledge and self-worth are all attributes that engender respect and regard for you from your "Team."
Parade is 0600: If your not there at 0550 - You are late.
If they are not there by 0555 - they are late!
If your kit is not up to standard i.e. You are not the best dressed - You are not setting a standard.
In the field: Are you observing the level of hygiene from your "Team" that will keep them Healthy and fit to perform their assigned duties? Are you setting the standard in this regard?
When they bedded down last night - Did you walk the line and check on each individual, those who could sleep and those who are standing post?
Never discipline a "Team Member" within ear shot of his comrades, but praise openly and often.
Teach, but also be prepared to be taught, by them.
You may be the "Leader" but it will be your personal qualities, standards, knowledge, ongoing experience and advanced training that will not only keep you there, but also help you to advance!
I could go on but I feel I have made my point, except in one important regard:
Know your "Team," let them know you care about them individually and as a "Team." Never forget to socialize and have fun with them!
Good luck.

Care about the people you lead. You can't fake this. If you don't love your subordinates you will only get the minimum in return. Take every opportunity to show you are looking out for them and they will always look out for you. This does not mean bending rules or looking the other way. On the contrary, it means making sure your people get the recognition they deserve (good or bad), are provided opportunities to learn new/additional skills, and are given challenging assignments that show that you have confidence in them.

Learn how to treat people from the bible.

Learn how to do things from regulations and manuals.

Always keep learning.

I was what used to be called a "fast tracking NCO" E-5 in 2 1/2 years, E-6 in 4 1/2 and E-7 list at 10. I took great pride in taking care of soldiers and have them follow me but I was under the wrong impression that I had to make a scene and yell in front of everyone to validate my "toughness" and my leadership until one day at around 2002 when I was an E-5(P), I was stationed in Bamberg Germany , I went to the thrift shop and was going through the books being sold and ran into a book called "Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell" I bought it and read it and from that point it changed my life. One of the biggest things the book said was not to belittle my soldiers or make "scenes" in front of people and instead use the principle of "Praise in public, punish in private" immediately I applied it because I kew it was my biggest issue as well as applying many of the principles in the book and quickly I noticed that my soldiers respected me more, did more for me and had my back much better than before and would follow me anywhere I asked to and I quickly learnedI was on my way to a much better career. I told you this long boring story to tell you that if you can find that book on Amazon or anywhere, get it. I will absolutely help you in all phases of your civilian and military leadership.

"There is no more democratic institution than an infantry platoon in combat. When those guys follow you, it's a vote of confidence in you and your judgment. You can't force them to follow orders, nothing you threaten them with will be worse than what they'll face following you."

That was the most lasting advice I ever received, and it came from my ROTC PMS (an infantry lieutenant colonel) as I was leaving UVA to spend a few years as an enlisted infantryman.

"Sir, if you cannot be calm, cool, and collected when your unit is screwing up and in need of your correction in peacetime, how can they expect you to keep it together when your in the middle of a combat crap sandwich?". --- SgtMaj Kacjewski to a highly pissed off 1stLt Bell after said 1stLt delivered, a high volume, foaming at the mouth Company ass-chewing. It was the last time I raised my voice in my career, except to be heard over background noise.