Posted on Mar 26, 2016
What's the best advice on leadership you ever received from a leader?
33.4K
314
135
20
20
0
I'm reading a number of books on leadership and trying to gain opportunities to lead and be a good leader in government service. I'm wondering what's the best advice you've received either in your military or civilian career on leadership and how to lead?
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Professional Development
Leadership Professional Development
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 100
3
3
0
3
3
0
Probably the best is also one of the simplest: If you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, it doesn't really matter who's watching.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
Focus on others and think about how you can enable your followers (serve them, in other words).
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
There are several points to make on this. 1. Lead by example and never forget that the best example is to always do your best whether it is a PT Test or checking accuracy of an intel report. 2. Never criticize in public if there is any other way and never in front of a SM's family. 3. It has been said many ways but never forget to listen to your NCOs. If you let them, they will keep you out of trouble whether you are a 2LT or an E-1. 4. Soldiers first - leaders last when it is about benefits. That includes the chow line or free handouts from USO. Leaders take of their Soldiers first. That doesn't mean that you pull maintenance on their vehicle for them, but it does mean that you make sure that someone is checking on them to ensure that they are not freezing their fingers off in the motor pool. 5. Lastly, a leader's job is to make sure that when you go to war, no one dies. Take care of the things that keep your soldiers alive - like the proper training - and the admin stuff will follow along.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
LISTENING. Learn how to listen before opening your mouth. This was one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned. I can't remember exactly who first gave me this advise, but I do remember it was advise given to me often and by people who I looked up too. The second piece of advise I was given was have PATIENCE; probably because I didn't much of that too, but I eventually learned to LISTEN PATIENTLY.
When you start listening more you eventually find out your not as smart as you thought you were. Just about every opinion I had as a young adult has either changed or I determined my thought process might have been right, but for the wrong reason.
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
When you start listening more you eventually find out your not as smart as you thought you were. Just about every opinion I had as a young adult has either changed or I determined my thought process might have been right, but for the wrong reason.
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
PV2 Wilcox, Two of the bits of insight I received which stayed with me were; You have two ears and one mouth, use the equipment proportionately and remember YOUR first day on the job. There are many approaches to leadership, walk the path which works and feels correct for you. Regards
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Two 3 liners that may stick with you:
First
1 - Be worthy of those you lead
2 - Be a corporate asset
3 - Prepare the next generation
Second
1 - Mission First
2 - People Always
3 - All with a heavy dose of humor!
First
1 - Be worthy of those you lead
2 - Be a corporate asset
3 - Prepare the next generation
Second
1 - Mission First
2 - People Always
3 - All with a heavy dose of humor!
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
The best advise I received was..."You can't lead from behind". Simple, but true.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I have adapted this through my military career. There are 2 types of leaders
Lead through fear and your Soldiers will do the bare mininum and pop smoke. Out of sight out of mind. Enough said.
Lead through respect and your Soldiers will fear to fail you. They will exceed the standard and always be there to help out.
The ladder knows what it means to be a leader and exudes wisom and welfare for their subordinates. Always grooming them and mentoring them to lead his position. Never afraid to take a stand for his subordinates and does not gossip about their shortcommings. Respect is earned, not given. It goes both ways as a leader.
Lead through fear and your Soldiers will do the bare mininum and pop smoke. Out of sight out of mind. Enough said.
Lead through respect and your Soldiers will fear to fail you. They will exceed the standard and always be there to help out.
The ladder knows what it means to be a leader and exudes wisom and welfare for their subordinates. Always grooming them and mentoring them to lead his position. Never afraid to take a stand for his subordinates and does not gossip about their shortcommings. Respect is earned, not given. It goes both ways as a leader.
(2)
(0)
PV2 (Join to see)
Mission first people always, if you take care of your people the mission will be successful. If you mistreat or ignore your people the mission may be compromised. Many companies in the civilian world could also learn from this lesson!
Mission first people always, if you take care of your people the mission will be successful. If you mistreat or ignore your people the mission may be compromised. Many companies in the civilian world could also learn from this lesson!
(2)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
1LT William Clardy
I have to disagree! I believe it serves a very important aspect of leadership in the military.
I have to disagree! I believe it serves a very important aspect of leadership in the military.
(0)
(0)
1LT William Clardy
MSgt (Join to see), taken at face value, it's an oxymoron at best (albeit perhaps a well-intentioned one). At worst, it encourages thinking that the mission only comes first *after* the troops are cared for - i.e., the military drifts closer to becoming a welfare program which can occasionally be used in the national interest as long as no troops get hurt.
As you can no doubt tell, I am more of a "You take the King's shilling, you do the King's bidding" kind of guy. After all, how could a leader who thinks "soldiers always" do anything effective to stop bug-out fever?
As you can no doubt tell, I am more of a "You take the King's shilling, you do the King's bidding" kind of guy. After all, how could a leader who thinks "soldiers always" do anything effective to stop bug-out fever?
(0)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
1LT William Clardy
Nowhere in my mine should the mission be compromised. The mission is basically our soul objective. I do not believe the troops should be cuddled. "You take the kings shilling, you do the king's bidding" is valid to a point. But a good leader realizes there are basic needs that have to be meet of the troops to function cohesively. Without cohesiveness of your troops how are they to function to accomplish any task. Possibly the mindset of a commander and the 1st Sgt of a unit have to very a little bit. In order to accomplish the mission at hand. That is the primary goal that matters. I appreciate your candor and professional approach in our discussion. I hope you have a good day sir!
Nowhere in my mine should the mission be compromised. The mission is basically our soul objective. I do not believe the troops should be cuddled. "You take the kings shilling, you do the king's bidding" is valid to a point. But a good leader realizes there are basic needs that have to be meet of the troops to function cohesively. Without cohesiveness of your troops how are they to function to accomplish any task. Possibly the mindset of a commander and the 1st Sgt of a unit have to very a little bit. In order to accomplish the mission at hand. That is the primary goal that matters. I appreciate your candor and professional approach in our discussion. I hope you have a good day sir!
(1)
(0)
1LT William Clardy
MSgt (Join to see), without putting it in so many words, you are indeed validating the "Mission first, then the soldiers" standard. If the troops need beans, bullets and fresh boots to accomplish the mission, then that is what the Army needs to provide them. But if they're just uncomfortable, or shy one meal, or wanting to get off early, those are all things which "soldiers always" avoids addressing -- that's self-deluding, feels-good aspect is why I always take shots at it when somebody raises it as a leadership standard.
As I mentioned elsewhere, effective infantry leadership requires getting your troops to agree that the mission is the priority, even if it costs them. If the leadership winces at expressing that priority clearly in a simple motto, then they are asking their troops to believe something they're afraid to believe themselves -- as bad as a preacher who doesn't believe whatever Good Book he claims to be preaching from.
As I mentioned elsewhere, effective infantry leadership requires getting your troops to agree that the mission is the priority, even if it costs them. If the leadership winces at expressing that priority clearly in a simple motto, then they are asking their troops to believe something they're afraid to believe themselves -- as bad as a preacher who doesn't believe whatever Good Book he claims to be preaching from.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google