When was the last time as a leader that you took a step out of your comfort zone?

Several months ago, we got a new Chaplin to our unit. He was going to give the battalion Suicide Awareness training. I approached him and asked him if I could tell my story and he agreed. So, I stood up in front of 200 people and told them how I used to feel about suicide and those who commit or attempt to commit suicide, and how I feel now and why. I told them of how I used to despise others who committed such a selfish act, and how I thought them weak for having given in. Then, I stood in front of my battalion and told them that anyone of them or anyone of the soldiers to the right and left of them could become suicidal due to circumstance. Because it isn't weakness that makes you break, but a desire to end the daily torture and pain. I know this from experience, because it happened to me, in Afghanistan. My whole world came crashing down, and I struggled for several months after deployment to get back on my feet. I told them of how the memory of the barrel of my M4 pressed beneath my chin on the steps of an empty above-ground pool at Camp Nathan Smith, still haunts me to this day. I told them how my thumb on the trigger was all that was between me and the end of my pain. I told them this, so that one day if it happens to them, or to one of their soldiers, they would be able to reach out, as I did, to someone they trust or be that trustworthy leader. Be the person I called in a last ditch effort to find a way to endure the pain and torture, one. more. day. If it wasn't for a caring and understanding leader who was not even in my CoC, I would not be here today. I told them this in the hopes that it might help even one soldier. It's one thing, to write an article of your story and publish it to strangers, it's quite another to stand in front of people you work with regularly and tell them that same story. It was one of the scariest and most uncomfortable things I've ever done, and I'm so glad I did. It helped at least one soldier that day; she came and talked to me afterwards. And that is why it was worth it.

When I challenged leaders from O-6 to O-9 COL Mikel J. Burroughs.
I was never accused of being a yes man. I tried to be tactful; but, I also tried to confront what I believed to be immoral or unethical directives. In some cases clarification was provided which helped diffuse the situation. In an least one case I was publicly ridiculed. That was a small price to pay.

I believe a leader that is able to step out of their comfort zone makes them a better leader. Someone who does that, I feel earns more respect from those who they supervise. I know that when I was put in a supervisory position, I always tried to step out of my comfort zone, and learn my those who I supervise because it makes you more aware of their strengths and weakness. I remember that when those who supervised me, stepped outside of the box, it made me respect them more and made me feel that they had my six.

The recommendation that I have for leaders coming up through the ranks is this:
1. Get to know your troops, find out their strengths and weakness, applaud their strengths and encourage them to work on their weaknesses.
2. Make them feel like one of the team. If anybody on your team feels like an outsider or singled out, then you are not doing your job as a leader. No one, I repeat no one, in your command should feel like an outsider, if they do, then you are failing as a leader.
3. Do not just be a leader, teach others how to lead. A true leader knows how to breed new leaders to take their place. Everyone who leads should lead with the mindset that they must train others to take their place, if needed.
4. Don't just stand around and bark orders, get off your ass and work. A leader that not only gives orders but also takes part in the task at hand gains more respect than one that sits around and barks orders all day.
5. Don't be afraid to stand up for them when they are in the right.

Those things made me respect my leaders as well as gained me respect when I had to lead.