3
2
1
We all have seen a sub-par leader... Although everyone starts out with great intentions (ideally), which leadership quality have you witnessed leaders lose over time? Empathy? Respect? Motivation? Soldiering Skills?
Which is most important?
Which is most important?
Platoon Leader
Company Commander
Battalion Commander
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
10
10
0
Interesting question sir. I would have to say that over time, the leadership quality that degrades the fastest would be motivation. A close second would be character. In my experience motivation tends to degrade the longer one is inundated with politics, red tape, and conflicting guidance with regards to constant situations where doing the right thing subjects one to being a scapegoat. As motivation to do the right thing or go that extra mile to help a Soldier, a situation, or to better a unit, ones character also begins to slip. You are now looked upon as the guy/gal that doesn't care anymore.
Now this is all worst case scenario and in my experience, this is not the norm that I have seen in Leaders. It does happen though and that is why it is important to surround yourself with trusted peers to assist in identifying signs and offering support if they see you are getting burned out.
Now this is all worst case scenario and in my experience, this is not the norm that I have seen in Leaders. It does happen though and that is why it is important to surround yourself with trusted peers to assist in identifying signs and offering support if they see you are getting burned out.
(10)
(0)
MSgt Curtis Ellis
Agreed... and I would be liar if I said I didn't feel it once or twice after making E7... But I did have good troops, peers and leaders that did an outstanding job on keeping me focused and informed...
(2)
(0)
1SG Michael Blount
1SG Steven Stankovich - MSG: I believe you're pretty much on the money. And here I thought it was just me.
(2)
(0)
5
5
0
The leadership trait, ability, or what not that I struggle to maintain is empathy. Often I have soldiers come to me with situations and they always seem so dire. It is often hard to tell who really is in a bad situation and who isn't. Too often I find myself being less than empathetic when the situations call for it because I've been burned in the past. I think being empathetic toward a soldier's real situation is a quick way for you to break the leadership bond that you have with your soldiers. If they feel like you don't care then often they don't care either.
(5)
(0)
CMSgt James Nolan
True, it is very easy to become jaded. It is also important to remember the phrase "if it is important to you, it is important to me"
While living that, the troop needs to understand that sometimes they will have to just suck it up and soldier on, but we cannot forget their issues and frankly what seems trivial to me could be catastrophic to one of my troops. And vice versa.
While living that, the troop needs to understand that sometimes they will have to just suck it up and soldier on, but we cannot forget their issues and frankly what seems trivial to me could be catastrophic to one of my troops. And vice versa.
(0)
(0)
CPT Aaron Kletzing
SSG (Join to see) - spot on. I liked this statement of yours: "If they feel like you don't care then often they don't care either." Agree 110%!
(0)
(0)
CPT (Join to see) - I will give my opinions re: the officer corps. Over time, I saw many leaders lose touch with the Soldiers in the larger unit, their needs on the ground, and the things they found important -- like free time with family. I saw this in multiple field grade officers in the battalions I served in, though certainly not all the field grades. I think that when leaders move on to new positions that do not directly engage with Soldiers in line units on a daily basis, it may become easier for them to perceive Soldiers as people on a roster, rather than individual men and women with unique passions, needs, and strengths/weaknesses. Again, I am not implying this exists across the board. I also knew some O-4 through O-6 who were incredible leaders and demonstrated time and time again how much they cared about Soldiers, sometimes at the risk of their own careers.
(4)
(0)
CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT (Join to see) as a leader it can be tempting to just try to do everything yourself, out of the belief that the tasks will be done best if you have your hands on everything. This mindset can be very well-intentioned. However, it's just not sustainable, doesn't make for a good relationship with your NCOs and other officers, and doesn't help you learn the important skill of responsible delegation...not to mention, there are often people around you who can do the task just as well as you if not better.
(1)
(0)
CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT (Join to see) - as far as Soldiering skills, I personally experienced both of these situations, which cover the full spectrum, and one led to a field grade officer losing a lot of respect from the unit's Soldiers. (1) I led a platoon-plus patrol in Iraq and the mission involved a MAJ in my unit coming along for a key leader engagement. When we completed the mission and returned to base, the MAJ (who because of his job hardly went on patrols) struggled to properly clear his weapon in front of all the Soldiers and almost ND'd into the clearing barrel. Thankfully the squad leader who had been that vehicle commander grabbed the weapon and cleared it. It was a shocking thing to see. News about this spread around the unit and permanently hurt his reputation. (2) Back in garrison, my unit was conducting weapons maintenance -- cleaning, functions checks, all the standard things. A MAJ from the battalion staff happened to walk by (he was a really good officer) and said to the Soldiers, "Ok, let's have a competition. Pick any weapon in this arms room, pick any Soldier to race me, and let's see who can assemble/disassemble/functions check the weapon to standard fastest." The Soldiers picked the 240B and a Soldier who was actually responsible for this weapon -- the Soldier who carried it around and used it all the time. The race started and you know what, the MAJ won! But that wasn't necessarily the point. The MAJ hadn't forgotten how important it is to relate to Soldiers and stay sharp on Soldiering. So, the question is, which type of leader do you want to be? And the answer isn't in spoken words -- the answer is in your actions.
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google