Would you rather be feared or respected as a leader?

2016-02-06T11:00:43-05:00

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 6 at 2016 11:05 AM

2016-02-06T11:05:15-05:00

Is that even a Question? Respect and Loyalty is what it is all about. Fear is how Bullies Rule. When push comes to shove and that subordinate has had enough of a bully leader there is nothing to stop him from "Fraggin" said superior. Now if he is Loyal and Respects that leader they can count on each other no matter what!

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Feb 6 at 2016 11:40 AM

2016-02-06T11:40:04-05:00

Interesting comparison you bought up by using two Historical Characters from Band of Brothers. Captain Sobel and Lt Winters were looked at and portrayed as being at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Sobel was an extreme disciplinarian and Winters was the epitome of leadership by example.
What the series doesn't cover is that the unit at one time was in it's forming stages. Captain Sobel's style of leadership, pushing for excellence and demanding attention to the smallest chickenshiit detail is the style that initialy produced results. Sobel's inflexibility to adapt to his unit maturing ( and perhaps his lack of tactical skills) lead to his being replaced by his XO Lt Meehan (KIA on D Day) and sent to instructor duty and Division Staff.
When you read through the History of Company every single man credited Capt Sobel in training Company E to be as good as they were. He forged the Company that did so well.
Major Dick Winters was an exceptional officer. He was a citizen soldier and gained men's respect through his common sense and willingnessness to lead them in battle.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Feb 6 at 2016 11:41 AM

2016-02-06T11:41:38-05:00

Loyalty. Fear diminishes when one is absent, but well earned loyalty endures and spreads.

Response by TSgt Tim (lj) Littlejohn made Feb 6 at 2016 11:51 AM

2016-02-06T11:51:10-05:00

Respect always gains loyalty which leads to being followed. I will take respected followers over scared ones any time!

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Feb 6 at 2016 12:09 PM

2016-02-06T12:09:36-05:00

Respected

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 6 at 2016 12:42 PM

2016-02-06T12:42:18-05:00

Both. Sometimes Mr. Nice Guy has become the Mr. Not Nice Guy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 12:45 PM

2016-02-06T12:45:14-05:00

Respected

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Feb 6 at 2016 12:48 PM

2016-02-06T12:48:10-05:00

I think a good mix is best.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 1:09 PM

2016-02-06T13:09:54-05:00

While I was in OCS we had to watch this movie and write papers. It was a good means to compare leadership styles. Even when you think a leadership style is bad there is something positive that can come out of it.

Response by SPC James Dollins made Feb 6 at 2016 1:52 PM

2016-02-06T13:52:10-05:00

I would rather be respected. It goes ALOT further than being feared! People do not trust you if they do not respect you.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Feb 6 at 2016 1:56 PM

2016-02-06T13:56:00-05:00

Do you think someone who uses fear to lead would knowingly admit they use fear to lead? Those who use fear to lead, should not lead, period

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 2:25 PM

2016-02-06T14:25:22-05:00

My Marines are fiercely loyal to me, and fearful of my platoon Sgt. We are both SSgts I think that a solid mix of fear/respect is great. The Marines in my platoon will break their backs for us. Personally I would rather be respected than feared, but a fear of disappointing a leader is what drives me. I don't want to let anyone down. So I think that having the respect to the point you are scared to let someone down is the ultimate sign of a good leader. Someone that you respect so much it isn't them that you fear, you fear letting them down.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 3:52 PM

2016-02-06T15:52:23-05:00

Respect. In the civilian world I have had great success by making the weak strong and sticking by my employees.

Response by COL Mike Humphrey made Feb 6 at 2016 4:31 PM

2016-02-06T16:31:59-05:00

I would rather be respected as a leader

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Feb 6 at 2016 6:45 PM

2016-02-06T18:45:55-05:00

Respected, NO doubt!

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Feb 6 at 2016 6:48 PM

2016-02-06T18:48:34-05:00

So it would depend on the context of the term 'fear' - leadership built on the lash and gallows went the way of the sailing ship and musket - it's not effective with educated soldier, sailors and Marines. (we can include airmen too - guess )

Now if a leader is respected and his people want to live up to his standards, and they are afraid to disappoint him - now that sort of 'fear' isn't necessarily a bad thing. Or if a leader is the kind of person that holds himself and others to a standard (note he has to hold himself accountable) and you know if you don't do your best - if you are a slacker, you fear he will call you on it....that is a good fear.

Response by SFC Jim Mergott made Feb 6 at 2016 6:51 PM

2016-02-06T18:51:34-05:00

It is okay to be feared sometimes. (Not all the time)as a leader. An effective leader has to be well ballanced with techniques used to accomplish tasks and motivate the his subordinates to get it done.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 6 at 2016 7:03 PM

2016-02-06T19:03:27-05:00

First choice is always respect, when that fails, whatever works to accomplish the mission.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 7:13 PM

2016-02-06T19:13:50-05:00

The ideal would be to be respected. But, the main thing is to get those in your charge to do the mission. If that required instilling fear I would do that too. In 44 years of military and civilian work I only had to resort to that a couple of times.

I think the face that I was respected made the instillation of fear a lot easier.

I will never forget look on the face the young man who was waiting to get an admin discharge, when I put him to attention and told him if repeated his disrespect to the 1st Sgt i would personally see that he went to Leavenworth instead of being discharged. He remaining time he was pretty much a well behaved young man.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Feb 6 at 2016 7:38 PM

2016-02-06T19:38:52-05:00

Always respect. Fear is easy, Respect has to be earned. With honesty, bravery, and careing for those you lead.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Feb 6 at 2016 8:05 PM

2016-02-06T20:05:27-05:00

This sums it up. I have to earn your respect and you have to earn mine. Once both of us respect the other rank immaterial, we can conquer anything that stands in front of us, and as individuals and a team, we'd fear no one walking this earth.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Feb 6 at 2016 8:14 PM

2016-02-06T20:14:21-05:00

It's all METT-T dependent. Nicolo Machieveli wrote a book with his take on this. So did Steven Pressfield. They came to very different conclusions.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1232/1232-h/1232-h.htm
http://www.stevenpressfield.com/gates-of-fire/

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Response by SPC David S. made Feb 6 at 2016 8:35 PM

2016-02-06T20:35:09-05:00

Leading by fear and or intimidation signals to me lack of managerial experience.
Possible cases - the fear is used to induce a sense or urgency, the leader knows no other way than fear or they are transposing their own fears onto others - I'm scared, so you should be scared as well.

Fear is very destructive for a number of reasons - it kills creativity, leads to group think, and worst of all it creates suspicion, mistrust, and cynicism of the leader. This fosters an environment where everyone is all out for themselves.

Response by CPT Sean Graham made Feb 6 at 2016 10:16 PM

2016-02-06T22:16:34-05:00

I defer to Gen. Schofield...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 10:17 PM

2016-02-06T22:17:22-05:00

You won't get far in the military as a leader without the respect of those under your charge. People who are inspired by your actions and charisma will be more inclined to follow you than belligerent tyrades and threats. If you're a tyrant, are you going to be able to count on the people you routinely berate to come to your aid if you need it?

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 10:56 PM

2016-02-06T22:56:12-05:00

Respect. Only dictators lead by fear

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 11:09 PM

2016-02-06T23:09:17-05:00

Why choose? I'd want to instill loyalty in my subordinates, but have the capability of also instilling fear if or when it becomes necessary. Luckily, I've never felt the need to make someone fear me, and I've never felt my guys were disloyal.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 6 at 2016 11:45 PM

2016-02-06T23:45:49-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Situation: SMs are standing in a casual formation w/ many NCOs, a task has been announced by senior leadership w/o appointing a leader. He who steps forward, accepts and assumes responsibility becomes the 'respected' leader. There is nothing like acceptance of responsibility to generate respect!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2016 10:10 AM

2016-02-07T10:10:16-05:00

Respected

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Feb 8 at 2016 2:54 PM

2016-02-08T14:54:31-05:00

Fear is the motivator of last resort and is only good in the short term. In the long run you will achieve far better results if your people follow you willingly. For that you need respect. Thankfully I never served directly under a bad leader but I have sure seen some. From a practical point of view if I think so little of you that I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire would you really want me to be who had your six when the stuff hit the fan?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2016 9:09 PM

2016-02-08T21:09:41-05:00

My personal view is that an effective organization has leaders of each type. I like to think that I'm respected, but I know I'm not feared. It's not in my being. I've even tried, and I still come off as approachable. Soldiers often ask me for assistance they should ask their team leader for. I believe that I call out soldiers for minor infractions at least as often as anybody in the company, and I definately hand out more PT than anybody else, but joes don't seem to fear me. Despite the fact that I aspired to be a thunder and lightning NCO, its not in me, and I have come to grips with that. I'll take being firm and fair. And that's what I strive for.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Feb 9 at 2016 7:56 AM

2016-02-09T07:56:32-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member RESPECTED!!!

Response by MAJ John Adams made Feb 11 at 2016 12:54 PM

2016-02-11T12:54:26-05:00

I would ALWAYS rather be respected. Respect brings cooperation, which is essential for the mission. Of course, the good leader must be able to generate at least worry and/or apprehension when the situation demands (which is what formal counseling, reading rights, and NJP are for) but having your troops afraid of you accomplishes nothing. Not even Georgie Patton or Erwin Rommel led by fear, and they were probably the most capable of generating it.

Response by Edward Belliveau made Mar 11 at 2017 5:08 PM

2017-03-11T17:08:54-05:00

Respected

Response by LCpl Johnny Carroll made Mar 21 at 2017 8:53 PM

2017-03-21T20:53:42-04:00

if they fear you more than the ones they are fighting

Response by SPC Mike McKenna made Mar 23 at 2017 12:58 AM

2017-03-23T00:58:33-04:00

Both