What is the greatest tool in your leadership tool box?

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 00:07:48 -0500

If you had to pick on tool and say it was the most useful for you in you experiences, what would it be.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2013 3:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:10:40 -0500

Care about your Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines. That's it. If you can do that, the rest will fall into place.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2013 5:29 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 05:29:10 -0500

My mentors.  Always have a mentor to help guide you.  And as you progress, look to your subordinates for someone you can mentor.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 5 at 2013 5:11 PM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:11:32 -0500

The primary tool is mentors from the Chiefs' Mess! They will never fail you. You just have to ask for help.

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Nov 5 at 2013 6:33 PM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:33:19 -0500

I am strong on mentorship and guidance. I want my Soldiers and NCOs to know and understand that I care about them and their needs. No matter the issue they may have I do everything with in my power to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner. I am also a firm believer in leading by example. I can't make an on the spot correction for uniform, or behavior or whatever issue I might witness if I'm not setting the example with my uniform and behavior. If you show your subordinates that you care about them, and you legitimately do care about them, then they will see that and take more pride in everything they do.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 4 at 2014 9:42 PM

SFC James Baber — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 21:42:41 -0500

Mentorship and leading by example, I would never ask my subordinate or even peers to do anything that I was not willing to do myself. And with mentorship, you have to be willing to give guidance and show concern for your subordinates so that they will know that they can and be willing to come to you with problems and concerns without fear of ridicule and scorn.

Response by LtCol Dann Chesnut made Feb 18 at 2014 9:20 AM

LtCol Dann Chesnut — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:20:13 -0500

Listen. Listen to your subordinates. Listen to your peers. Listen to your seniors. Listen to you mentor(s). Then act.

Response by CPT Dave Shephard made Jun 20 at 2014 12:15 PM

CPT Dave Shephard — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:15:07 -0400

As much as I hate to say it, Google.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jun 20 at 2014 12:21 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:21:06 -0400

There are a lot of great responses on here so far and there are so many others to choose from. I think that I will go with patience. Patience in everything that you do. Patience in listening, acting, providing counsel or advice, determining COAs, etc. You can't go wrong with utilizing patience. You can definitely go way wrong without it...

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jun 20 at 2014 12:46 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:46:52 -0400

Counseling is my most useful tool for several reasons:
- When properly done, counseling is an investment not a cost. I end up saving more of my own time in the long run when I counsel my subordinates because they are able to operate more effectively and efficiently by knowing what I am trying to do and what their piece of this mission is.
- A primary job of the US Army is to grow our leaders. The best way to grow leaders is through effective counseling.
- I have personally gained a lot when my superiors actually took the time to counsel me over the years. Unfortunately, many officers suck at counseling in that they either do not counsel or they do it poorly.
- The counseling dates on the NCOER and the counseling box check on the new OER are not meant to be pencil drills. They are meant to be forcing functions to show that counselings were done in a timely manner as required by regulation.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2014 12:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 12:47:42 -0400

Experience!

Response by MSG Martin C. made Jun 20 at 2014 1:12 PM

MSG Martin C. — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 13:12:13 -0400

Honesty-Loyalty and 100% concern for my Soldiers.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Sep 25 at 2014 5:43 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 17:43:20 -0400

Loyal dissension. Being able to express to a leader a wrong, how to correct that wrong, and why it was wrong in a way that maximizes the positive nature of change. Using this to accomplish the mission and take care of Soldiers is the greatest of success stories as you effect a leader.

Response by PO2 Ervin Potter made May 10 at 2015 6:57 PM

PO2 Ervin Potter — Sun, 10 May 2015 18:57:33 -0400

Common sense

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 11:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 23:32:06 -0400

Knife hand......seriously though, listen to your subordinates and trust them until proven otherwise!!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 6:51 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 18:51:55 -0400

Know your soldiers. You cannot effectively take care of them, influence them, mentor them, develop them, or lead them unless you take time to know who they are and what motivates them. I found that building trust and mutual respect through this process is monumental for successful leadership.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 6:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 18:59:48 -0400

Try to see it from their perspective and understand it (even if you don't agree) and hold no grudges.

OK, that's two, but frequently they go together.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 7 at 2015 8:04 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 20:04:13 -0400

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 7 at 2015 8:06 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 20:06:27 -0400

Knife hand! :)

Response by CPO Wayne Mead made Jun 7 at 2015 10:54 PM

CPO Wayne Mead — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:54:57 -0400

Faith in myself and others.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 10 at 2015 5:51 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:51:06 -0400

Response by Sgt Mike Aydelotte made Jun 10 at 2015 10:37 PM

Sgt Mike Aydelotte — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 22:37:57 -0400

sharing my mistakes. Especially struggles with personal growth. I always wanted the Marine that would replace me to be an upgrade.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 15 at 2015 2:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 14:23:53 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 24 at 2015 2:18 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:18:11 -0400

It's what is in the heart. It determines which way to go.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 8 at 2015 4:37 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 16:37:04 -0400

Having a 360 vision.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 8 at 2015 8:42 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 20:42:45 -0400

The gift of Patience/Humble to do Duty Honor Country for 25 years and 3 days in the U.S. Army.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 8 at 2015 8:51 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 20:51:39 -0400

My ability to connect, I genuinely like people and have always been able to connect.

Response by SPC James White made Nov 19 at 2015 6:16 PM

SPC James White — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:16:26 -0500

Listening....

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2016 1:47 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 13:47:31 -0500

You are my greatest tool, along with the thousands of Brothers and Sisters I have the privilege to share in their knowledge.
There is a reason we've been in the Navy all our boomin' lives.