Posted on Apr 19, 2019
Have you ever felt like you were faking it until you made it in a leadership role? How did transitioning (becoming a PL/SL/PSG/CO) affect it?
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Doing research on new leaders!
Leadership
Platoon Leader
Squad Leader
Platoon Sergeant
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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Unlike most of these other gentlemen, each new role has required me to fake it at least for a little while. 50% of what I know as a NCO, I taught myself. 30% of what I know came from the what 'not' to do from poor leaders. The remaining 20% came from actual mentorship. Previous leadership positions could have been much easier with a mentor instead of a 1sg who tells me to "google my job" or gives a round about answer when directly asked. This I speak about from the NCO side of the house, in terms of officers I had one great CO who showed everyone what to do by his actions, the rest were just waiting to become XOs.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I completely agree with you. I was lucky enough to make it to SFC before I transitioned to Warrant. Also felt that I was not ready/knowledgeable of my next rank until I actually achieved that rank. I get promoted to CW3 next month and still feel like im learning to be a proper CW2.
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CPT (Join to see)
Good answer SSG, I share your experience. I was comfortable as an NCO, then went to OCS and drank from the fire hose of knowledge & learning. Then all of the sudden I was the PL. Like others, my best learning came from having terrible role models as leaders who taught me what not to do and how not to be. For sure I had some great leaders as well, and emulated them until I felt comfortable in my new role (then immediately got moved to company CO, where I had to fake it AGAIN for a while till I hit my stride).
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SFC Marc W.
SFC (Join to see) It's one of those theoretical things the Army continually preaches, but rarely implements. Much like common sense.
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My biggest fear always was I good enough to lead the ones working for and with me. Decisions way heavy when you are in charge of others Lives.
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Every. Single. Day.
I am completely and totally uncomfortable leading. Full stop. As a SPC, I had to be ordered to attend the promotion board. I signed at least 5 dec statements for centralized promotions. I was (and still am) fully capable of providing good-to-great leadership.
But that is and was a large part of my problem. Our Soldiers don't deserve good-to-great leadership. They deserve OUTSTANDING leadership. I was above average, often well above average. But unless I was the best possible leader, then I wasn't as good as my Soldiers deserved.
So, yes, every single day, I felt like I was taking it. I was pretending to be the leader my Soldiers deserved. I continuously worked to be that leader, but never made it.
I am completely and totally uncomfortable leading. Full stop. As a SPC, I had to be ordered to attend the promotion board. I signed at least 5 dec statements for centralized promotions. I was (and still am) fully capable of providing good-to-great leadership.
But that is and was a large part of my problem. Our Soldiers don't deserve good-to-great leadership. They deserve OUTSTANDING leadership. I was above average, often well above average. But unless I was the best possible leader, then I wasn't as good as my Soldiers deserved.
So, yes, every single day, I felt like I was taking it. I was pretending to be the leader my Soldiers deserved. I continuously worked to be that leader, but never made it.
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