Posted on Sep 7, 2020
SGT Infantryman
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- His girlfriend broke her leg last week and can't drive or walk up the stairs
I want to tell him make it to work on time because she is not his spouse. Is this the right thing to do?
I am his team leader
Posted in these groups: 6a00d8341bfadb53ef0167675a236a970b 500wi Team Leader
Edited 4 y ago
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Responses: 27
SFC Bde Ops Sgm Oc/T
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His gf could eventually become his wife and putting a bad taste in her mouth about his leadership wouldn’t be great. If you take care of your Soldiers, they’ll take care of you (if that makes sense). I was in a similar situation when I was a squad leader and let him do what he needed. They got married and he was a great Soldier in the end so it works out.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
LCpl Michael Cappello
4 y
I was taught, long ago, that we do NOT "demand" respect. We "command" respect.
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SSG(P) Casualty Operations Ncoic
SSG(P) (Join to see)
4 y
LCpl Michael Cappello - Respect is EARNED, not demanded.

In the movie, "TAPS" George C. Scott plays a military prep school commandant. He tells a senior cadet, "They'll respect the rank, hell, they have to. But they won't respect the man. You have to earn that."

I put that into practice while I was a Corrections Officer. Even though prisoners are just that, they are still human beings, and you have to give them that respect. When you GIVE respect, in most cases, it gets returned.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
LCpl Michael Cappello
4 y
SSG(P) (Join to see) - That would be the "command" part. In other words A leaders actions should be DESERVING of respect. Thus COMMANDING respect rather than demanding respect. Said another way, we lead by example.
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SSG Intelligence Analyst
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Play your cards right and the rewards will be great, play them wrong and you lose trust.

She broke her leg dude, regardless if they are married or not, is 30-45 minutes going to hinder work that much?
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SGM Erik Marquez
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This is when good Soldiers get rewarded and all others get told to be at work on time.
If this is an SM that strives to do the best they can every day, every task.... Clear a room to sweep the sidewalk...On time every day, puts out at PT, offers to help a fellow SM finish a task, just because the task is not done. Stops and picks up the BII left unsecure by another crew and gives it back ...just because its the right thing to do....

You say yes, but understand its an exception....and you and her will need to figure out a way to make it work if she will need assistance every day...If you need help with that ask...
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