Posted on Sep 18, 2013
Riding Herd or Herding Cats. What are your most effective leadership/management methods?
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Wall to wall counseling, impromptu parking lot combatives, or choke-slam. What works best for you?
Counseling
Management
Command
Mission
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 6
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MSgt,
I’m going to go a little “Captain America” here but, I have to say that knowing your soldiers is one of the most valuable things to a leader, ESPECIALLY when it comes to counseling. Knowing how my people act and react enabled me to counsel them more effectively than my peers. As a leader of mine once said “ If you don’t know Joe, how can you talk to Joe about himself?”. It was a crude but effective statement. I could go into more detail, but I’ll cut it off to prevent a novel from being written.
I’m going to go a little “Captain America” here but, I have to say that knowing your soldiers is one of the most valuable things to a leader, ESPECIALLY when it comes to counseling. Knowing how my people act and react enabled me to counsel them more effectively than my peers. As a leader of mine once said “ If you don’t know Joe, how can you talk to Joe about himself?”. It was a crude but effective statement. I could go into more detail, but I’ll cut it off to prevent a novel from being written.
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MSgt, I'm sure you probably know this but if any of you haven't learned Active Constructive Responding (from the Army MRT curriculum), I highly recommend it. It is an outstanding way to build rapport with your seniors, peers, and subordinates.
Also, we don't stop being people just because we put on a little rank. Leaders need to look to the side and even up when looking for an opportunity to be a wingman (battle buddy).
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A very well respected NCO told me to take the time to get to know my soldiers. If I didn't know one piece of information about them other than the obvious, I was wrong. That has stuck with me. We are soldiers but we are also people and deserve to be regarded as such.
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SFC (Join to see)
Definitely agree with SGT Bouvy. Get to know small tidbits about your Soldiers and always ask about their families. Pay attention to them (even without the knowing). you'd be surprised at how much shock and gratitude and respect you can bring by talking to them about something you overheard them mention (a good thing that is). Be resourceful, but teach them how to be as well. Provide them with responsibility and respect, allow them to be the adults you know they can be and are.
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