If you are a leader and no one is following, isn't that considered a lonely walk?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 May 2016 21:52:58 -0400

So I was in church the other day and the statement "if you are leading and no one is following, then you are just going on a lonely walk." It was sermon on developing leaders in the church, but I took it more on the military level. what do you think? Does this ring a bell more so now in the military, then in the past?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2016 9:59 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 May 2016 21:59:33 -0400

I agree that it is applicable to the military also! (I have to use this one).

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2016 10:40 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 May 2016 22:40:44 -0400

A leader is a mentor to his subordinates and will have followers or he/she is not a leader. A good leader is sometimes a follower by delegating a leadership role to his subordinates.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2016 10:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 May 2016 22:49:33 -0400

An excellent statement. I think it is far more relevant now than it was in the past. In the past the Army made people leaders because they could lead. In the past few decades the Army has taken on the task of "developing" leaders from everybody. While it's a noble gesture, it is not truly possible. Leadership CAN be learned, but it cannot be truly taught, at least not the way the army does it. I may be taking an unpopular position here, but I feel the Army does not develop leaders, but poor managers, and this is creating a spiraling catalyst of numerous other issues we now face. The solution for this is not a popular one either: to bring back the old SPC E-5 - E-9 rank structure. This would allow for people with leadership skills to move up the NCO ladder and be leaders, and the people who hold worthy skills with their MOS, but not leadership based skills, can assume the specific MOS related tasks to the 20, 30, and possibly even 40 level skills of their job. I doubt anyone will ever see this again, there is a lot of valid resistance to it as well as support.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2016 6:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 May 2016 18:45:23 -0400

true up