The more we wait for inspired leadership the less inspired we become. How do YOU inspire people beyond the norm?

2014-09-19T14:12:23-04:00

Leadership is situational.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 6:53 PM

2014-09-19T18:53:40-04:00

SGM Private RallyPoint Member Interesting thought. I would think many of us have been in units where the leadership has benn "wanting" at some point in our careers. Hopefully those time were not often. It didn't take long as a Junior leader to learn that when inspiring leadership is not provided from above, you learn how to develop it yourself....if you care!

I learned by watching what leaders (not just from my unit) of experiece annd higher rank were doing. By doing so, I also learned from those uninspiring persons in leadership positions, what not to do and how not to act toward my Soldiers. Therefore over the years I learned a lot about what to do, how to do, and how NOT to do or be.

I made it a point to often tell my Soldiers, Squad Leaders, Section and Platoon Sergeants that good leaders and leadership can rub off on you and you not realize it right away, however, pay attention when you're around poor leadership, bad leadership, and no leadership at all. Put that in your memory bank and say, "When I get to be in his position, I damn sure will never do that or be that way!" I've been retired over 18 yrs now, and it brings a big smile to me when I hear one of my former Soldiers who made the Army a career and went on to PSGs, 1SGs, SGM and CSMs and some that went on to become officers and in fact curreontly serving today.

Leadership qualities come both natural and also learned! Natural Leaders do not know it all, as we all face situations that are new, unknown and difficult. Often it's those learned leadership skills and bad leadership skills that was noted and avoided that make you the leader you are today. Those skills you do not find in a book. It has to experienced, both good and bad! Good topic SGM!

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Sep 21 at 2014 8:02 AM

2014-09-21T08:02:56-04:00

Ghandi said "be the change you wish to see in the world." This is a powerful sentence and one that definitely applies to our military. Don't sit back and wait for inspired leadership, BE that inspiring leader.

I do my best to maintain a positive attitude regardless of the situation I am in. A positive attitude goes a long way; especially in a unit where morale may not be where it needs to be, or if there are other underlying issues. Maintain consistency and predictability in your actions. Soldiers need to know what they are going to get from you. Show them that you deliver. Words are important, but actions trump all. If you do the right thing all the time, you will never have to look over your shoulder. By doing the right thing consistently, staying positive, and letting your actions speak for yourself, you are doing those things that should inspire others. Be the change.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2014 1:34 PM

2014-09-21T13:34:40-04:00

I think the way to find and create inspired leadership is to spend deliberate time and effort on leader and leadership development at every level of our organizations.

Corporals need to be taught how to be team leaders; NCOs need education to maximize their skills...junior officers need to focus on skills for company command and field grades need to learn Organazational leadership.

I think the process should never stop, and we never "master" the craft. If senior leaders show they are still striving to develop, and they in turn facilitate juniors development, we can fix today's leadership and shape tomorrow's.

IMHO, we do too much NCOPD and OPD, when we should be doing LPDs that recognize leadership isn't tied to a rank and there are a lot of common challenges we share.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 21 at 2014 2:06 PM

2014-09-21T14:06:58-04:00

Very well stated, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member and 1SG Steven Stankovich You sound like the kind of leaders that I tried to learn from and emulate.