We're counting on YOU to manage our Talent

2015-12-07T10:54:56-05:00

You do not have the luxury of being issued an élite group of subordinates like Delta or the 75th – Your job is to maximize the strengths of the leaders you have and make them better.

It is your first day in the Battalion and you realize that not all of your subordinates are rock stars. Welcome to reality. That is why the unit needs you. Here are three simple ways to maximize your team's performance: 1) Identify your subordinates’ strengths 2) Assign duties based on those strengths 3) Develop them to improve their weaknesses. Identifying a person’s strengths can take time. Lazy leaders discount a weaker performer and pile all the tasks on their strong swimmer. This creates dissatisfaction in both subordinates and limits the productivity within the organization. You must evaluate each subordinate and identify what they can contribute. This takes time and creativity. Talents can include: good with numbers, high emotional intelligence, detailed oriented, a super strong work ethic, a great natural team builder, a superb public briefer/speaker, etc. Everyone has talent, it is your job to find it. Use personal interaction, observation, and counseling to identify these strengths. Once you identify their strengths give them missions or tasks that match their capabilities. Your detail oriented leaders will succeed in areas that your emotionally intelligent leaders will not. Get the Square peg in the square hole. Lastly, you need to knock off the rough edges and develop your subordinates. If they can not brief or plan it is your job to teach them. Make sure your Soldiers leave the organization better than when they arrived. YOU owe this to the individual and the Soldiers they will lead in the future. By Identifying Individual Strengths, Assigning duties based on those strengths, and Developing their weaknesses you will maximize your team’s potential!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 12:20 PM

2015-12-07T12:20:22-05:00

Sir, your plan is very clear and concise and I would argue that in a perfect world it is the perfect plan. Do not get me wrong, I am not downplaying this plan. I think it is as close to perfect as we will get and I would like to think that good leaders are out there trying to use new techniques to build their subordinates up and thus their organization. The proverbial "long pole in the tent" for me is when do you move on past a leader that should not be a leader? Not everyone that is in a leadership position in the Army or in life should be, and I believe part of our job as leaders is to recognize this and do something about it.
COL Private RallyPoint Member Your Thoughts?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-12-07T18:21:33-05:00

This is excellent for young officers to read. Sir, with your permission, I would like to forward this on to some of my peers.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 7 at 2015 9:52 PM

2015-12-07T21:52:00-05:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member Sir, great post. This is exactly what RallyPoint (and especially Command Post) posts should be professional development focused, clear and concise. The one addition I would make is: identify when a person's talents are absolutely not matched to the military ("hopeless cases" are not hopeless, they just aren't suited to the military), and work separate them from it when appropriate. The military is an organization of warriors, not a welfare employer.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Dec 8 at 2015 9:28 AM

2015-12-08T09:28:21-05:00

Starting my Tuesday off right...soaking in another spot-on COL Private RallyPoint Member Command Post! You're a machine, Sir. Taking the time to sit down with each troop and fully understanding their capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses is so critical. I've known commanders that get so lost in the rush of their ops tempo that they forget this important step. This helps you set your troops up for success AND challenge them to do things that will support their career growth. Excellent example of helping your folks develop strong communication and briefing skills. Such a key skill as they rise through the ranks.