What helps you to be a better leader? How do you maintain that standard within self?

2015-12-17T00:01:09-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 12:09 AM

2015-12-17T00:09:41-05:00

To be a good leader you must understand the diversity of the men and women you lead. Empower your subordinates through competition and challenges. In order to teach and mentor you must be versed in what you are teaching. This means an ongoing process of self development on your part.

Response by 1SG Irvin Collins made Dec 17 at 2015 12:43 AM

2015-12-17T00:43:07-05:00

Listening and constant learning are the keys to becoming a better leader. I have never run across a good leader that couldn't listen. I found that key. If I didn't listen then I would miss the message and at the end of the day the key in my opinion is understanding. Understanding what is required, understanding your capabilities and understanding your teams capabilities. You can't have that without listening and learning. I never thought that I was the smartest guy in the room. I was also never afraid to admit when I was wrong and most importantly I learned from everyone from the lowest private to my senior leadership. I believe that if one does these things they will be fine. My two cents.

Response by 1SG Irvin Collins made Dec 17 at 2015 12:43 AM

2015-12-17T00:43:08-05:00

Response by SPC Rory J. Mattheisen made Dec 17 at 2015 12:45 AM

2015-12-17T00:45:44-05:00

Do what you ask of your troops, with your troops. Lead by example, not by authority.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Dec 17 at 2015 12:58 AM

2015-12-17T00:58:54-05:00

What really helps me be a better leader is that I NEVER forget where I came from.

Response by SSG Rob Godwin made Dec 17 at 2015 2:04 AM

2015-12-17T02:04:43-05:00

Learn to develop leadership skills within your peer group.
There is no quick win, be true to yourself, re-evaluate your personal values, respect subordinates and superiors (they are only human) and remember; we all fail at some time, so pick yourself up and learn.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 2:24 AM

2015-12-17T02:24:54-05:00

Being a mentor and building up the people that are working for you. A good leader must know when there are occasions that they need to be a follower.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 5:18 AM

2015-12-17T05:18:59-05:00

Being able to evolve as a leader. Never making the assumption that your leadership style is a one size fits all for every soldier. Being able to tailor your yourself as a leader to the individual soldier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 7:20 AM

2015-12-17T07:20:38-05:00

Fellow squad leaders

Response by SFC Terry Logsdon made Dec 17 at 2015 7:30 AM

2015-12-17T07:30:24-05:00

lead by example don't require or except your troops to do any thing that you haven't done or would do.listen to them when they speak. treat them like men not children, and always seek feed back from them.example, every year units would have to stand an ig inspection so as a psg I excepted my troops to maintain those standards in their living ares. ta 50 uniforms vehicules weapons ect. about 2 week prior the the actual inspection they would have company gi parties getting everything ready for the inspection and I would go the the 1sg and cmd and have my plt excemt. we would cook ham and hots and drink beer on the battalion parade field while the rest of the company cleaned.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 17 at 2015 8:34 AM

2015-12-17T08:34:10-05:00

Staying grounded and humble. Finding a good mentor is a great help also.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 9:54 AM

2015-12-17T09:54:34-05:00

I think a key element for all leaders is Patience. It's something I've had to develop the further I've "climbed the ladder" in the Army. That said, I had a 1SG that I wasn't the biggest fan of to put it lightly, but he imparted an invaluable piece of knowledge and perspective in me with one simple statement, that is, "there are no bad soldiers, only poor leaders". The more you think about that statement, the more true it becomes. Just my 2 cents!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 10:52 AM

2015-12-17T10:52:44-05:00

The post that 1SG Irvin Collins made about listening and constant learning was spot on. As a leader in my civilian career, it's something that I've noticed that your employees (or soldiers) will take note of.
Some things that have helped me become a better leader over the years have been:
-Writing out goals (SMART goals)
-Learning about time management and finding resources to keep myself accountable
-Dale Carnegie's "Secrets of Success:
(https://www.dalecarnegie.com/assets/1/7/Secrets_of_Success.pdf)
-Finding a corporate mentor (http://www.acp-usa.org/)
-Talking with others in a similar industry (LinkedIn, networking events, etc) and see what helps them the most

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 17 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-12-17T10:54:47-05:00

Leaders often neglect having fun with the troops. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Dec 17 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-12-17T12:36:56-05:00

Always remember it is not about you, it is about the Soldiers in your care. Many times I hear people talk about their evaluation. If you are doing the right thing by taking care of your Soldiers, ensuring they are ready, prepared, green across the board and your team, squad, platoon, company, etc. are combat effective, your evaluation will write itself. You need to take care of yourself, i.e. schools, readiness etc., but your Soldiers are the reason we exist as Leaders! Take care of them this is the legacy you will leave!!!!

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 17 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-12-17T12:46:40-05:00

Here are some things that could help one become a better leader.
1. Never forget where you came from.... remember you were once in their shoes.
2. Listen to your Senior Leadership and use the advice that will help you
3. Talk with your peers and share ideas
4. Listen to what and how your Soldiers say things. This will give you a very good idea of the moral level of your team.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-12-17T20:26:49-05:00

Always knowing you can learn from everyone and apply that to your role.

Response by SSG Clarence Blackburn made Dec 17 at 2015 9:38 PM

2015-12-17T21:38:48-05:00

Lead by example, never as your Soldier to do something that you wouldn't do or have done yourself. Remember Be, Know Do.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-12-18T11:29:17-05:00

I learn about my soldiers strengths and limitations, then put them in the best position I can for them to succeed. Seeing them successful boosts my confidence in myself and thus makes me feel like a better leader.

Response by SSG Carlos AcostaCastro made Dec 21 at 2015 6:12 PM

2015-12-21T18:12:44-05:00

Learn the values that you were taught at home and use it to groom your Soldiers, remember that we are humans. Teach them like they are your children. (in figured speech) Don't forget where you come from, and don't mind to get down and dirty at work with your Soldiers. They will respect you and do anything you ask for if you get involved with them, whether is Motor pool Monday, or organizing your Squad equipment container. And the most important thing, never ever forget to take care and ensure their families are taking care of.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 9:26 PM

2015-12-22T21:26:26-05:00

Be selfish. Now, before anyone down votes me to oblivion and goes on a tirade, hear me out.
You should want to leave the military being known as a great person. You should want all that is owed to you. Eye candy isn't worth anything if you don't earn it. How do you earn it? TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOLDIERS!!! Listen to them. Learn from them. Teach them all you know. Learn more. Teach them more. It goes beyond MOS training. Teach them how to be better humans. More productive members of the military and society. If a soldier has pay issues, know everything you can to help them. Don't just pass them info on one organization.
Get to know their families. Get to know any issues they're having. Know when they've done well. Praise them. Be fair.
Don't be afraid to take heat for them. All soldiers make mistakes. Learn from yours and make sure they learn from theirs as well.
Make sure that when you leave, they are better than you. If you're afraid of someone becoming better, you don't deserve to be a leader.
Do these things and you'll be a leader that people will remember.

Response by SSG Jeremy Howard made Dec 23 at 2015 10:15 AM

2015-12-23T10:15:01-05:00

Guidance and mentoring from your leadership is step one. Self discipline, attitude, healthy lifestyle are to name a few. Follow through with your goals, with focus and determination to acheive them. If your Soldiers see you completing them and succeeding in your endevers I.E, education, physical fitness, they will follow suite. Live the Army Values. I know you have heard this alot but it works. You must always encourage your Soldiers to suceed and complete thier goals as well as encourage yourself to do the same. This is why counceling is very important not only for the Soldiers but you as well. Always look for new opportunities to move foreword and broadening your expierences, voluntering helps too, use the programs the Army has avalable ACS. You have to challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Document your sucess and have it validated by your leadership, as well that for your Soldiers. All orginizations need sucessful personell and desire them to be thier best. The Army has been one of my greatest accomplishments in my life. I have grown so much as a Soldier, Leader, Mentor and as a Person. Surround yourself with successful people, it is contagious. Success has been proven time and time again by doing this. Networking within the orginizations and the talent pool that exist in the Army is a key to this success. The Army is full of talented and diverse experience. I am glad you have asked this question. I only wish there where more answers for you. I guess the main take away from this answer; is to really challenge yourself and your Soldiers, do what you can handle, do your best at handling the challenges.

Response by SSG Martin Chen made Dec 28 at 2015 7:02 PM

2015-12-28T19:02:27-05:00

Two way communication, feedback, listening, learning. Learning is one major fall back. Once you think you learned it all you might as well quit. Listen to mentors. Be a sponge. Share everything with peers and subordinates. Knowledge is power only when shared!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 5:18 AM

2015-12-29T05:18:11-05:00

One thing that made be a better leader was embracing the concept that you have to give your subordinate leaders the freedom to accomplish a task in a manner that you know you could do better. IOW you had to be willing to let subordinates make mistakes even if you could see them coming. Because if you micro manage so that they never do a task worse than you, then you also eliminate the chance for them to do it better than you would.

When I was a PLT LDR, it took all my energy and brainpower to try and be a good PLT LDr. By the time I was a company Commander, it took all my energy to be a good company commander, but handling Plt leader problems seemed easy. When I became a battalion commander, a company commanders problems seemed easy to me. It wasnt that I had magically gotten smarter, it was just that I had struggled my way through those problems, at times the hard way, and learned from my mistakes. But if I hadnt been allowed to make those mistakes, if the officers above me dictated every detail they knew based on their experience, then I never would have developed my own analytical and problem solving skills.

So I learned that as a leader you have to let junior leaders take ownership of their mission and come to their own solutions. I would make sure they stayed within a certain left or right limit in regards to safety, but I wouldnt nitpick every detail to the point where they were doing it my way rather than their way. That's how you develop leaders who will be confident enough to make difficult decisions when you arent there to look over their shoulder.

While I used an officer example, the same principle applies at any rank. Just as any CPT would make a pretty good LT, any SFC would perform SSG tasks fairly well. But we have to let LTs be LTs, or SGT s be SGTs, and not figuratively drop down in rank by telling them exactly what to do.

On a funny note, this phenomenon goes to the highest levels. I once was at a dinner where three 4 star generals were talking about the "good old days" when all they had to worry about was a single Division, and how simple their problems seemed to them back then compared to the responsibilities they faced today.