Somehow, the subject of Leadership recently came up in a conversation with a few relatives. So, I think it's about time I give the world a short but, effective tutorial on the subject. My time in the Army was rather instructive on a great many things, including this topic. While most of the time the Army just gave me some clear (and often painful) examples of toxic leadership, I did also learn what a good leader looks like too.
1.) NEVER ask a subordinate to do something you are not willing or able to do yourself.
If you do, you're not a leader, just a boss. What's the difference? Simply put, bosses say 'do this' and leaders say 'follow me.' You have to set the example of 'what right looks like' as they used to say in the Army. Nothing motivates a subordinate more than their leader actually getting into the proverbial trenches along with them.
A good example would be Caesar's final conquest of Gaul. In the last major battle of the Gallic Wars, his forces were on a hill, surrounded by the barbarian forces of Vercingetorix and out-numbered 2 to 1. Knowing the odds, Caesar decided to go to the front and personally lead his troops into battle. He even wore a red cape, like his hero Alexander the Great, to distinguish himself from all the other Romans. Tactically and strategically, what Caesar did was pretty stupid. One stray arrow from a barbarian and he could have been killed. However, he still motivated his men enough for them to defeat the barbarians and conquer Gaul.
2.) DON'T be an asshole.
I can't stress this one enough. No one wants to work for a toxic person or deal with a toxic culture in their workplace, unit or whatever other organization where you're in a leadership role.
You don't have to kiss ass but, you do have to be respectful. Don't engage in office politics. Don't talk about people behind their backs. Don't try to publicly discredit or shame someone when they make a mistake. Don't allow any kind of office politics in your area of responsibility or command. Doing these things will destroy the cohesion of the team and make everything fall apart.
I have seen it many times before in and out of the Army. The results are always the same: your subordinates become very unhappy and decide to leave your organization for greener pastures. That's why I left the Army and why I decided to get out of the Insurance Adjusting business too. I will not tolerate being set up for failure by having bad leadership. In the Army, bad leadership can literally get people killed. That's a no-go.
3.) The needs of your subordinates ALWAYS come before you're own.
This means that EVERY need of the subordinates must be addressed before you start worrying about yourself. The soldiers eat before the Commanding Officer eats.
One of the better examples of this I've seen would be holiday dinners while in the Army. At those dinners, the officers and senior NCO's of the unit/battalion/brigade all get behind the buffet tables and put the food on the soldier's plates as they pass by. Having to spend so many Christmas holidays away from home really sucked. However, it was still pretty nice for a General from Brigade HQ to serve me a few pieces of turkey. I really did appreciate the gesture.
4.) Remember that you are not Lord and Master, only a Servant.
And the way you serve is by making sure your subordinates can perform their roles with as little trouble as possible. In the end, all relationships should be one where each person serves the other.
Probably the best example of this that I can remember came from the Bible, in John 13:1-17. This is the story about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before the Passover dinner that would become the Last Supper.
Jewish tradition called for people to be clean from head to toe before sitting down to eat. So, Jesus literally washed his disciples' feet, which were probably quite filthy from all the walking those men did. It was a way for Jesus to teach humility to the disciples, as one of the final lessons he would teach them before the Crucifixion. He was literally 'showing them what right looks like' by demonstrating that all leaders are not masters but servants.
"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." - John 3:14-15 (NASB)
He was a man of peace but, with leadership skills like that, I still say that Jesus could have made a great NCO. He'd certainly be better than a lot of the stripe-wearin' jokers that I dealt with over the years. He might have even been able to work some of his magic and give me some decent running ability too. That would have certainly made my time in the Service a lot easier. :P
- Lord Publius
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