Leadership: what does it mean?

From my time as a Platoon Leader in the 82d Airborne Division until my final assignment in the Army as a Medical Recruiting Company Commander, I maintained a written document explaining my views on leadership. This is probably something that most soldiers have in the back of their mind constantly, and that some leaders certainly speak of frequently. For me, it was an easy way to let my superiors, peers, and those I was responsible for, understand how I view the world. More importantly, it was my hope that they would understand how I viewed our relationship to the world as well:

LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

All of the great phrases that describe leadership have already been said in your favorite movie or book. I believe that the true measure of a leader is in the actions that illuminate what values compose that individual. Without action, virtue is simply an idea. The action that we take together will ultimately determine our success, and if that success occurs in the absence of character, we are not truly successful. I believe we must also focus our decisions and actions within a set of team competencies that compliment the Army Values.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Every decision and its subsequent actions produce a result. Whether the result is positive, negative, or neutral will depend on many factors, such as perspective and/or contribution towards a specific goal or mission. I believe that the most important attribute of a leader is to accept responsibility for their decisions. If we consider the result of a decision or action before we execute, then we take deliberate actions towards ensuring positive results. This does not mean that we will not make mistakes, but it ensures that we are aware that the things we do or say have an impact on everyone within our organization to some extent.

ATTITUDE

Negative attitudes are contagious. Positive attitudes are contagious. There is always a chance to make a deliberate decision to strive for a positive attitude. I believe that a positive attitude can contribute more to our team than any motivational speech or incentive that I can offer. When we consider why we have chosen our profession, there are bound to be multiple reasons for our service. We choose to serve our nation, in a volunteer Army because we believe in America and our way of life. Just as I believe in our service, I believe that constantly striving to maintain a positive attitude will enrich our service to our country and one another.

BALANCE

I believe that it is possible to fulfill your obligations to your family, yourself, and your unit simultaneously. There is a delicate balance to achieve, and multiple factors to consider when approaching such a dynamic challenge. If you are not taking care of your family, it will become difficult to accomplish your mission. If you are not continuously developing yourself and your subordinates, your unit will suffer. I believe that within our team there are numerous resources that will enable you to strike a balance in your life that helps you accomplish all of your missions. I challenge you to be proactive in your endeavors regarding the balance of your personal and professional lives, and I expect you to accomplish goals for both.

CREATIVITY

Every problem we encounter has multiple solutions. In some instances previous experiences will shape the best course of action to overcome the challenge. In other instances we will have to evaluate our known factors, identify our goals, and design solutions that are particular to the new situation. I believe that we can achieve the greatest successes if we leverage our body of experiences before we attack. This does not mean that we should surrender the initiative or become indecisive, but it means that we must consider new approaches to familiar problems.

BOTTOM LINE

My beliefs are in no way meant to provide an exhaustive or prescriptive list of what defines a leader. The intent of this philosophy is to provide you with a simple rationalization of the way that I perceive our relationship. I am here to empower, enable, and assist the application of our collective efforts. This is our team, and our actions will represent to others what we value individually, and collectively. Regardless of rank or position, we are all someone’s son or daughter, and we only get one chance at living our lives the right way. Remember that at the end of the day, we all remove our uniforms and exist as human beings.

I am sharing this now because I still believe every word of it. I would love to hear your thoughts, and to discuss how leadership can become a point of emphasis for training within your organization.

Have you had specific training to focus on leadership within the past year? Was it "communication" or "STAR-evaluation" training? What other terms have been used to describe training that your organization has undertaken that at its core was leadership training?