The Army’s Take On Leadership
The military has had plenty of time to reflect on leadership and, in the interests of building effective armies, how to engender it in the widest range of individuals, so here’s a military view for comparison:
Know Yourself And Seek Self-Improvement
In order to know yourself, you have to understand your “be, know, and do” attributes. Seeking self-improvement means continually strengthening these attributes. This can be accomplished through self-study, formal classes, reflection, and interacting with others.
1. Be technically proficient – As a leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your employees’ tasks.
2. Seek and take responsibility for your actions – Search for ways to guide your organization to new heights. And when things go wrong – and they always do sooner or later – do not blame others. Analyse the situation, take corrective action, and move on to the next challenge.
3. Make sound and timely decisions – Use good problem solving, decision making, and planning tools.
4. Set the example – Be a good role model for your team members. They must not only hear what they are expected to do, but also see. “We must become the change we want to see” (Mahatma Gandhi).
5. Know your people and look out for their well-being – Know human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your team members.
6. Keep your team informed – Know how to communicate not only with them, but also seniors and other key people.
7. Develop a sense of responsibility in your team members – Help to develop good character traits that will help them carry out their professional responsibilities.
8. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished – Communication is the key to this responsibility.
9. Train as a team – Although many so called leaders call their organization, department, section, etc. a “team” they are really just a group of people doing their jobs.
10. Use the full capabilities of your organization – By developing a team spirit, you will be able to employ your organization, department, section, etc. to its fullest capabilities.
