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Counseling Platoon Leaders:
- Counseling is the foundation of development and mentorship. Be honest about expectations. Discuss the quantitative measure of performance (gunnery scores, maintenance OR rates, HR and medical metrics) not the qualitative ("good" leadership) (1/7)
- Counseling is the foundation of development and mentorship. Be honest about expectations. Discuss the quantitative measure of performance (gunnery scores, maintenance OR rates, HR and medical metrics) not the qualitative ("good" leadership) (1/7)
Leadership has intangible aspects however. Address these with metaphor or allegory.
I always tell my LTs a (likely apocryphal) quote from the Duke of Wellington:
"Sergeants teach men how to live. Officers show men how to die".
Project calm in difficult times. Set the example
I always tell my LTs a (likely apocryphal) quote from the Duke of Wellington:
"Sergeants teach men how to live. Officers show men how to die".
Project calm in difficult times. Set the example
When I was an LT, a MAJ told me:
"Officers should never run unless it's PT"
Leadership as an Officer oftentimes comes down to calm and poise during dangerous or stressful situations. The NCOs can raise their voices to get things done. The LT must remain calm, for the soldiers
"Officers should never run unless it's PT"
Leadership as an Officer oftentimes comes down to calm and poise during dangerous or stressful situations. The NCOs can raise their voices to get things done. The LT must remain calm, for the soldiers
Loyalty vs Honesty
Both are key and cannot be compromised for the other. Loyalty and trust are important for the unit to operate. But honesty is the bedrock of trust. Subordinates must feel safe being honest. Superiors owe their soldiers honesty. We fail when honesty dies
Both are key and cannot be compromised for the other. Loyalty and trust are important for the unit to operate. But honesty is the bedrock of trust. Subordinates must feel safe being honest. Superiors owe their soldiers honesty. We fail when honesty dies
Failure - acceptable to a degree
LTs are apprentices. They will make mistakes. Just like you made mistakes. You must offer top cover and protection for honest mistakes. But do not tolerate mistakes that are negligent, or put soldiers' lives at risk. We cannot forgive those
LTs are apprentices. They will make mistakes. Just like you made mistakes. You must offer top cover and protection for honest mistakes. But do not tolerate mistakes that are negligent, or put soldiers' lives at risk. We cannot forgive those
Discussion
Counseling isn't a one-way conversation. It should be a discussion. It's hard for a new LT to know what to say. Open the door. Make sure they can come speak to you for advice or to vent. If they never talk to you, you never build the trust that opens to mentorship
Counseling isn't a one-way conversation. It should be a discussion. It's hard for a new LT to know what to say. Open the door. Make sure they can come speak to you for advice or to vent. If they never talk to you, you never build the trust that opens to mentorship
Counseling lays the foundation stones for a young LT. It shows you take them and their development seriously. It opens the door to building mutual trust. It is a way to show them what right looks like.
Take it seriously. Make deliberate time for it. Start the journey off right.
Take it seriously. Make deliberate time for it. Start the journey off right.
