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One thing I took away from growing up a military brat and then being an NCO myself in the military: You lead people, you manage things. People are not managed,
by stirfrykitty 7y ago
One thing I took away from growing up a military brat and then being an NCO myself in the military:
You lead people, you manage things. People are not managed, they are either led well or poorly. Good leaders lead from the front, right alongside their charges. This is one thing I miss from my military time. Leaders should be working, not sitting in an office breathing rarefied air and distant from their charges.
I'm thankful my current "boss" is happy to simply let me and my one colleague run with it. Should we need something, we ask, but otherwise we know what to do and the road map is clear. We work with a sense of urgency, get things done and keep the boss happy. He looks good, we look good. Another thing that is detestable is too many meetings for the sake of meetings. Have a purpose for the meeting. Allow feedback, take constructive criticism (leaders, I'm looking at you), and actually lead with your troops, not away from them. My sole colleague and I get more done in one day than I did in a week at my previous position because the bureaucracy would not get out of the way.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
- bespoke_engnr 7y agoThis is so true. Another thing I've seen great NCOs do: When someone has to do something boring/dirty/ugly, never let them do it alone. Sometimes having a buddy help you with shit work can actually turn it into something fun.
- stirfrykitty 7y agoSo true. When I served, the occasional crap job would come around and everyone was expected to chip in. We had to field day the barracks every Thursday night. There was no liberty until it was done and inspection complete. As an NCO, I made sure that myself and other NCOs took turns on the buffers, mops/buckets right alongside the Privates and Lance Corporals. There is no "I" in team. This is one thing about the Marine Corps I miss. A very few people could move mountains. The Corps is able to do so much with very little.
- zaphirplane 7y agoAn interesting comment about leading from the front since most military colonels onwards are desk bound What you are referring to applies very well to frontline leadership which is the NCO type
- stirfrykitty 7y agoI don't know about anything other than the USMC. In the Corps, everyone works, even officers. Our SgtMaj as well as our Colonel were frequently seen filling sandbags when deployed, out on the rifle/pistol range training during deployments, setting up their own GP tents (shared large tent). There are generally no exemptions in the Corps for officers or senior enlisted and nor should there be. If you lead, lead. Show the way. Troops respect men who lead from the front right alongside their men. Ours certainly did. Nothing better than a solid, engaged Gunny or Warrant Officer right alongside you when crap gets weird.