Eight Lessons My Non-Commissioned Officers Taught Me … and How They Made Me a Better Leader
Your people are your only assets. Everything else is equipment, technology, and resources.
People will very often not realize when you are leading by example, but they will always notice when you are not.
Organizations don’t follow leaders; individuals do. Finding the common thread that will allow you to tap into each individual’s hearts and minds to achieve a common purpose is the only way to motivate a group of people in a manner that is sustainable and engaging.
Your rank gives you authority, but your competencies, authenticity and genuine concern for everyone’s success creates the trust necessary for people to let you lead them. Never forget, following someone and being led by someone are two very different things.
Lead from the floor, not from the corner office. Understanding the demands, complexities, challenges, or dangers of the job you are asking others to do, is an important criteria for being authentic and genuine.
Sometimes people want to be led from the front and sometimes from the back. Allowing those that are qualified and willing to lead to assume the mantle of leadership is a great display of trust and maturity.
If you’re the officer (designated leader) that was put in charge, you can delegate many things, such as authority and power, but you cannot delegate responsibility. Delegation does not absolve the designated leader from responsibility.
Responsibility does not equal praise. You might be the leader responsible, but if you’ve delegated a task, and your delegate did a good job; give them the praise they deserve – do not claim it for yourself.
Thank you to the non-commissioned officers (men and women) who give so much of themselves to the young officers who are assigned to lead them.
