The Most Important Lesson I Have Learned as a Leader

MAJ Donald Sifuentes
Student, Command and General Staff School
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
13May2010

Throughout my military career, I have been fortunate to have learned many lessons through enlisted and commissioned service. This learning process has continued as I have advanced and developed as a leader of Soldiers in a variety of assignments. Beyond developing as a leader, perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is that the solid foundation of a good leader is based on a sum of many sometimes conflicting parts. A good leader should have the flexibility to balance many aspects of human behavior and speaking skills.

A good leader is often a good motivator. Directing someone to perform a task can be a challenge when that person does not want to perform that task. A leader is required to motivate that person to perform that task. Not all people respond to the same motivation. A leader must be able to discern what would motivate that person to act or what is motivating that person not to act in the performance of that task. The leader must decide which style of leadership to apply in motivating that person. Some people respond to a directing leader who will give abrupt instruction to perform the task. Others may respond to a sensing leader who will find the motivation to perform the task within the individual. Still others will respond to a more democratic leader who will explain the nature of the task and achieve a consensus of the person or within the group of followers to perform the task.

A leader must be able to communicate intent and the task. Some leaders will communicate what is to be done in a directing context; other leaders will gain empathy of the group. A leader that is directing will generally not change the mode of communication, perhaps only to be louder. An empathetic leader will often change the tone of communication to gain empathy. In explaining the nature of the task, a leader will oftentimes change the tone to match the specific item of communication. That is, a leader will change volume or pace or inflection to match the importance or urgency of the material discussed. If a group of followers is mixed, so must the leader mix the modes of communication to ensure the followers will complete the task.

The behavior of a leader is often used as a means to lead. Some leaders will remain removed from the group followers and aloof, while others will “roll up their sleeves,” and join in on performing the task. The behavior of the leader is driven by the situation. A leader will often know what behavior to apply to a given situation. However, there are times where the leader is compelled toward participation in the task. Often the leader will be inundated with other tasks, decisions, problems, or supervision of the larger goal. Again, this is driven by the situation. Even if a leader is inundated with other tasks, decisions, problems, or with the supervision of the larger goal; there are times when a task is so critical that the goal will not be achieved without the completion of that task. This key task will become the immediate focus of the leader. If the followers are not motivated to complete the task or are only motivated by a complete buy-in of the leader, the participation of the leader in the task becomes paramount, notwithstanding the other tasks, decisions, problems, and supervision of the larger goal.

One area a leader should not be flexible is in respect of the group of followers. A marionette-leader who berates the follower(s) will achieve results through fear, but often not through any other means. If the task is to protect the group from an apparent danger, that would provide motivation for the group. However, if fear is the only motivation, the followers will often seize any opportunity to undermine the leader.

I have learned that leadership is not only an art and not necessarily innate, it is the sum of many parts. To be a good and effective leader, many skills are developed and refined. These skills and behaviors will vary from follower to follower and within groups. A leader must possess leadership skills of motivating the follower, good communication, leading by example, and maintaining mutual respect. But a good leader will be flexible in the application of leadership skills. This leader will know when to be a directing leader and when to empathize with the follower and how to communicate to achieve motivation from a follower or within a group to ensure a task is complete. If the key task to achieving a goal is at risk, the leader will know where and how to focus the group and what method to apply. As a commissioned officer in the Army, developing as a leader is paramount. The most important lesson I have learned is that flexibility in the application of leadership skills is necessary.

“The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.”