Forms of Leadership in the Military

Forms of Leadership in the Military

  • Submitted By: mmarmino
  • Date Submitted: 12/14/2010 6:39 AM
  • Category: Philosophy
  • Words: 599
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 523

Leadership

I have been in the military for six years, and throughout my short career I have seen many forms of leadership. I have now been directed to explain my interpretation of the concept of leadership and to include my opinion of the subject. I believe leadership comes in many forms; I also believe the attributes of leadership are endowed to some more than others. Not everyone is born with the skills of a leader; some leaders are created through a process called trial and error. For example throughout the earlier years of my career I did not see myself as a leader, but through the painful process of trial and error I have become one. Confidence was not an easily attained aspect of my personality, but once I grasped it being a leader became much easier. In no means do I consider myself to be an expert on this subject, but I have developed my idea of what affective leadership should be.
As previously stated I have seen many forms of leadership, unfortunately I have seen as much poor leadership as good. The worst leader is an absent one, an individual that commands subordinates to complete a task without including himself in the plans of execution. Unfortunately the military is saturated with this type of leader, individuals who refuse to share the burden of labor with his men. During my tour in Iraq I was introduced to this absentee style of leadership. Morale is seriously affected when a leader refuses to participate with his soldiers. A sense of resentment is created among the soldiers, which is devastating to a leaders base of power. I believe if a man is to be an effective leader he must be willing to roll up his sleeves and work side by side with his soldiers. Working alongside your men is the best way to show them you care. Shared hardship produces respect, and respect from you men is a necessity to being an effective leader. I myself remember thinking highly of the leaders that would actually come out and train with us. My theory is supported by...

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