The pillars of military leadership are character, presence, and intellect. The character may be described as an individual’s distinct mental and moral attributes. It involves an individual’s actual essence as guided by their conscience. A person’s behavior patterns, and moral outlook frequently arise from their character. To society, an individual’s reputation represents their character. A decent and acceptable leader inspires subordinates’ respect and the confidence of the nation they serve. Generally, a respected leader adheres to the appropriate rules, regulations, and unit standards. Leaders are responsible for their character and the character development of their subordinates. Education, counseling, coaching, and mentorship are all methods for developing character.
The army and its commanders place a premium on certain personality traits. These consist of army ideals, empathy, modesty, discipline, the warrior ethos, and the service ethos. In addition to the personal values that individuals acquire as they mature, those who join the army must absorb seven particular ideals. These virtues include selfless service (putting others before oneself), loyalty, responsibility, respect, honor, and integrity (Ganz et al., 2021). These are the necessary principles, norms, and characteristics for service. Displaying these values demonstrates a willingness to be trustworthy and accountable.
Army commanders must empathize with individuals around them to communicate effectively, assist others in understanding problems, and motivate their subordinates to reach predetermined goals. The warrior ethos represents a soldier’s dedication to their nation, unit, purpose, and fellow warriors. It serves as the foundation for the army’s esprit de corps. The significance of military discipline cannot be overstated. Leaders must be able to manage their behavior so that they choose the difficult but correct options over the simple but incorrect ones. Leaders are also responsible for maintaining discipline within their troops. A leader must first be self-assured and competent before being seen as modest. A leader with the requisite level of humility is an eager learner who maintains self-awareness and seeks the counsel and direction of others. Leaders are seen as modest when they are aware of their flaws and strengths and use this knowledge in their leadership.
In the military, leaders must be visible (their influence and presence felt), and their actions, discussions, and demeanor must constantly convey confidence and competence. Leaders should be mindful that their subordinates are always studying them and might readily discern if they are attempting to be someone else. Therefore, leaders must depict themselves in a way their subordinates can imitate. Being on the field with other troops as a commander to experience what they experience is also vital for reassuring them that the danger they are taking is not in vain.
The presence in the military may be linked to four things. First, there is a professional and military bearing. This requires projecting a dominating presence and a professional image based on army standards, demonstrating a unit’s professional rhythm. This enhances credibility, establishes priorities, and avoids operational confusion. Second, an Army commander must be physically fit. All-around fitness decreases the risk of injury during operations, training, missions, and even outside the workplace. Army job is physically demanding, and commanders must ensure that they and their teams are physically fit and mission ready. Confidence is the faith leaders have in their ability to make judgments and take significant action in any situation, regardless of how stressful or unpredictable it may be. Experience and a logical appraisal of one’s abilities are the sources of confidence. Resilience enables leaders and their teams to endure hardship and ultimately prevail. Resilience and commitment to the objective are essential for overcoming obstacles.
Intelligence may be described as a person’s knowledge and mental capacity. It is essential for a successful leader since it enables them to assess circumstances and make judgments, solve issues, and act accordingly. The intellectual characteristics of an army commander include mental agility, good judgment, creativity, interpersonal tact, and expertise. Possessing mental agility is the capacity to think from numerous angles. Mental agility enables commanders in military operations to react rapidly, change, and adapt to complicated conditions (Burke et al., 2020). Good judgment requires analyzing events objectively, forming logical conclusions, and making solid decisions. Important for creating connections with subordinates and gaining their confidence, this ability enables leaders to promptly repond to critical situations. Innovation is the capacity to create or execute something novel.
Innovative problem-solvers are often curious, seeking to comprehend why something is the way it is or wondering how it may be improved. Understanding one’s and another’s behavior, reactions, and intentions is essential for interpersonal tact. To guarantee it is understood without causing unnecessary offense, it may be distilled down to gracefully expressing one’s thoughts about a principle or another person. Expertise comprises in-depth knowledge and abilities acquired through experience, study, and training. Leaders use in-depth knowledge to reflect on crucial sides of an issue, make ethical and effective decisions, and sustain a high level of achievement.
In the army context, leadership, confidence, presence, and intelligence are essential qualities. The character may be described as an individual’s distinct mental and moral attributes. It involves an individual’s actual essence as guided by their conscience. Leaders must be seen to have a presence, and their actions, discussions, and demeanor must convey confidence and competence. Intellect is a person’s knowledge and mental capacity. It is essential for a successful leader since it enables them to assess circumstances and make judgments, solve issues, and act accordingly.
References
Burke, E. J., Gunness, K., Cooper III, C. A., & Cozad, M. (2020). People’s Liberation Army Operational Concepts. Rand Corp Santa Monica Ca. Web.
Ganz, A., Yamaguchi, C., Parekh, B., Koritzky, G., & Berger, S. E. (2021). Military culture and its impact on mental health and stigma. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 3, 116-128, Web.