Introduction
It is essential to have a leader who understands the needs of employees and the tasks assigned to them for any field of activity and any team. The combination of strict management and friendly exhortation pushes team members to do their job efficiently and feel comfortable with it. Examples of this approach can be found in many companies; however, the military sphere demonstrates it especially accurately, since the life and mental state of soldiers are dependent on a leader’s way of commanding. I believe that the most successful leadership approach for me is to combine rigor in following the rules, understanding the team members’ needs, and demonstration of these qualities by personal example.
Main body
Team leaders always have the authority and power to manage their subordinates as this contributes to the coherence of their work. However, for the military as well as civilians, it is necessary to understand the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of the teams’ members, since ignoring them can even lead to fatal consequences. For example, if an officer does not notice or ignore the mental or physical problems of a soldier and sends him or her into battle or on duty. This person, having a weapon in his hands, can become a threat to his or her colleagues because he or she is not ready to serve. On the contrary, a simple act of a leader can inspire team members for quality work and even feats. Chad Storlie, a veteran of the Iraq war and writer, recalls how inspired he was when his commander went on duty, and the soldier could find time for a cup of coffee. Thus, I believe that understanding the needs of subordinates will be one of my main tasks as a leader, since it is crucial for the sufficient work of the team.
Nevertheless, the hierarchy must be maintained in the army and the business company because it helps to organize work and places responsibility on team members. In any group, there are cases when employees with less experience or level of knowledge do not understand or do not want to perform some tasks but cannot find logical explanations for disagreement. At such moments, a leader should have enough authority and power to force team members to do what is best for effective work. A hierarchy is also necessary for resolving conflicts or disputes, as a leader is responsible for the performance of a team, so the last word should remain with him or her.
However, the combination of these features described above, as well as the behavior required of team members should be clear and demonstrative. Leaders should show qualities that contribute to the fulfillment of tasks by their example, since with their actions, they set a pattern of behavior and gives incentives for the development of subordinates. Storlie notes that he was impressed and motivated by the fact that his sergeant major managed to take care of his group even in the conditions of destruction in Iraq when he was under extreme pressure. For this reason, Storlie also highlights the concept of leadership by example, as fundamental to any leader. I think this idea will also underlie my leadership style.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ideal leader to me is a person who combines power and empathy with his or her subordinates, as well as inspires them to work effectively by personal example. Such a model of behavior can easily be found in the experience of the military, since in extreme situations and limited conditions, any mistake that a leader makes has significant consequences. Thus, I hope that I will combine such qualities to become the perfect leader for my team.
References
Storlie, Chad. “Not Just for the Military: Leadership by Example.” Military.com.