Like I said, I'm not going to tell you to run with boats and logs or say that you aren't cut out to be a leader. And I don't need to tell you to live a healthy lifestyle and to work out. Chances are you know you need to do that. And frankly that advice wouldn't fit in these cards. I have a website for all of that. This was designed to be a set of ideas that anyone can apply. But this is also a subjective list and may not be your ideal method. This is just mine. The wonderful part of leadership is that we can pick and chose the best parts to keep and the worst to ignore. How do you lead?

Why These Things?

My begining in the military came from me being bored. So I had a rough start. But once I found my reason to continue I couldn't be stopped. There will be trials and things that try to stop you, which is why you need a solid foundation to fall back on. Over time these "why's" will change, and that's okay. If they are telling you it's time for a change, consider it. My why resulted in a lot of hardship, but it also got me through it because I knew it was worth fighting for. What is the reason you are doing what you do? Is that part of who you are? Are you willing to fight for it?

1. Remember Why You Started

I am an active duty United States Marine, and I have made my career by going against many of the common beliefs of the Marine Corps. My Occupational Specialty is one of the most competitive, so I would like to believe that there is something to how I lead others, or at least enough to get me where I am now. But this is not going to be telling you to run with logs and boats.The root of success is confidence. Working out, being properly educated, and being confident helps.These are a good start, but that's another topic. These apply to everyone and can act as a starting point to get you moving.

My Credibility

This will vary from place to place, but I make sure to relay intent behind an order to all levels of the work force before we begin a task. If I ask for something to be done without a reason, it will be done as I asked verbatim. But if I say we need to do (x) for the purpose of (y), all of a sudden the whole task changes and it is done more in a more efficient way for the end goal. This can also give menial tasks meaning where as before it just seemed like a task to fill time.Another benefit to this is that it allows individuals to grow as leaders and lets them find better ways to do things.

2. Focus On Teaching Not Leading

In the military there are enlisted (general population) and commissioned office (management)I have learned that a lot of enlisted are scared to tell officers the truth if the truth is bad news. This can lead to a lot of bad situations. Telling someone something can be done by that afternoon, but not mentioning that everyone will hate their lives for that time results in just that, but it also teaches the officer that this is okay in the future. And history will repeat.It is important to be honest to your higher ups even if the answer isn't what they want to hear. Work both smarter and harder.

3. Don't Be A Yes Man

If you don't know how to follow, chances are you won't be a good leader. It is always very easy to point out someone higher up who has no idea what they are talking about but are trying to manage something anyways. These individuals may not have been in your shoes before so they don't know the ropes, or simply don't know what to ask, and it shows. This will show in you as a leader as well. Be humble and remember that you were once in the shoes of those beneath you. Know how to follow and be willing to take criticism and advice from those below you. It will be weird but it has benefits longterm

4. Know How To Follow

Once you were the fresh new mind in your industry, but now it's time to pass the torch. Encourage them to ask questions to learn from the more senior individuals, but also let them find new and better ways to do things. Often times this will result in faster knowledge transfer and, with the fresh set of eyes, a new and improved method. Sometimes even more.Being asked questions also makes.you think. If you don't fully understand something you won't be able to answer every question you get on the topic. Who knows? Maybe a few questions is all you need to become a subject matter expert.

5. Encourage Questions

This is a multi part one.One application of this is sumerized with "unfair but equal." Not everyone will respond to the same things the same way. This includes teaching, training and even discipline. You will need to know your people in order to know how to talk to them and help them progress The second part of this is you have to "sense and make sense." Try to gague the crowd and their knowledge on the subject that you are covering. You are teaching it after all, and your level of knowledge may be much higher than those you are reaching. Make sure it makes sense to the as well.

6. Know Your Audience

I had a much later start than my peers and even some of those under me. This has led to me having to ask for help from those I should be leading. However over the past few months I have started to cover groung in the knowledge gap between us. It is very common for us to think we have point we need to get to and then we can cruise the rest of the way. This is a terrible mindset to entertain.There are other bad mindsets to avoid like toxic self confidence which is where your confidence comes at the cost of someone else, and <a href="https://nathaliemartinekphd.substack.com/p/knowledgevampires">Knowledge vampires</a> who will steal from you to put themselves on top.

7. Don't Settle

The excuse "that is how we have always done it" usually means that either they knew they were wrong and didn't care, or that they were too lazy to find a better way.