By CSM Scott Dinse
A young leader has plenty of reason to be confused about what effective leadership looks and/or feels like. We have books, podcasts, experts, and even celebrities telling us what we should be doing and how we should be getting it done. Well-meaning leaders, especially junior leaders, may ascribe to a certain “best” leadership style they heard or read about, when another “best” approach is suggested, resulting in their dismay and confusion. Sadly, the confusion doesn’t end there, as the soldiers being led can feel equally confused.
This leads to an over-saturation of leadership advice (yes, I acknowledge the irony of my article). Not all situations lend themselves to the same type of leadership style. What works for Jocko Willink and his Navy Seals may not work for a new Soldier or recruit. There is a different set of physical and mental challenges to overcome, a different starting point entirely. And this is an important point. Leaders of all skill levels must have something reliable to fall back upon when they find themselves confused or in an unfamiliar situation. Something akin to a “panic azimuth”.
Where I Failed
It has taken me a long time to get to this point. To appreciate just how profound a simple idea as a leader’s “true north” can be. From the time I was a junior leader through my time as a First Sergeant, I consumed all the leadership advice I could, wanting to be the best I could be. I thought that by adding everything (or nearly everything) I heard and read to my leadership repertoire, I would only be a more effective version of myself. Not so.
I ended up confusing the hell out of the people I led. They would ask, “Are we leading with aggression today, or are we the leader with compassion?” I assume it was like working with someone who had multiple personalities. It took many years for me to realize that, when it came to leadership, nothing I had learned would work in every situation. I needed something I could always fall back on.
The Golden Rule (With a Twist)
Today, I am by no means an expert on leadership. Even as a command sergeant major, there are days when I still feel confused, overwhelmed, and don’t know what to do. These are the days I remember my leader’s “true north.” And it’s one I have found in the Golden Rule.
The Golden Rule is a simple and universal principle that applies equally in religion, culture, and region. At its core, the Rule states, “treat others as you would want to be treated”. It is easy for leaders, especially senior leaders, to forget how important a problem is to a junior Soldier. We get busy, we lean on our experience, and we generally have an idea what the outcome is going to be for most issues that Soldiers have. It is not a big deal to us, but it is a huge deal to them. Taking the time to listen and talk through different scenarios, especially if they are coupled with real-world experiences, does not take a ton of time but can put a Soldier at ease and help them build the resilience that they need to be successful in today’s Army.
Yet even the Golden Rule has become a little nuanced in certain situations. So I would offer one suggestion when applying it to your Soldiers. Think of it as “treat others as you need to be treated”. It is our job as leaders to look out for the welfare of our Soldiers. That responsibility was placed on our Soldiers when we took the position. Soldiers want a lot of things, and some are not for the best. We must serve as the “sanity check” for them at times. It’s a sacred part of coaching and mentoring, and we should constantly strive to improve it. We must have hard conversations with our Soldiers because they need them, and we owe them that.
Leadership is hard. It is nuanced, complicated, and there is no one answer that works for everything. But you can always build upon a good foundation. Think of this foundation as your “true north.” Something time-tested to build influence and respect in your formations. For me, it’s the Golden Rule. You can always work to listen more and react less.
The next time you are out there getting after it, doing your best, leading through uncertainty, stop for a moment and consider what a younger version of yourself needed. With this as your starting point, you will be well-equipped to communicate effectively with your Soldiers when they need it. Once you have that figured out, you can decide whether Jocko works for you.
Scott Dinse is a current active-duty Command Sergeant Major (CSM). He has served 24 years in the Army with multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Poland. He currently serves as the Brigade CSM for the 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC.
