Leadership

[Covertness]

Questions, problems, challenges? Post 'em here and I'll try to help you young "O"s out.

[Lupin1]

Well, I'm generally a quiet person, and I just... can't be loud. I tried yesterday and my voice kinda... squeaked... So, anywho, how can I be more incharge and get them to listen to me without screaming and raising hell and whatever?

[Scary]

Practice in the mirror or in the bathroom... that is what I do to work on my command voice... ya know... no one is around to make fun of you... so you sneak to the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror and practice. As far as making it sound good, the only way I can make the voice sound close to correct is to make the syllable sound like I just got punched in the gut. So grunt a few times like you just got punched before you try out a command in the bathroom.


E.S.

[Field_Sailor]

Covert, if ya don't mind...

I think the most important thing is to ahve confidence and not be afraid to ask for help. Your ASI/SASI ahve a alot of experience. I wil guarantee you that have dealt with a lot of your same problems. Know you are Good and be Good.

[Covertness]

You can command your troops or you can lead them. None of the great leaders I know ever have to raise their voice to get their men to obey them. It's not the level of your voice, nor it's timber. It's the man behind it. Treat your troops like you would like to be treated if you were in their place. Just because they might be a private does not mean they should be treated like expendable assets. Respect them and they will respect you. Take care of them and they will take care of you. Keep them fully informed as to your mission objectives before commands are given. What you are doing, where you are going, why X needs to be done. Any idiot can command by virtue of their rank. The trick is to lead them. How you sound has nothing to do with that.
Let your NCOs do their job. Give them general mission objectives and let them fill in the details. Lead don't command. Remember, the chain of command goes both ways. If you are a platoon leader and private snuffy is out of line, address it with your platoon sergeant, he should then address it with the squad leader, and so forth. If one of your NCOs is out of line, DO NOT repermand them in front of the troops. Chastise privately and praise publically. If something pisses you off. Extract yourself from the situation if possible until you can regain control of your emotions. The minute you allow your emotions to come into play, you loose and what respect you might have earned to that point is lost.
The only two circumstances that warrant you raising your voice is when the weapons are firing or you are on a parade field.

[Rusty24]

Like Covert said and you don't have to scream to the point you blow a nut or something. Just elevate in a deep firm tone. Works with my kids.

[Vulture6]

Well, I'm generally a quiet person, and I just... can't be loud. I tried yesterday and my voice kinda... squeaked... So, anywho, how can I be more incharge and get them to listen to me without screaming and raising hell and whatever?

None of the great leaders I know ever have to raise their voice to get their men to obey them. It's not the level of your voice, nor it's timber. It's the man behind it.

Covertness has quoted from the leadership bible... it isn't so much written as it is learned and understood. If you have to scream and yell and you aren't in combat or a DI in basic training, then you're missing the target. Most folks tune out screaming and yelling... and often laugh at it later. Think about it... does it work when another cadet yells at you?

Now, if you mean giving commands during close order drill, then that is a different story, and you need to learn to project your voice from your diaphragm - and it kind of comes from your gut and the back of your throat. That takes practice... but close order drill isn't leadership.

[Grimmy]

Correct me if I am wrong on this:

It's been my experience that the officer corps had largely lost the ability to properly utilize the NCO.

It should be rare that an officer directly interacts with non-rate troops. thats what NCOs are for.
Officers interact with their noncoms and the noncoms follow through from there...and vice versa. Troops go to noncomes and noncomes either fix it or take it up to the officer.

NCOs are like shop foremen and officers are like the executives..junior or otherwise.

But, like has been said in the previous posts...example, lead by example. Do your job to the fullest. Let it be known that that will be expected from all in all things at all times.
Dont compromise. Know your mission inside out and upside down.

Go ROTC!! this my second year in a ROTC type program and it is awesome

Dude man i sad because not only am i the low man on the totam pole at school but her to

[Field_Sailor]

From my experence the majority of the officers I have dealt with that utilize NCO's effectively are prior enlisted, they know the deal. There are a few regular 0's that are good, but not a whole lot. they either try too hard or care too little.

As for ROTC, remember where you came from. If you display know-how, and even a willingness to learn, they will follow you anywhere.

[Scary]

Thank you Covert for that lovely post...

Just to clarify, what I posted about is "Command" voice, not bark orders voice. Covert brought up VERY valid points, but again, you don't want to look like a fool when you sound like a squeaky door calling the formation to attention.

E.S.