The Good Leaders And The Bad Leaders

Navy Leader Development Program (1990) suggest that "To lead you must first be able to follow: For without followers, there can be no leaders". One thing that is often overlooked concerning successful leaders is they were successful followers before they

Leadership defines how well a person can set an example and teach others based on the things they have learned. By joining JROTC I have gained this skill and used it to inspire others to one day become as good or even better than where I am now. Leadership a strong personal skill to have that gives you a sense of importance, belonging and responsibility.

One thing I did not expect as a young man is that during my journey in the Coast Guard, whether 4 years or 30, that I would have the privilege to meet some great leaders. As though a higher power was at work, I usually had the proper leadership for the stage I was at in my career. BM2 Welch was rough around the edges and a stickler for detail. I was still new to the Coast Guard and needed a firm hand BM2 provided. He gave me direction. I learned from BM2 that working hard at every task thrown at someone is essential to be a good shipmate. As a brand new petty officer, BMC Jeff Reed showed me how to hold other people accountable. He never reprimanded me in public, and after every strict talking, he gave me a pathway to resolve the situation

Ronald Reagan once said, “the greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things, he is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” This quote by our past president, Ronald Reagan, relates to my experiences with leadership. Throughout high school I experienced democratic leadership though playing sports like field hockey and track. I have also experienced leadership during small group projects, as well as being a leader of an organization on a college campus. Through all of these experiences, I have learned essential characteristics and qualities to becoming a good leader. I have also had negative experiences with leadership that have taught me things not to do as a leader. I

Leadership can be defined in many different facets. To me the definition of leadership is, “Displaying the ability to inspire and empower others through the example of one’s own self actions”. Too many times we hear, “Do what I say”, instead of, “Do what I do.” A successful leader’s actions speak louder than words ever will. My first day in the Coast Guard following boot camp graduation, I experienced firsthand on how a leader should not act nor conduct themselves. Though alcohol was the main contributing factor on what occurred that evening, looking back, it was more of the lack of maintaining our core values that ultimately resulted in that Chief losing the title as Chief of the boat and being forced to retire.. That moment left a negative impression on me and it took a horrific car accident that landed me in the office of whom I consider as my most influential leader I have had in my career. Master Chief Richard Wolfe was someone that led by example. He helped broaden my vision and let me see my own potential. He always inspired me to not only better myself, but ensured that I challenged myself to learn something new each day. He would often say, “Challenges are just opportunities in disguise”, and it wasn’t until I advanced to Chief Petty Officer to truly understand what he meant. Far too often we get caught up in the present instead of focusing what is on the horizon and that is how complacency becomes the new norm.

Leadership influences can be placed into two categories, those to model and those to avoid. Every member in the Coast Guard can categorically place his or her leadership experiences within these categories. In some cases one particular leader can provide examples from both categories, in some cases a leader has only those traits and characteristics that should be avoided. Regardless of the case, junior members, senior members, and peers alike are watching and adapting their leadership style based on things that they perceive as helpful. I realized that in every instance throughout my career where I was in troubled waters, I had either isolated myself or surrounded myself by people that have no vision of moving the organization forward.

Participating in numerous sports and time spent serving in the military, I have experienced a few different types of leaders and leadership styles. The best leader I have worked for would be April Merriman a female Chief in the Navy who was just all out inspiring, honest, focus, engaged, empowering, fearless, self-aware, genuine, and most of all supportive. She always cared for every team member, but did not tolerate laziness, dishonesty, or unfair teamwork/treatment. Chief Merriman always was on time, properly prepared, and knowledge every time I worked with or around her. She was very dedicated to my personal growth and future

Although leadership traits can be studied from textbooks, the best way to adopt good leadership traits is to follow an example of positive leadership. In my career, I’ve been very fortunate to have had numerous positive role models on which to model by own behavior after. The following examples are some situations where shipmates and supervisors have demonstrated outstanding leadership, and have had a profound impact on me:

This is my personal presentation of my leadership philosophy that spans my 22 plus years of Coast Guard service. I’ve never precisely thought of who my leadership influences would be, I never felt like I could live up to the transformational leadership figures like George Washington and other notable history figures. I’ve had allot of disappointments in my life, maybe someone I did look up to in a leadership capacity that turned into a disappointment. Then again, no one is perfect so maybe my rationalization of no perfection has caused me not to have a specific leadership influence. As allot of experienced Coast Guard members know, we learn valuable lessons about raw leadership over time, with certain experiences, trials, tribulations, and the like. We all form assumptions and generic wisdom which we believe works well with those below us in the chain of command, and those above us. My opinion is that leadership encompasses everyone around us from CO-workers, to family, to people we interact with in public. I believe that true influence is a 24-hour, 7 days per week life undertaking that people that are thrust into certain positions in the Coast Guard start to assume over a long period of time. A vast number of leaders throughout military and U.S. History have inwardly reflected the subject of leadership, many have written extensively regarding their personal style, or the style of other historical figures they have looked to for an example. I feel like I am a simple person

There is no one-size-fits all definition when it comes to leadership. Some individuals define leadership as solely guiding others to complete a task. While others, including myself, believe leadership is defined as “motivating yourself to be the best so that you can one day motivate the members of your own team.” For me, leadership is being bold enough to have a vision and humble enough to recognize that achieving that vision requires much effort. A leader translates vision into reality, by stepping out of their comfort zone and taking risks. I believe I took the initiative to translate the vision of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which --- and of the current members who pour their hearts and

Leadership is not a position I strive for but one that I find myself in. By living the Army Values and gaining confidence through experience, I have come to find that I have more responsibility, not only to myself, but to others who have come to trust me. General Colin Powell has 18 lessons in leadership principles, there are a few that stand out and have helped to prepare me for my new position as a Warrant Officer.

My definition of leadership isn’t one that came easily to me. All throughout my Coast Guard career, I’ve learned through boot camp, LAMS, CPOA, and other leadership training that the definition is “You, influencing others to reach a goal.” I’m not going to reinvent the wheel, but I am going to tweak it. My definition of leadership is “Empowering others to do everything they need to accomplish a given task.”

The Webster Dictionary defines leadership as an office or position, the capacity to lead, the act or an instance of leading (Merriam-Webster, 2011). Leader is defined as; a person who directs a military force or unit, a person who has commanding authority or influence (Merriam-Webster, 2011). The Army defines leadership as the process of influencing people by

We all have the opportunity to learn from all manners of leadership. The good leaders and the bad leaders will have an effect on our styles leadership styles and how we choose to engage with the people we meet. I have learned just as much from those some would consider being a “bad” leader as much as I have learned from the “good”, and based my practice on those experiences. To me, leadership will always mean that you are willing to learn from all your experiences and apply them into practices that enhance your Navy and your Sailors. There is no lesson too big or too small that cannot assist in your daily assessments and influence the leaders you follow and mold the future leaders of the Navy

My definition of leadership is having someone that is willing to put personal desires aside in order to help a team reach a common goal. No matter how hard and frustrating goals, projects and missions will become, a true leader will do everything in their power to help lift up, challenge and motivate a group to reach the final end product. Leaders that have had great influence on me have included, General George Washington, Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Captain Richard Winters (Easy Company), just to name a few. All have faced unbelievable obstacles, hardships, challenges beyond belief, and logistical nightmares. Every single one of them never lost the faith of their men and achieved the unimaginable.