Five lessons on leadership from a US Marines drill instructor

Many people may think the military management style in the army relies solely on absolute loyalty and a directive, uncompromising way of issuing orders. The reality is much more complex: drill instructors and senior officers must be highly skilled at leadership, teamwork, motivating subordinates and building trust. Here are five leadership lessons learnt on the job by Sgt. Mary Phaly, who trains U.S. Marine recruits in San Diego, California.

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This article is based on a text from Addicted2Success.com.

If you don't know something, ask

There is no shame in not knowing. Shame would be not knowing something important but wanting to appear knowledgeable and confident enough not to ask. Therefore, Phaly advises that even managers, leaders, and sergeants in the military must be able to admit to not knowing or being unable to do something, and then ask about it or leave the task to someone who is actually capable of performing it.

Find out how your organisation functions as a whole

A successful leader of any group cannot function in isolation. The more insight a leader has into how not only the team but the entire company and organisation functions, the more likely they are to lead their subordinates effectively.

Don't try to put people down; instead, motivate them in a positive way

Putting people down, scaring them and being negative can only help them succeed in the short term. In the long term, you need to motivate people around you in a positive way, encourage them in their strengths and set a positive example.

Teach subordinates critical thinking

Contrary to how many people perceive the military, the ability of individuals to think critically is essential in the army. The same goes for any team or work group. A manager cannot spend all their time micromanaging subordinates; therefore, they need to delegate both tasks and decision-making authority to them. And for that reason, they must teach (and allow) them to think critically.

Publicly praise for a job well done

Few things motivate workers as much as public recognition in front of colleagues and supervisors for a job well done. Phaly advises that when a recruit or worker goes the extra mile and achieves extraordinary success, their supervisor should never let it go unnoticed or unpraised.


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