Principles of Leadership

LeadershipLeadership is the art of influencing men in such a way to obtain their willing obedience, confidence, respect and loyal cooperation in order to accomplish a mission.

TWO KINDS OF MILITARY LEADERSHIP

• AUTHORITARIAN - recognized by the dogmatic use of power.

• PERSUASIVE - takes into consideration the human elements with all its complexity and with all its differentiation of the physical, mental and moral capabilities and limitations of the individual.

COMMAND is the authority that a leader exerts over subordinates by virtue of his rank and assignment. (Potenciano, 1993)

Principles of Leadership• Know yourself and seek

self-improvement

• Be technically and tactically proficient

• Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions

• Make sound and timely decisions

• Set the example

• Know your men and look out for their well-being

• Keep your subordinates informed

• Develop a sense of responsibility in your subordinates

• Ensure that the task is understood, supervised and accomplished

• Build the team

• Employ your unit in accordance to its capabilities

Know yourself and seek self-improvementLeaders must know his their own strengths and weaknesses. They continue to seek means in enhancing and developing themselves physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

Be technically and tactically proficientLeaders during training are subjected to different activities and exercises which are geared towards honoring their expertise. As future leaders, they are expected to be masters when it comes to tactical and technical aspects in their fields of service.

Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actionsThe performance of various duties and adherence to rules all help to instill a strong sense of responsibility. It also includes the sense of accountability to face the consequences of their actions should they fall short of what is expected of them.

Make sound and timely decisions

Leaders must be good decision makers. In their training, they are engaged in activities devised to develop critical thinking and logical reasoning.

Set the example

A leader must be a role model to his subordinates. Leaders are therefore trained to become individuals who will exemplify the standard in all aspects of their lives. They are also expected to share these traits to their juniors.

Know your men and look out for their well-beingConcern for one’s subordinates must the priority of a good leader. He is expected to look out for the safety of his men and know their needs and problems. As a cadet ascends in rank, he assumes varying positions of leadership where he has the opportunity to develop his relationship with the lower classmen.

Keep your subordinates informedIf your men know the purpose of what you ask them to do, you will gain their full support. Leaders must develop the skill to instill purpose, motivation and direction in their subordinates.

Develop a sense of responsibility in your subordinatesA successful leader knows how to motivate his subordinate to work towards the greater good. He instills in him the knowledge that his actions affect not just himself, but everyone else involved in the collective endeavor.

Ensure that the task is understood, supervised and accomplishedIt is not enough to simply tell your men what to do; you must see to it that the job is properly understood and accomplished. Each task must be properly disseminated, followed up and finished.

Build the team

Unity, cooperation and teamwork are the elements of a successful organization. If all members of the team knows how to work in harmony with one another, their success rate in any mission is greater. Cadets engage in different activities aimed at developing integrity and team spirit within the corps.

Employ your unit in accordance to its capabilities.Appropriate persons should be assigned a specific task. As leaders, you must see to it that the jobs conforms to the skills and capabilities of your subordinates. Cadets must be assigned to different tasks that would utilize their particular aptitude.