[February 12, 2022] In 1986, I took command of a line U.S. Army Infantry Company. Nearly 200 men were members of my unit, mainly Infantry, but a few support soldiers. We had medics, communications specialists, clerks, and a couple of mechanics. It took a continued effort from the command team to point all our people in the right direction.
Our medics were well trained, but they had not adopted a routine of proactive, preventative medical care. We were the Infantry and traveled by foot almost everywhere. It was not unusual to move 10 to 15 miles a day; that was an easy day. Our boots and feet took pounding far beyond what civilians wearing tennis shoes would experience.
I saw our medics “kicking back” during our brief stops after many miles of tromping through the forests of Germany. My Executive Officer oversaw the medics and was quick to show them how to be proactive. He had them check the feet of every Soldier. This meant walking up to a tired foot soldier and telling him to take off his boots and sit back for a quick foot check. Our squad leaders were also checking and inspecting boots.
There were several positive benefits. One, we cut down on foot injuries by more than 50 percent. Fewer foot injuries meant more men in combat; fewer at the field clinic. Two, we showed our Soldiers that we cared about them in a pragmatic way. We took no gruff from them,
“take off your boots now! I’ll check your feet for blisters, cuts, or bruises.” Three, word got around that you were better off in our unit and others wanted to be part of our team. We could be selective about who we are allowed to join.
I’ve noted in the past that the most essential leadership trait is caring.1
“My personal belief is that caring is the cornerstone for any great leader. The leader must care about their organization (or country, or group) and the mission, and as well, care about their people. Ultimately it is people that must be the focus of the leader because they are the ones that make the leader successful … or not. People can also see whether the leader cares and act accordingly.” – Doug Satterfield
Point your people in the right direction, and let them surprise you with their results.
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Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” at Amazon (link here).
Great leadership begins with caring. Little else matters as long as your people are convinced of this.
Only in America (and now maybe Canada) will we debate how to lead people in the right direction.
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Easier said than done, Gen. Satterfield but I get your point. Assumed under all this is the social ability to communicate well – clearly and directly. And, to have people’s attention.
True, but you get the idea. Setting expectations is part of pointing folks in the right direction.
Good point yet I think schools and workplaces today are not only not interested but actively promote racial segregation and victimhood. The opposite of what this article is about……
Good thing somebody pointed me in the right direction. Where I would be if that didn’t happen, who knows but it would not have been a good place.
Keep up the great work Gen. Satterfield and I look forward to your new book. Oh, I bought your latest book and enjoyed every page.
Got it, thanks:
“My personal belief is that caring is the cornerstone for any great leader. The leader must care about their organization (or country, or group) and the mission, and as well, care about their people. Ultimately it is people that must be the focus of the leader because they are the ones that make the leader successful … or not. People can also see whether the leader cares and act accordingly.” – Doug Satterfield
Yep, great quote, long but still great and informative.
Yes, the number one characteristic of a leader that cannot be sacrificed for any reason. ✔
Good article. That is why I keep coming back to Gen. Satterfield’s blog on senior leadership. Actually leadership at all levels.
As we all do. Bryan, I know you are a long term reader of this website as I am. We all need to hang together to learn more. Being entertained is the best way as it keeps our attention.
Gen. Satterfield, I would encourage leaders to do the same; keep pointing folks in the right direction. But as leaders know, this is not an easy task to undertake. Why? Folks think they are smarter than you and you are “privledged.” Thus that makes you a bad, colonial person of white patriarchy. How stupid that is, of course, but many politicians are pushing it.
Correct Dennis, good comment. I’ll add that part of the reason for the US being in such a situation is that parents have outsourced their moral education of their children to schools run by the govt. Teachers are nice but not the brightest on the block and are apt to pick up on the latest trends (which many don’t work). I know, I’m a HS teacher.
Hi Gen. Satterfield, loved your article, keep them coming our way and the entertainment value too.
Point them in the ‘right’ direction but you must know what the ‘right’ direction is, or, your alternative is to be a Democrat.
I don’t think this is a Democrat vs. Republican issue. Maybe its more a stupid vs. intelligence problem.
No, Bernie, it’s a Democrat PC ideology issue. There are those all over the political spectrum, but mostly liberal leftists (nearly all in the Democrat Party) that want mandates for the great unwashed but not for themselves. I’ll hold my breath waiting to see if they change their ideologically addled brains.
Good one, Greg H. 👍
Okay, got it. But again, as I’ve said before, stupid people (those that make the decision to be stupid) are a problem that cannot be solved by means other than reason and patience. Yeah, that takes a long long time and starts in kintergarden.
Cheers! All thumbs up.