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MARCH 2012

S L

ervant

eadership
BY JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal
Sgt. John Putman, 512th Engineer Detachment, carries a mock casualty during the U.S. Army South 2011 Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition here Jun 14 at Camp Bullis, Texas. Photo by 1st Sgt. Javier Rosa
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t is seen in the sergeant who helps the private move into his barracks. Its seen when that same sergeant corrects that same private in how to conduct Army business. Its seen when a first sergeant takes the time to know each of the Soldiers in her company. Its seen when a sergeant major spends his Thanksgiving feeding the troops in the mess hall. Servant leadership is ingrained in Army culture and Army life. Its the type of leadership that all NCOs should aspire to if they want to lead in todays Army, said Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy, commandant for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. Every ten years, we get another generation. They joined our team, so they have to live up to our standards, Malloy said. We have a certain style of doing things, if some folks cant accept our values for what they are, they dont have to be on the team. This type of leadership is getting to the heart of our values and what it means to lead.

Servant leadership is in the underlying tone of the Army values, and its just good business, said Lt. Gen. Daniel Allyn, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, N.C. If you look at our Army values, the center of that is selfless service, Allyn said. The idea of servant leadership is you put others before yourself. That, to me, is an inherent quality of leadership and our warrior ethos also speaks to it in Ill never leave a fallen comrade. That implies that were going to do all we can to ensure that were always looking after the needs of our Soldiers.

Stopping toxic leaders

By creating a culture founded on servant leadership, NCOs can stop toxic leadership and help those exhibiting poor leadership to grow, Malloy said. They create that command climate that fosters that right behavior, Malloy said. When you do that, it eliminates that toxic leader or that leader that just doesnt fit into that mold and they become very visible. No longer are you

outcome based focused, instead they focus on how they get to the desired result or outcome. Soldiers, whether they realize it or not, want servant leaders. They want their NCOs to treat them with dignity and respect, Malloy said. We will gravitate toward that type of leader because they are treating people and executing the mission in which we would want to be treated, Malloy said. Those who are abusive in nature or that toxic leaders who compromises their integrity or values, even though at the moment it may benefit the individual, in the back of their minds they will look at it and tend to try to steer away from that.

At the lowest level

Servant leadership is most often seen at the lowest NCO level. Its that junior platoon sergeant or squad leader who takes care of his or her Soldiers needs. Its really critical at the lowest level for the noncommissioned officer, especially our sergeants, Mal-

LEFT: Spc. Sheena Griffin, a medic with Company C, 610th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, leads a group of Soldiers through an unfinished hospital in the Jihad neighborhood of Baghdads Rashid District, Nov. 24, 2007. PHOTO BY Spc. Ben Washburn BELOW: Citizen-soldiers of the Puerto Rico National Guard participated in the Vigilant Guard exercise in the state of Missouri from Nov. 4 to Nov 8. Service members trained in their search and rescue skills while maintaining their proficiency in all the areas that comprise their duties. PHOTO BY Sgt. angel martinez

ded within this concept of servant leadership.

Not rolling over

Servant leadership isnt about being weak and giving in to what everyone wants. Its about identifying what people need. Jim Hunter has researched, written and taught servant leadership during the last 35 years. He has also written two books on the subject, and has lectured many military and civilian leaders. Slaves do what people want; servants do what people need, Hunter said. And theres a tremendous amount of difference between those two. Servant leaders meet the needs of

loy said. They have to be out front, able to bark orders and yell. But they dont have to do it in an abusive way. They can still maintain standards and accomplish the missions. And sometimes you do have to yell to get a point across, but it cant be abusive. Early on, these young sergeants need to learn that they are here to serve and to be that teacher, that trainer, to learn and grow in their own leader-

the Army, its really through their actions, Malloy said. Their actions speak way louder than their words; the way they executed a decision, the manner in which they gave orders, the way they included folks in the discussion of the decision making process. The better NCOs are at being servant leaders, the better they are at upholding the NCO creed, Allyn said.

or a young NCO, its about digging into our Army values and the way we treat people
Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy

ship abilities, so when they do achieve the higher ranks in the Army in positions of responsibility, they do so not for personal gain but because it helps the overall mission. Being a servant leader isnt about letting the privates run the show, Malloy said. For a young NCO, its about digging into our Army values and the way we treat people, Malloy said. Were not talking about being huggy-feely, or treating people like theyre little kitty cats. Every once in a while you have to bash the baby on the head; you have to demonstrate tough love, but you can do that without being abusive. Servant leaders are selfevident; they are the ones most Soldiers look up to and want to emulate as they reach higher ranks, Malloy said. As they look at their leaders as they grow up in

There are a number of tenants in the NCO Creed that speak to serving others, placing the needs of my Soldiers before my own, Allyn said. Those are all inherently embed-

their people. They identify and meet their legitimate needs. Since servant leadership is about meeting peoples needs, it includes acting in a way where the leader holds

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Characteristics of a Servant-Leader
Servant leaders can be recognized by the following character traits: patience shows self-control kindness gives attention, appreciation and encouragement humility means being authentic without pretence respectfulness treats others as important people selflessness meets the needs of others forgiveness gives up resentment when wronged honesty is free from deception commitment means sticking to your choices service sets aside your own wants and needs to seek the greatest good for others.

everyone accountable for reaching high standards, Hunter said. If you dont hold people to excellence, youre a thief and a liar, Hunter said. Youre stealing every time you take a paycheck because the tax payer or the people paying your check are paying you to hold people accountable. Oftentimes, people think that being a servant is about being whimpy; its anything but that. Doing whats right, even when its hard, is what NCOs are called to do on

a daily basis, Hunter said. The great servant leaders I know are pitbulls, Hunter said. They hug hard and they spank hard. They are relentless about doing the right thing for their people. Doing the right thing means youre someone who is approachable, who listens, who appreciate people and give respect, but when its time to hold people accountable, they spank hard.

Leadership styles are made; people dont just have certain personality traits that make them better leaders, Hunter said. Character is learned behavior, and so is leadership, Hunter said. Leadership is a learned or acquired ability available to 95 percent of the population. Great servant leaders accomplish the mission, take care of their people and balance the two, Hunter said. The key to great leadership is who can do both, Hunter said. Who knows how to accomplish tasks while they build relationships for the future? Who can do the hugging and the spanking? Who can find the sweet spot between those two? That is a skill; that is learned or acquired ability. Its not something youre born with. Ive never met a two-year-old servant leader. Its all about your character, your willingness to do those things.

Implementing servant leadership

Most people dont disagree with the principles of servant leadership, which include practicing integrity, honesty and loyalty. But oftentimes, most leaders struggle with implementation, Hunter said. The only way you ever get this stuff into your game, is you have to practice these things, Hunter said. Thats the disconnect for most people. To implement servant leadership, NCOs need to focus on their Soldiers needs. The hardest thing about the implementation piece is just doing it, understanding it and then daily reflecting back and trying to live it, Malloy said. The hardest thing is living it; the easiest thing is to say it.

Made, not born

Servant leadership in action

During the last 11 years, NCOs have personified servant leadership as theyve fought our nations wars. Those leaders who live this style of leadership, they dont have to worry about whether or not other leaders within their organization will do what they ask, Malloy said. Because when they ask, most of their Soldiers will give them their heart and theyre all on the battlefield because they have 6
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BELOW: The 14th Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Raymond F. Chandler III, pins the Combat Infantryman Badge on Pfc. Luis Uribarri at Combat Outpost Bari Alai, Afghanistan, April 3. Seven other members of 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division received combat badges from Chandler for their successful suppression of an insurgent attack on their outpost just days after arriving in Afghanistan. PHOTO BY sgt. christopher
harper

RIGHT: Soldiers attending the Warrior Leader Course, class 07-11 from Bravo Company, 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy, conduct first-aid procedures on their injured comrades during an attack of their Combat Outpost by mockinsurgents while conducting a situational training exercise here April 11. PHOTO BY
Sgt. 1st Class Tonya Gonzales

that respect for them. The Army institution has also exemplified servant leadership, taking care of Soldiers and their families needs, Malloy said. The Armys been demonstrating servant leadership in multiple areas, especially in the last 10 years, Malloy said. Every one of us knows in combat that our families are going to be taken care of if you get wounded were going to get the best medical care. The Armys overall leadership is providing that faith, trust and confidence. Its been a bumpy road, but theyve come to us and fixed it. The best leaders ensure they take care of their Soldiers, Allyn said. The vast majority of heroic exploits that I have read about in Afghanistan and have personally experienced over time, have been Soldiers who emulate

commitment to their mission, their Soldiers and their duty, Allyn said. That inspires them to go above and beyond to make sure they care about

their Soldiers. To contact Jennifer Mattson, email jennifer.mattson@us.army.mil.

Steps to Servant-Leadership
Servant leadership can be implemented by following these three steps. Professional help in evaluating a leadership style is also available to help NCOs through these three stages. FOUNDATION Setting a foundation for servant leadership includes asking subordinates, peers, bosses a series of 25 questions about whether the leader meets needs or wants, confronts situations. The questionnaire also includes two open-ended questions about what the leaders greatest strength and weaknesses are. FEEDBACK The questionnaire is then given to the leader to read and evaluate. The leader looks at areas that can be improved to make him or her a better servant leaders. FRICTION Includes picking two areas to improve a Soldiers ability to implement servant leadership. The leader then writes a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound plan to target the behavior they want to improve.

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