Leadership...
Who will rise to the occasion?
Natural leadership does not come from professional character. Good Natural Leadership is a skill that comes from traits. It is a talent one is born with. The kid on the block who usually gets to decide what game all the other kids are going to play, without much protest. The other kids seem to look up to this kid. He gets away with it because he is not an overbearing dictator. The other kids respect him and also think he's pretty cool. The leader kid never intended to influence the other kids, it just naturally happened. He didn't step in front of the other kids, they just fell in behind him because they trust him to show them the most fun. He inspires courage in them to deal with the bullies they would evade before. Even if this kid was a jerk, he's got the potential to be a good natural leader. Leadership is much easier if your followers don't hate your guts.
Some leaders rise naturally from good ideas and the confidence to get them accomplished. Other leaders rise from being charged and trusted to lead by their peers. Then there are accidental leaders who rise from being the only ones naturally capable of leading others during a certain, sudden situation.
One can lead others with fear or with respect or a combination of both.
In a military ranking system, the General only has to deal with the Colonels, the Colonels must deal with the Captains, the Captains deal with the Lieutenants, the Lieutenants deal with the Sergeants, the Sergeants deal with the Squad Leaders, and the Squad Leaders each have to deal with five to eleven foot soldiers looking to them for guidance in the most fluid situation. The Squad Leaders must bear the biggest cross.
A Patriot leader will need to tactfully suggest and ask for things to be done. Not only are the followers citizens and not bought and paid for government military soldiers, but they are Free Patriots and aren't going to take any crap off some arrogant ass barking orders at them. Besides, they already have incentive. They want to do as much as they can to save our nation as we know it. My fellow tactical Patriots and I do not believe in using ranks. We are of equal rank. Not only would a named leader be singled out as a target for the oppressors, but we are sovereign citizens and not a Government Standing Army. Our Patriot ranks are earned with experience, abilities and results. When we train to form an ambush, the ambush expert takes over. When sniper training, the long range shooting expert takes over. When we are scaling a cliff or repelling , the mountaineer takes over. When we are training for commo, the ham radio operator takes over. It is a big family and there is no room for people that can't get along.
When leading troops, keep it simple. Try to be at a place in the situation where you are watching and expecting something to go according to plan, rather than getting somewhere afterwards to find out if everything did go according to plan. Keep two steps ahead of the fluid situation and let those who are capable take on some of the leadership. Don't try to control everything that happens at lower levels. Being the Honcho is very stressful and exhausting. Sometimes it's nice when someone else picks up the boss man slot and you get a break.
Keep your powder dry and watch your six.
Badger
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