When I was a child my father would take me ice fishing withhim and his buddies. I remember very clearly the firsttime he took me out on the ice. I was so excited to beincluded in his fishing trip that I couldn’t sleep theentire night prior.
So at 4:00am when my father came into the room to wake me,he was a little surprised to find me wide eyed and full ofenergy. When we got out onto the frozen lake I rememberhearing the ice creak beneath the wheels of the truck as weslowly approached the small wooden shack that would house usfrom the elements for the remainder of the day.
I remember being concerned as the first ‘POP!’ resoundedfrom the crystal floor below. But then, I took one look atmy father and all of my fears where dispelled. I knew thatwith my father at my side I was safe from harm.
Once inside the ice cabin we lit the small heater in thecorner and my father went over some of the safety ruleswith me. After the initial talk on safety, the woodenplank which covered the 4 foot long by 2 foot wide hole inthe ice was removed. One look into the murky darknessbelow and I became the poster boy for ice fishing safety.
My father went over the basics with me and then showed mehow to properly drop the line and how to watch it for abite from the fish.
As he instructed me, I absorbed every bit of information heshared, and followed his lessons to the tee. I neverquestioned him, or desired anything else but to make himproud of me, and have fun. Over the course of that day Icaught half a gallon of trout, and had the time of mylife.
I often think back on this story when I am in a position tolead men. My father commanded not only my loyalty, but myrespect, my devotion, and I surrendered to his command onblind faith.
As I reflect on the experiences in my life it becomes clearvery quickly why this is. When I joined the military I hadthe opportunity to see this exact style of leadership inaction. I found that the leaders who where loved by theunit, who commanded the respect of the men, and whowithout question would be followed into a hail of on comingbullets, where those who the men saw as ‘father figures’.
All men who command this kind of following have one thingin common…
They honestly care about the well-being of there men.
No man or women will follow you willingly unless they knowthat you have there best interest in mind. You cannotforce the loyalty or respect of your team. Leaders whocare for every person on there team are, not surprisingly,also the ones who produce the best results, because thereteams care about them, and love working with them.
I blindly followed my father because I knew that he caredfor me and would never allow misfortune to come to me if hecould help it. Because of this, I also wanted to make himproud. The men and women you lead are the same way. Theyseek approval, desire respect, and want to be lead bysomeone who is more concerned about them, than about theirwallet.
Give your team respect and care about them as people, andyou will see an amazing change in the attitudes andproduction of your team. True concern for your peoplebuilds respect, loyalty and great results. You will findthat when you give to your team, they will give back toyou.
Respectfully, Mike Bosse
