As a Leader, Let Others Influence You
Randy Wolken, President & CEO
A leader’s ability to be influential is based on their own ability to be influenced. Influence from others is a fundamental component of great leadership. While it may seem counterintuitive, it’s the truth.
Leadership is a challenging task even in the best of times. In fast-changing, turbulent times, it’s immeasurably harder. A leader must gather information, process the data, make strategic choices, move quickly, and make plenty of adjustments. How can a leader best handle all of this? The answer is simple: with the help of others. Let me give you an example.
When I first joined the Army in 1986, I was part of building the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in Watertown, NY. At that time the 10th Infantry Brigade had only one battalion but was beginning to stand up the 3/17th Cavalry Squadron. Our job was to accept the soldiers and equipment with the goal of being combat-ready in two years. It was an aggressive timetable, but it was also one of the most exciting and challenging professional tasks I’ve ever been a part of.
Less than two years later, the 3/17th Calvary Squadron deployed to Fort Irwin, in California, and was asked to execute its battle readiness tasks to standard at the National Training Center. Hundreds of pilots, technicians, and combat soldiers, using hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment, all coordinated to provide intelligence and military screening actions. It was amazing. Our squadron commander was Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Belich, one of the finest officers I’ve ever worked with. A Vietnam veteran, he was a true leader who led by example. He worked tirelessly to lead us. One of the things I most admired about him was that he always started by listening to his troops and allowed himself to be influenced throughout the mission. He would always ask me what I intended to do and cheer me on and encourage me to find the answers. It wasn’t just me; he did this with all his officers and soldiers. He served his team and his country with incredible humility and a servant heart. His influence on his troops was so significant because he allowed himself to be influenced by everyone he worked with. I learned a lot from my assignment with the 3-17th Cavalry Squadron and LTC Belich.
What are you doing to be influenced by those who work with you and for you? Do you listen first – and then share your thoughts? Do you trust those around you to tell you what you need to know? How can you increase the likelihood that others will share their hopes, concerns, and suggestions with you? These are questions we can all use to be influenced by others and grow our influence on others.