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The Military Leader

The Military Leader is a blog devoted to growing leaders of all professions. It was created by Andrew Steadman, an Army Infantry officer and long time student of leadership. Andrew is also a co-founder of The Military Writers Guild, which provides community and mentorship for defense writers.

Recent articles from The Military Leader

Marine Corps Cpl. Benjamin Peagler yells out an order to his team while participating in a platoon assault drill as a part of Exercise Cold Response 16 on range U-3 in Frigard, Norway, Feb. 23, 2016.
Leadership
Real Leaders Don’t Motivate Their Troops By Being Angry
Getting angry might be emotionally satisfying, but it’s usually ineffective as a means of motivating people.
Life-like replicas of superheroes are displayed in Richard Cornwell’s office at the Alaska National Guard Central Issue Facility on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. Cornwell is a CIF materials handler and artist who paints murals and art focusing on super heroes as a hobby.
Leadership
‘Action Man’ Or ‘Planning Man’: Know Your Role At Every Level Of Command
The organization suffers when leaders forget the level at which they’re supposed to lead.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Salvador Chavez, left, and 1st Lt. Josh Ahrens assigned to 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment (Attack Reconnaissance), 12th Combat Aviation Brigade aid each other in creating a PowerPoint presentation for a later brief during exercise Saber Junction 15 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2015.
Career
17 Productivity Hacks For Your Military Staff
Manage your own time, or someone will manage it for you.
Newly promoted sergeants have their previous ranks "washed" from them as they salute after a promotion ceremony in Baghdad, July 25, 2009.
Leadership
The Reason Toxic Commanders Keep Getting Promoted
Toxic leaders get the mission done, but leave a trail of destruction in their wake.
A future armored reconnaissance specialist in the active component Army gets his first taste of a nutritious MRE during lunch on Future Soldier day at the Reserve Center in Asheville, N.C., Feb. 20, 2016.
Community
10 Things We Need To Understand About Military Millennials
Just because they don’t think or act like you is no reason to shove them into a corner or push them out of the Army.
U.S. Soldiers with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 64th Brigade Support Battalion rally before a mission in Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq.
Leadership
6 Ways To Inspire Pride And Honor In Your Troops
Leaders are responsible for igniting in their formations the fire of passion, pride, commitment, service, and honor.
Maj. Roy Davis, executive officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army South, along with other staff officers from the battalion, renders a salute to Lt. Col. Charles A. Walters during the HHBn change of command ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Leadership
12 Leadership Tips That Every Staff Officer Should Live By
Just because you are on a staff doesn’t mean you aren’t a leader.
Capt. Colin Bair, assistant professor of military science at Murray State University, conducts an after action review with cadets from Western Kentucky University and Kentucky Guard officer candidates during field training exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015.
Leadership
We Need More Strong Leaders To Take On ROTC Cadre Assignments
It’s time we recognize that assignment as an ROTC cadre is an extremely important position in the development of junior leaders.
A formation of Clemson University Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets salutes as the American flag is lowered during Retreat on Clemson’s Bowman Field, Sept. 3, 2015.
Leadership
Dear Cadets, Being An Officer Doesn’t Automatically Make You A Leader
A seasoned officer writes a letter to cadets on what it takes to be a real leader.
U.S. Soldiers of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division provide information to the ground units from the tactical operations center while a Latvian soldier, right, observes during exercise Combined Resolve IV at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, May 17, 2015.
Leadership
How To Fail As A Staff Officer
Battalion and brigade-level staff officers should avoid these habits to help create their own success and fulfill their unit’s mission.