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Leading as a Command Responsibility
Command authority or command responsibility equates to leading as if lives matter. It is part of the military definition of leadership:
"An Army leader is anyone who by virtue of assumed role or assigned responsibility inspires and influences people to accomplish organizational goals. Army leaders motivate people both inside and outside the chain of command to pursue actions, focus thinking, and shape decisions for the greater good of the organization.”
- FM 6-22
In the military, command is a sacred trust because it extends beyond typical management responsibilities. Why? Because society expects military leaders to be accountable for the well being of soldiers and to ensure they receive proper training and care.
Corporate Responsibility
Definition of Responsibility: “a duty or obligation where someone is held accountable.”
Command is a specific and legal leadership responsibility that amounts to lawful authority and is unique to the military. Businesses can achieve the same by publishing their corporate values and establishing an employee code of conduct.
Perhaps the greatest responsibility for every employer is to create a vision, provide direction, and establish common ground for everyone by:
providing the basis for communication and common understanding
fostering leadership through empowerment and delegation
Employers that facilitate leadership, teamwork and communication, create the environment for teams to be free to adapt and respond to changing circumstances.
A key advantage in the military is the existence of written job descriptions for every position.
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and they remain the same for identical positions in every organization. Everyone is trained accordingly and since responsibilities are known and understood, communication proceeds with that understanding.
Employers who hold themselves accountable have a similar view of command responsibility. They provide clear job descriptions that outline roles and separate responsibilities, allowing the team to divide and conquer and accomplish goals much more quickly than the competition.
Businesses that foster leadership and create a team environment communicate best. When everyone is able to contribute because of positive encouragement and the freedom to exercise initiative, the team adapts and achieves things unknown.
Leadership in Action
Army leadership characteristics include delegating, empowering, and allowing junior leaders some room to learn and grow.
Great leaders establish a supportive environment with clear standards that teach it is a privilege to lead. They demonstrate that good leadership means setting the example and “living” the corporate values.
Command responsibility is not about exercising the authority leaders are entitled. Instead, it is about using that authority as little as possible. It is about motivating, inspiring, teaching, and above all, accepting responsibility for everything within your organization.
