Initiative

by Randy Cadieux

Effective leaders search out ways for training their subordinate employees to become future leaders. In Navy and Marine Corps aviation, pilots and aircrew are trained to operate their aircraft and obey commands, but are also trained in decsionmaking scenarios so that they can provide valuable information during abnormal operations. Creating an organization of followers who do not know how to proactively seek out information to make decisions may solidify failure when that organization faces unexpected challenges. In the Marine Corps, leaders seek out opportunities to "train their replacement" so that if or when the time arises, subordinates can step up and fill the role of their leaders.