Army Leadership: Army Leadership-Formal and Informal

LEADER TEAMS

Leaders at all levels recognize the Army is a team as well as a team of teams. These teams interact as

numerous functional units, designed to perform necessary tasks and missions that in unison produce the

collective effort of all Army components. Everyone belongs to a team, serving as either leader or

responsible subordinate. For these teams to function at their best, leaders and followers must develop

mutual trust and respect, recognize existing talents, and willingly contribute talents and abilities for the

common good of the organization. Leadership within the teams that make up Army usually comes in two

forms:

FORMAL LEADERSHIP

Legitimate or formal leadership is granted to individuals by virtue of assignment to positions of

responsibility and is a function of rank and experience. The positions themselves are based on the leader’s

level of job experience and training. One selection process used for the assignment of legitimate authority

is the command selection board. Similar to a promotion board, the selection board uses past performance

and potential for success to select officers for command positions. NCOs assume legitimate authority when

assigned as a platoon sergeant, first sergeant, or command sergeant major. These positions bring with them

the duty to recommend disciplinary actions and advancement or promotion.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice supports military leaders in positions of legitimate authority.

Regardless of the quality of leadership exhibited by organizationally appointed leaders, they possess the

legal right to impose their will on subordinates, using legal orders and directives.

INFORMAL LEADERSHIP

Informal leadership can be found throughout organizations, and while it can play an important role

in mission accomplishment, it should never undermine legitimate authority. All members of the Army

could find themselves in a position to serve as a leader at any time. Informal leadership is not based on any

particular rank or position in the organizational hierarchy. It can arise from the knowledge gained from

experience and sometimes requires initiative on the part of the individual to assume responsibility not

designated to his position. Therefore, even the most junior member may be able to influence the decision of

the highest organizational authority. As the final decision maker, the formal leader is ultimately responsible

for legitimizing an informal leader’s course of action.

Army Leadership