US Army Leader Defined

Army Leadership

1-1. An enduring expression for Army leadership has been BE-KNOW-DO. Army leadership begins with what the leader must BE—the values and attributes that shape character. It may be helpful to think of these as internal and defining qualities possessed all the time. As defining qualities, they make up the identity of the leader.

1-2. Who is an Army leader? 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.

  1-3. Values and attributes are the same for all leaders, regardless of position, although refined through experience and assumption of positions of greater responsibility. For example, a sergeant major with combat experience may have a deeper understanding of selfless service and personal courage than a new Soldier.

 
1-4. The knowledge that leaders should use in leadership is what Soldiers and Army civilians KNOW. Leadership requires knowing about tactics, technical systems, organizations, management of resources, and the tendencies and needs of people. Knowledge shapes a leader’s identity and is reinforced by a leader’s actions.

 1-5. While character and knowledge are necessary, by themselves they are not enough. Leaders cannot be effective until they apply what they know. What leaders DO, or leader actions, is directly related to the influence they have on others and what is done. As with knowledge, leaders will learn more about leadership as they serve in different positions.

Motivating and Inspiring

7-27. Motivation is the reason for doing something or the level of enthusiasm for doing it. Motivation
comes from an inner desire to put effort into meeting a need. People have a range of needs. They include
basics, such as survival and security and advanced needs, such as belonging and a sense of
accomplishment. Awareness of one’s own needs is most acute when needs go unfulfilled.

7-28. Army leaders use the knowledge of what motivates others to influence those they lead. Knowing
one’s Soldiers and others who may be influenced, gives leaders insight into guiding the team to higher
levels of performance. Understanding how motivation works provides insight into why people may take
action and how strongly they are driven to act.

7-29. While it is difficult to know others’ needs, it helps to consider three parts that define motivation:

• Arousal: A need or desire for something that is unfulfilled or below expectations.
• Direction: Goals or other guides that direct the course of effort and behavior.
• Intensity: The amount of effort that is applied to meet a need or reach a goal.

7-30. The arousal, direction, and intensity of motivation produce at least four things that contribute directly
to effective task performance. Motivation focuses attention on issues, goals, task procedures, or other
aspects of what needs to be done. Motivation produces effort that dictates how hard one tries. Motivation
generates persistence in terms of how long one tries. The fourth product of motivation is task strategies
that define how a task is performed—the knowledge and skills used to reach a particular goal. Know

Foreword

Competent leaders of character are necessary for the Army to meet the challenges in the
dangerous and complex security environment we face.
FM 6-22 is the Army’s keystone field manual on leadership. It establishes leadership
doctrine and fundamental principles for all officers, noncommissioned officers, and
Army civilians across all components.
This manual uses the BE-KNOW-DO concept to express what is required of Army
leaders. It is critical that Army leaders be agile, multiskilled pentathletes who have
strong moral character, broad knowledge, and keen intellect. They must display these
attributes and leader competencies bound by the concept of the Warrior Ethos. Leaders
must be committed to lifelong learning to remain relevant and ready during a career of
service to the Nation.
Army leaders must set the example, teach, and mentor, and this manual provides the
principles, concepts, and training to accomplish this important task on which America
depends.

PETER J. SCHOOMAKER
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff

An enduring expression for Army leadership has been BE-KNOW-DO. Army leadership begins with
what the leader must BE—the values and attributes that shape character. It may be helpful to think of these as internal and defining qualities possessed all the time. As defining qualities, they make up the identity of the
leader.

Who is an Army leader?
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.the leader must BE—the values and attributes that shape character. It may be  helpful to think of these as internal and defining qualities possessed all the time. As defining qualities, they make up the identity of the leader.

1-2. Who is an Army leader?
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.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.

1-3. Values and attributes are the same for all leaders, regardless of position, although refined through
experience and assumption of positions of greater responsibility. For example, a sergeant major with combat
experience may have a deeper understanding of selfless service and personal courage than a new Soldier.

1-4. The knowledge that leaders should use in leadership is what Soldiers and Army civilians KNOW.
Leadership requires knowing about tactics, technical systems, organizations, management of resources, and the tendencies and needs of people. Knowledge shapes a leader’s identity and is reinforced by a leader’s actions.KNOW. Leadership requires knowing about tactics, technical systems, organizations, management of resources, and the tendencies and needs of people. Knowledge shapes a leader’s identity and is reinforced by a leader’s actions.

Know Elements of Leadership before Becoming a Ranger

Leadership, the most essential element of combat power, gives purpose, direction, and motivation in combat. The leader balances and maximizes maneuver, firepower, and protection against the enemy. This chapter discusses how he does this by exploring the principles of leadership (BE, KNOW, DO); the duties, responsibilities, and actions of an effective leader; and the leader's assumption of command.

1-1. PRINCIPLES. The principles of leadership are BE, KNOW, and DO.

PRINCIPLES. The principles of leadership are BE, KNOW, and DO.

BE

• Technically and tactically proficientTechnically and tactically proficient

• Able to accomplish to standard all tasks required for the wartime mission.Able to accomplish to standard all tasks required for the wartime mission.

• Courageous, committed, and candid.Courageous, committed, and candid.

• A leader with integrity.A leader with integrity.

KNOW

• The four major factors of leadership and how they affect each other are--

---Led

---Leader

---Situation

---CommunicationsThe four major factors of leadership and how they affect each other are--

---Led

---Leader

---Situation

---Communications

• Yourself, and the strengths and weaknesses in your character, knowledge, and skills. Seek continual selfimprovement, that is, develop your strengths and work to overcome your weaknesses.Yourself, and the strengths and weaknesses in your character, knowledge, and skills. Seek continual selfimprovement, that is, develop your strengths and work to overcome your weaknesses.

• Your Rangers, and look out for their well-being by training them for the rigors of combat, taking care of their physical and safety needs, and disciplining and rewarding them.Your Rangers, and look out for their well-being by training them for the rigors of combat, taking care of their physical and safety needs, and disciplining and rewarding them.

DO----

• Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions; exercise initiative; demonstrate resourcefulness; and take advantage of opportunities on the battlefield that will lead to you to victory; accept fair criticism, and take corrective actions for your mistakes.Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions; exercise initiative; demonstrate resourcefulness; and take advantage of opportunities on the battlefield that will lead to you to victory; accept fair criticism, and take corrective actions for your mistakes.

• Assess situations rapidly, make sound and timely decisions, gather essential information, announce decisions in time for Rangers to react, and consider the short- and long-term effects of your decision.Assess situations rapidly, make sound and timely decisions, gather essential information, announce decisions in time
for Rangers to react, and consider the short- and long-term effects of your decision.

• Set the example by serving as a role model for your Rangers. Set high but attainable standards; be willing do what you require of your Rangers; and share dangers and hardships with them.Set the example by serving as a role model for your Rangers. Set high but attainable standards; be willing do what you require of your Rangers; and share dangers and hardships with them.

• Keep your subordinates informed to help them make decisions and execute plans within your intent, encourage initiative, improve teamwork, and enhance morale.Keep your subordinates informed to help them make decisions and execute plans within your intent, encourage initiative, improve teamwork, and enhance morale.

• Develop a sense of responsibility in subordinates by teaching, challenging, and developing them. Delegate to show you trust them. This makes them want more responsibility.Develop a sense of responsibility in subordinates by teaching, challenging, and developing them. Delegate to show you trust them. This makes them want more responsibility.

• Ensure the Rangers understand the task; supervise them, and ensure they accomplish it. Rangers need to know what you expect: when and what you want them to do, and to what standard.Ensure the Rangers understand the task; supervise them, and ensure they accomplish it. Rangers need to know what you expect: when and what you want them to do, and to what standard.

• Build the team by training and cross-training your Rangers until they are confident in their technical and tactical abilities. Develop a team spirit that motivates them to go willingly and confidently into combat.Build the team by training and cross-training your Rangers until they are confident in their technical and tactical
abilities. Develop a team spirit that motivates them to go willingly and confidently into combat.

• Know your unit's capabilities and limitations, and employ them accordingly.Know your unit's capabilities and limitations, and employ them accordingly.

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