Lead & Manage: Bridging the Gap to Develop Your Unique Leadership Identity

By Shawn T Eaton

Lead & Manage: Bridging the Gap to Develop Your Unique Leadership Identity

By Shawn T. Eaton Sr.

Discover Your Unique Leadership Identity!

In Lead & Manage: Bridging the Gap to Develop Your Unique Leadership Identity, Shawn T. Eaton Sr. offers a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Self Development
• Release date: May 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869364173

Shawn T Eaton

Shawn Eaton was raised in Clarksville, Arkansas, where he graduated from Clarksville High School in 1996. In 1997, he joined the US Army and embarked on a distinguished 20-year military career, culminating in his retirement as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer on June 30, 2017.During his time in the Army, Shawn deployed to combat zones four times, twice each to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as a Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, and First Sergeant. His exemplary service earned him numerous awards, including three Bronze Stars, five Army Commendations Medals, and five Army Achievement Medals. He graduated from Central Texas College and completed multiple Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) courses at the NCO Academy, focusing on leadership and leadership development. Shawn is currently a Training Manager for a 3PL warehouse company in Savannah, GA. Shawn is a proud father of five children and grandfather of four grandchildren. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Randi, for 18 years.

Book preview

Introduction

Writing this book came as a culmination of a globe-trotting adventure in leadership, seasoned with over two decades of distinguished service in the United States Army. Picture this: a young soldier, turned sage through myriad encounters with the crème de la crème (and occasionally the crème de la crap) of Army leadership.

Rewind to the start, where leadership wasn't about medals or ranks, but about a superhero without a cape—my mom. She juggled a demanding job, five kids, and an endless list of chores with the dexterity of a circus acrobat, instilling in us the values of hard work and resilience. Meanwhile, my father, a Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, unfortunately, showcased the type of leadership that was a masterclass in what not to do. His idea of discipline was as misplaced as a penguin in the Sahara, teaching me early on the profound impact of leadership styles.

From these contrasting examples sprouted my intrigue in leadership dynamics. Life took a turn, and I found myself in Arkansas, under the wing of my mom’s boyfriend-turned-stepdad, a man whose leadership style was akin to Yoda—less about scolding and more about guiding. His mentorship, although it chafed at the time, was the scaffold upon which my understanding of positive influence and correction was built.

With a heart full of dreams and slightly naive bravery, I enlisted in the Army, aiming to be a 19K-Armor Crewman. In my mind, a tank was the ultimate iron fortress—until reality checked in. The Army unfolded as a kaleidoscope of leadership: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the extraordinary. I recall a Drill Sergeant who, contrary to the stereotypical hard ass, believed in shining boots and shooting hoops, teaching us excellence and teamwork, albeit with a side of tough love.

My career was an exhilarating rollercoaster, packed with deployments that spanned continents—from the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan to the historical landscapes of Europe. I found myself in leadership roles for the majority of my service, a journey of self-discovery and evolution.

Initially, I mimicked the only style I knew—loud and forceful, a reflection of my earlier influences. However, I quickly realized that leadership was not a one-size-fits-all. Witnessing the spectrum of leadership in the Army, from the shouty sergeants to the more composed higher-ups, was enlightening. It dawned on me that true leadership was less about echoing the past and more about carving a path that encourages growth, unity, and respect.

To my astonishment, there came a day at the office (and by the office, I mean the kind where the scent of gun oil beats out the aroma of coffee) when my Soldiers found themselves on the receiving end of a cleaning spree. Not the spring-cleaning type, but the Platoon Sergeant thinks our weapons could be cleaner than a Michelin-star kitchen type. Armed with my vast, almost legendary, leadership prowess, I did what any self-respecting leader would do: I channeled my inner drill sergeant, complete with a symphony of yells and a sprinkle of colorful language. After all, nothing says motivation quite like the threat of impending doom—or so I thought.

Just as I was about to award myself the Sergeant of the Year award for my impeccable leadership style, another Platoon Sergeant called out to me. And not in the I'm going to scare you into next week kind of way, but more of a Hey, you, with the vocal cords of steel, over here kind of yell. Intrigued and slightly less ferocious, I made my way to his office. The conversation that ensued wasn't just a wake-up call; it was the whole alarm clock factory going off.

Why, he inquired, do you accept as true with that the most effective manner to speak together along with your Soldiers is thru the historic artwork of shouting and belittlement? To be fair, I hadn't taken into consideration my technique as belittlement a lot as motivational speaker for the difficult of hearing.  However, it was evident that my troops might have received a different message.

The next quarter of an hour didn't just adjust my leadership compass—it completely recalibrated it. He posed a question that hit me harder than a morning PT session: Have you ever considered, I don't know, just asking your men nicely?  That query did not simply open my eyes; it almost carried out LASIK surgical operation on my expertise of leadership. Fast forward 27 years, and that moment is as fresh in my mind as the day it happened. It was like discovering a new flavor of leadership that wasn't just effective but also didn't leave everyone involved with a need for throat lozenges.

With this groundbreaking concept in mind, I awaited my golden opportunity. It presented itself when my driver, in a moment of human forgetfulness, left something in our tank. Instead of deploying my previously preferred method of vocal persuasion, I simply asked him if he could retrieve it. His response? A calm and collected No problem, Sergeant. It was a small exchange, but the impact was monumental.

This revelation didn't just change my approach; it even had the peanut gallery whispering. Are you getting soft? chuckled a fellow NCO. To which I replied, Just trying out a new battle strategy. Even my Platoon Sergeant chimed in with a nod of approval, unaware of the seismic shift that had occurred in my leadership philosophy.

When my Soldier returned, not only did he complete the task, but he also offered a No problem, sergeant, I got you! That response was more rewarding than any HOOAH I had ever elicited through sheer volume. It was then I realized the true power of dignity, respect, and, dare I say, a more serene form of command.

This anecdote underscores a trio of leadership pillars I hold dear: perpetual improvement, the golden rule of treating others as you wish to be treated, and the understanding that there's more than one way to lead effectively.

This book isn't just a collection of my musings on leadership, but I also added the point of managing versus leading. This a guide is designed to lay a solid foundation for good leadership, peppered with both my escapades and those of leaders I admire. My aim? To offer you insights that not only enhance your leadership style but also equip you with the tools to mentor effectively and have a full understanding of managing. So, as you turn these pages, I hope you find both inspiration and practical advice that resonates with your journey toward becoming a leader worth following.

Let's kick things off with a dive into the ever-elusive world of leadership—what it is, what it's not, and why it occasionally enjoys playing hide and seek with us. Then, we'll tango with its close cousin, management, a term that's both exhilarating and terrifying, like deciding to organize your sock drawer