Heyy,
Okay, so im aboutto be a C/TSGT and no one in my squadron listens to me.. I get ignored. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Welcome to CAPTalk.
I'd say we probably need a few more details to help guide you in this regard.
Do you have a staff assignment/duty position, or are you just a C/TSgt who's in a flight but has no staff assignment?
What do you mean by "nobody listens to you"? Do you mean that you make appropriate corrections to subordinate cadets, such as "Fix your insignia placement on your uniform" or "Remember you need to salute officers when outdoors" and they don't correct the problems? Or do you mean you were teaching a class or giving a formal period of instruction and cadets were goofing off and not paying attention? Can you give us an example of an instance where cadets were not listening to you so we can better understand?
Has anyone HAD to listen to you before? Your a C/SSgt right now. Most Squadrons, that rank is still towards the bottom of the food chain. If you think people are just going to suddenly snap to attention because youve added another stripe, thats not how it works. More importantly what kind of cadet have you been in the past? That may add a lot of clarity to your answer. Do you do well in your CPFTs? Your appearance? Have you been the class clown in the past and now suddenly want people to take you seriously? Are you a young cadet in regards to your age expecting older cadets to not notice the difference? As much as it shouldnt matter, cadets are teens, so theres no way around not noticing the age factor. Just some ideas.
I am an element leader for now, but I have always been a good cadet. Most of our cadets are Airmen, im the same grade as the first sgt, higher than the flight sgt and 1 away from the cadet commander. An example of my problem is that when we were in out DDR class, everyone kept talking, so I would say lock it up in my best command voice, and everyone ignored me. I am 14 no one knows my age, they htink im 16. But my uniform is always at its best. Do you think they dont listen to me just because im a female?
I would get the cadet commander involved, and if that doesn't work, get a senior member involved, such as the leadership officer or deputy commander of cadets.
Agree and disagree with Rogue on this one.
A big part of leadership is earning the respect of your subordinates, you want them to follow orders and accept guidance because they trust and respect you, not just because they know that the CC will come yell at them if they don't.
As an element leader it should start with your element - you need to talk to the members of your element regularly, offer guidance and positive reinforcement, and not be a pushover when you issue an order. Once you have earned the respect of your element, you move to the next level and word spreads.
That being said, it sounds like this may have already gone to far for just communication and positive reinforcement to be effective by itself, in this case I would suggest working with the CC to bring your element under control initially then apply the leadership techniques above to develop the leader-follower relationship with those under your command.
Ok, I wasn't specific in what I meant. Sometimes all it takes is having the cadet cc or SM just being in the area to keep things under control, not having to yell or even saying anything. Of course if it is needed, the Leadership Officer can give a class on respect and how that relates to the CoC.
Quote from: Panda223RulerZ on June 01, 2012, 03:55:11 PM
I am an element leader for now, but I have always been a good cadet. Most of our cadets are Airmen, im the same grade as the first sgt, higher than the flight sgt and 1 away from the cadet commander. An example of my problem is that when we were in out DDR class, everyone kept talking, so I would say lock it up in my best command voice, and everyone ignored me. I am 14 no one knows my age, they htink im 16. But my uniform is always at its best. Do you think they dont listen to me just because im a female?
They dont listen to you for the same reason my 14yr old doesnt listen to me....they are KIDS! >:D ;D I would not over analyze it. Just make sure your leading by example. Dont try to be over the top hardcore because people see it as an act. Youth, teens, kids, whatever you want to call them are learning their path through life and challenging authority, even to a very small degree is part of the process. Now, add the fact that you are one of them, trying to exert that authority and you just poured salt in the wound. You will be OK. Its what makes CAP great. At 14yrs old you have the ability to try different leadership styles, see what works for you and what doesnt and make your mistakes or have your successes before you get into the adult world. I dont know you obviously but I would venture to guess it has nothing to do with you in particular.
Maybe pull your element aside and talk to them about example and that you want your element to be the best in the Sq and that you will accept nothing less. And that includes behavior in the class. But you also have to be careful that your not telling people to "lock it up" just to show you are in charge. Have you ever seen those cadets who just yell all the time like a DI? They are funny to watch..... to everyone! Dont forget leaders are actually allowed to talk normal. In real life, you will never use the term "lock it up". Maybe try a different approach. In a lot of Squadrons cadets are yelled at by other cadets so much it gets tuned out. "Cadets, lets show some respect to our speaker" vs "LOCK IT UP".
What Flying Pig said has a lot of truth to it...they (and you) are KIDS! ;D :P
Being female probably has very little to do with it. Remember, we live in an age where we have had three female Secretaries Of State (Madeline Albright, Condoleeza Rice, Hillary Clinton), two major-party Vice Presidential candidates (Geraldine Ferraro, Sarah Palin) and women now wear stars on their shoulders in all five Armed Forces. The commandant of RAF Halton, one of the largest training bases in Britain, where Royal Air Force recruits go through Basic Training, is Group Captain (Colonel) Christina Elliot.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhalton/aboutus/stationcommander.cfm (http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhalton/aboutus/stationcommander.cfm)
I remember when I was a Boy Scout and became first Patrol Leader, then Senior Patrol Leader, then Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. I was in a rather rowdy troop full of a bunch of ne'er-do-wells from the wrong side of the tracks (including me). It was like pulling teeth to get them to listen to me. I couldn't just yell at them all of the time, and I couldn't run to the Scoutmaster every five minutes without appearing an idiot (I'm good enough at that as it is).
Don't try the "Gunny Hartman" routine from "Full Metal Jacket" because coming from a kid it just looks and sounds silly (not to mention using language not allowed in a CAP context). You're not a DI, MTI, DS, RC or CC. You are a youth leading your peers in a paramilitary volunteer organisation.
It's an overused term, but lead by example. When it's "blues night," make sure that your blues are the sharpest in the unit. Work on your C&C's, drill and other important CAP knowledge so that you become the "go-to" person in your element. Always let your behaviour be exemplary; you cannot control anyone's behaviour but your own. When I was your age (back when we still burned candles for light :P) I would see someone like that and think they really had it together.
Good luck, God bless and don't rush it.