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| https://www.ncolcoe.army.mil/News/Article/4035893/ investing-in-people-to-enhance-leadership-excellence/ |
“What are you actually doing as a leader?”
Leadership is not a title, a rank, or a personality trait. In the Army, leadership is defined by action. The
Leader Competencies provide a clear, observable framework for what effective leaders must consistently do to build teams and accomplish the mission.
These competencies apply far beyond military formations. Teachers, coaches, administrators, and business leaders will recognize them immediately—because great leadership looks the same in every profession.
What Are the Army Leader Competencies?
The Army organizes leadership action into three core competencies:
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Leads
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Develops
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Achieves
Together, they form the behavioral side of the Army Leadership Model. While attributes describe internal qualities, competencies describe deliberate, repeatable actions leaders must take.
Strong leaders balance all three. Neglecting even one creates gaps in trust, performance, or long-term success.
Leads: Influencing and Guiding Others
The first competency focuses on how leaders influence people and provide direction.
Leads Others
Leaders set the tone. They communicate purpose, establish expectations, and motivate people toward shared goals.
In civilian life, this looks like:
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Clearly communicating priorities
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Setting standards and enforcing them consistently
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Modeling professionalism and ethical behavior
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| Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash |
Extends Influence Beyond the Chain of Command
Leadership does not stop at formal authority.
Effective leaders build relationships, collaborate across teams, and influence outcomes even when they don’t “own” the problem.
This is critical in:
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Schools working across departments
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Coaching staffs coordinating roles
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Businesses operating in matrixed organizations
Influence is built on credibility and trust—not position.
Leads by Example
This is where leadership becomes visible.
Leaders are always on display. Their work ethic, attitude, and behavior signal what is acceptable.
When leaders:
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Show up prepared
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Stay calm under pressure
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Admit mistakes
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Treat people with respect
Others follow suit.
Communicates
Leadership lives and dies on communication.
Strong leaders:
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Share information early
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Listen actively
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Clarify intent
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Reduce uncertainty
Poor communication creates friction. Clear communication creates momentum.
Develops: Building People and Organizations
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| Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash |
Creates a Positive Environment
Leaders shape culture whether they mean to or not.
Positive environments are:
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Safe
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Disciplined
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Trust-based
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Accountable
People perform better where they feel respected and supported.
Develops Others
Leadership is multiplication, not accumulation.
Developing others includes:
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Coaching
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Mentoring
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Providing feedback
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Creating growth opportunities
Leaders who hoard knowledge weaken the organization. Leaders who develop people strengthen it.
Stewards the Profession
This means leaving the organization better than you found it.
In civilian terms, stewardship looks like:
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Upholding ethical standards
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Protecting organizational values
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Preparing future leaders
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Caring about long-term success, not just short-term wins
Stewardship separates managers from leaders.
Achieves: Getting Results
The final competency is about execution.
Leadership without results is just talk.
Gets Results
Effective leaders:
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Prioritize correctly
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Manage time and resources
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Hold people accountable
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Adjust when plans change
They focus effort where it matters most.
Balances Mission and People
Achieving is not about burning people out.
Strong leaders:
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Push for excellence
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Protect their team
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Sustain performance over time
Results matter—but how you get them matters just as much.
Why the Leader Competencies Matter
The Army Leader Competencies ensure leadership is:
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Observable
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Teachable
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Assessable
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Repeatable
They prevent leadership from becoming vague or personality-driven. Instead, they provide a professional standard for action.
When paired with strong leader attributes, these competencies allow leaders to:
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Build trust
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Develop strong teams
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Navigate complexity
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Accomplish missions
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Sustain organizations over time
Final Thought
Leadership is not about intentions—it’s about impact.
The Army Leader Competencies give leaders a clear answer to the question, “Am I actually leading?” They remind us that leadership requires influence, investment in people, and consistent execution.
If you want to grow as a leader:
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Lead with clarity
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Develop others intentionally
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Achieve results responsibly
That’s leadership that lasts.
Teach. Coach. Lead.
JVD
Sources & Credits
The Army Leader Competencies are defined in U.S. Army doctrine, including FM 6-22, Army Leadership and the Profession, which outlines the Army Leadership Requirements Model and the competencies of Leads, Develops, and Achieves.
This post was drafted with the assistance of AI (ChatGPT) and edited by Mr. VanDusen.
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