ACCOUNTABILITY
subordinate's problems within their own command's
resources, and it their duty to do so.
The outlook of the young sailor today indicates that
In meeting this responsibility, counseling is a
the degree of leadership success depends less on the
valuable tool. Whether conducted formally in the work
position of the leader than upon the leader's ability to
center office or informally on the flight deck, counseling
gain the full commitment of those under him or her. This
is intended to reward a person for a job well done or to
has come about because todays' sailor is more
point out some deficiency to the sailor before it becomes
intelligent, better educated. They are asking more
a problem. When counseling a person for a deficiency,
probing questions--they will not follow blindly. Their
the outcome goal should be pointed out to the
personal commitments will not be given just because of
person--that is for the person to act to correct the
a leader's position; it has to be generated by the leader
deficiency before it becomes a problem. If the person
as a competent individual. In developing this
being counseled should require help to attain the goal,
competency, accountability for one's actions and for
it must be made available.
those under him or her cannot be ignored.
The act of counseling is something that takes
The relationship between responsibility, authority,
practice and experience. Broken down into its basics,
and accountability has never been better expressed than
counseling for deficiencies consists of six steps:
by Admiral George Anderson, when he was Chief of
Naval Operations. He stated, "We cannot evade any of
1. Reinforce relationships. Set the relationship
our own responsibilities; while it is perfectly
between the person being counseled and the
appropriate to single out a junior as having been
counselor at the beginning of the session. The
responsible for a success, the responsibility for failure
person counseled (junior) should be aware that
must always be retained by the senior officer."
the deficiency is not approved by the command
or the counselor (senior).
COUNSELING
2. Identify the problem. The person being
counseled may not have been aware that the
It is the responsibility of every senior petty officer
action/inaction was a problem. In identifying
in the navy to help those under him or her solve their
the problem the person must be made aware why
problems. Senior petty officers have the ability and
the deficiency is a problem.
know-how to solve the vast majority of their
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