LEADERSHIP FUNDAMENTALS, "BE, KNOW, DO" (B.,K.,D.'S ARE THE ABC'S) OF LEADERSHIP

“As a leader…you are not given authority, status, and position as a personal reward to enjoy comfort. You are given them so that you may be of greater service to your subordinates, your unit (organization), and your country.” U.S. Army Field Manual 22-100

This wonderful quote from FM 22-100 published in 1999 also  discussed the “Be, Know, and Do.” (known, henceforth in this article as the “B.K.D.’s of leadership, (not to be confused with the “A,B,C.’s” of leadership) This manual  has been revised many times over, however, these "Be, Know, and Do" fundamentals, I believe can help any leader succeed regardless of where you serve, what you do, or what organization you lead. Although we may not remember every single tenet of leadership I believe these three fundamentals (B.K.D.’s, lest we forget) provide an easy to remember and applicable foundation to lead teams.

Be- The essence of this states that a leader or manager should be a person of strong and honorable character and should be able to solve complex ethical dilemmas. I believe this fundamental tenet is always striving to do right for right’s sake. I also believe that this core principle entails setting the example in word and deed, as I have often heard said, people may forget what you say but they watch what you do so always, always, always, strive to do right.

Know-the second tenant is no it is knowing your job as well as possible and striving daily to be an expert in your field, striving daily to be as proficient as possible through detailed execution, through study and through improvement daily. The second part of this is to know yourself, this is easier said than done. It requires intersection to better understand your strengths and weaknesses and to build on those strengths, and work to improve the weaknesses, or hire and inspire people who can help you shore up those weaknesses. A leader doesn’t lead because he or she is the best all things, but because they can inspire and get the best from their teams.  The third part of the “know” tenet, is also to know your people. Know what moves them, know what motivates them, know about their families, know as much as they are willing share within, reason, of course, so that you can better connect with them and better serve them. Understanding what they need in terms of guidance, resources, training, or mentorship. Moreover, you should also know your organization's vision its missions its plans, key support elements, below, at, and above you ensuring you understand where resources are to best carry out your mission and goals. Additionally, know the direction that the organization is heading and more importantly how you and your team can help the organization achieve those goals. “Well if ya don’t know, know ya’ know…” -Biggie Smalls

Do- the last part of this equation is straightforward. this one is about leadership. The do is about providing purpose, which is the why (A person who knows why may always have a job, but the person who knows how will always be their boss.) direction was which is the “how”, when needed and the motivation, which, as we all understand, is the inspiration to influence your team to do their best, to strive always to turn  a “half to” into a “want to”. 

The” B,K,D’s” of leadership, revived from an old Army field manual, but are as applicable today, I believe, as when they were published all those years ago! And Remember, “As a leader…you are not given authority, status, and position as a personal reward to enjoy comfort. You are given them so that you may be of greater service to your subordinates, your unit (organization), and your country.”