[June 18, 2026] It wasn’t that long ago that a good friend of mine, very accomplished as an Army Captain, gave some great advice to his Lieutenants. He said that leadership is about caring but, what are the elements of caring? Success is in the details and he was going to make it easy for them.
He said that to be a good Lieutenant (or any leader in any position) needs to have a certain mindset. “Watch your Soldiers and every time they do something good, you say ‘Ha, I saw that, here’s what you did and I like it.’” And give them a small reward; mostly recognition in front of other Soldiers.
I used to do that with my Army Medics. Most of them had not been trained in how to properly check on my Company Soldiers. Okay, they knew the technical ways of treating various injuries and common illnesses but they were more reactive, rather than proactive.
Mostly, those medics are close to worthless, not exactly, but they did not have a proactive process in the tool bag. I think that many of them were testing me out as their commander to see if I cared, and they would just to the minimum to get by. They would talk to my Soldiers and ask if they had any medical problem, so they could sit back and relax.
The first time one of them checked a Soldier’s feet for blisters without being told, I would say, “I noticed your effort to keep our troopers going, thanks.” And, now and then they would do something else that actually mattered, and was more proactive. I would make note of that and say that all their other duties were not up to par, but the action of caring for a Soldier’s feet is excellent work.
I can tell you, unequivocally, that this made my Medics love those Lieutenants. A little pat on the back goes a long way for someone who supports your unit. The idea is simple and it is not manipulative, it is something intrinsically good, and they were learning how to be good medic. They knew they were being a good medic and revealed in their improved capabilities.
Recognize even the small things. Reward them. That is how you can get people to be better, to be more than they thought they could be. Leaders say they care about those who work for them. We too often don’t educate them about the basic element of caring: recognition and reward.
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Gen. Satterfield’s article explains caring in leadership very well. Recognition of good work motivates soldiers to improve. Small rewards like praise build strong teams. The captain’s advice shows simple actions make a big difference. Proactive care, such as checking feet, matters most. Leaders who notice details earn respect from their people. This method turns average effort into excellence. The story about medics proves recognition works fast. Caring is not just words but visible actions. It helps everyone reach higher standards. Army experience backs up these practical ideas. Readers can apply this in any job or group. Overall, the piece offers solid guidance for better leaders. 🇺🇸
Good comment, American Girl. I’m glad that you’re on this forum and that we, together, can celebrate our 250th birthday of America. Let the mentally disturbed leftist progressives go nuts.
Reward in public, punish in private. Not exactly right but close.
An insightful and practical article on leadership. General Satterfield effectively illustrates how genuine caring in leadership goes beyond words and manifests through consistent recognition of positive actions. By sharing the story of proactive medics checking soldiers’ feet for blisters, he demonstrates the power of immediate, specific praise. This approach not only motivates individuals but also builds stronger team cohesion and accountability. Leaders who master this element of caring transform average performers into dedicated professionals who exceed expectations. The advice aligns perfectly with proven military principles of leadership that emphasize noticing the small wins. Moreover, rewarding effort publicly reinforces a culture of excellence without manipulation. Readers will appreciate the straightforward, real-world examples drawn from actual command experience. This piece serves as a valuable reminder that success truly lies in the details of human interaction. Overall, it encourages leaders in any field to adopt a proactive mindset toward appreciation. Implementing these ideas could dramatically improve morale and performance across organizations. I look forward to applying this in my own leadership contexts and exploring more of your rules for a good life. Thank you for another thoughtful contribution to TheLeaderMaker.
Insightful, Xerxes II. I know you’ve been a part of Gen. Satterfield’s blog for a long time now.
Good question. The best leaders do care, but what are the elements of caring? Gen. Satterfield begins to answer that question here. And the answer is to RECOGNIZE good behavior, and then REWARD it.
Fred, thanks for the solid comment on my post. You captured the core perfectly. Recognition and reward form the foundation of genuine caring in leadership. In my units, proactive medics quickly stepped up after consistent praise. Small acknowledgments in front of peers built real motivation. This approach turned minimum effort into excellence. Caring isn’t abstract; it’s visible actions like foot checks. Leaders who master this elevate entire teams. Keep leading by example, Fred.
Thank you too Army Captain for your serivce and giving us some common sense leadership advice. Caring matters. Seeing and rewarding good behaivor matters too.