Self Help
Very frequently you must charge it off to profit
and loss.
Even so, it is worth the cost.
When I say that paternalism is essential to leadership I use the term
in its better sense. I do not now refer to that form of paternalism,
which robs men of initiative, self-reliance and self-respect. I refer to
the paternalism that manifests itself in a watchful care for the comfort
and welfare of those in your charge.
Soldiers are much like children.
You must see that they have shelter, food and clothing, the best that your utmost efforts can provide. You must see that they have food to eat before you think of your own; that they have each as good a bed as can be provided before you consider where you will sleep. You must be far more solicitous of their comfort than of your own. You must look after their health. You must conserve their strength by not demanding needless exertion or useless labor.
And by doing all these things you are breathing life into what would be otherwise a mere machine. You are creating a soul in your organization that will make the mass respond to you as though it were one man. And that is esprit. NO accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.
And when your organization has this esprit you will wake up some morning and discover that the tables have been turned; that instead of your constantly looking out for them they have, without even a hint from you, taken up the task of looking out for you. You will find that a detail is always there to see that your tent, if you have one, is promptly pitched; that the most and the cleanest bedding is brought to your tent; that from some mysterious source two eggs have been added to your supper when no one else has any; that an extra man is helping your men give your horse a supergrooming; that your wishes are anticipated; that every man is "Johnny-on-the-spot."
And then you have arrived!
You cannot treat all men alike!
A punishment that would be
dismissed by one man with a shrug of the shoulders is mental
anguish for another.
A company commander who, for a given offense, has a standard punishment that
applies to all is either too indolent or too stupid to study the personality
of his men.
In his case justice is certainly blind. Study your men as carefully as a surgeon studies a difficult case. And when you are sure of your diagnosis apply the remedy. And remember that you apply the remedy to effect a cure, not merely to see the victim squirm. It may be necessary to cut deep, but when you are satisfied as to your diagnosis don't be diverted from your purpose by any false sympathy for the patient.