​​​​​​​​​​​​LEADING WITH CHARACTER!
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​“Bearing, put simply, is the appearance and demeanor of a person throughout the activities and circumstances that an individual is seen or observed. An individual is largely judged by others through the bearing that the individual exudes as he goes about his daily affairs, and thus it is very important that the person shows a bearing of competence and professionalism at all times. Militaries since the beginning of recorded history have set individual bearing at the core of the doctrine and values that all persons comprising the force were instilled with from the start of the individual’s service through to the end of his term.”

(lawaspect.com/military-discipline-5/)

 
Listen to Story 1.

Introduction 

A military unit’s ability to fight and win its nation's wars is not solely dependent on weapons and training. It also rests on the overall attitude or climate of the unit, manifested through its military bearing. Find a winning unit and you will find a superior bearing; the opposite is true about a losing unit.

While a military unit’s climate is comprised of many factors, the most predominate is its military bearing, exhibited from the top officers and noncommissioned officers down to the most junior individuals. If a fighting unit possesses a positive climate at its heart, it will display a strong military bearing.

Leaders in all of life’s callings, who conduct themselves as professionals and do what is right regardless of the situation in which they find themselves, manifest this superior bearing; they will go the extra mile, in both peace and war, whether in uniform or civilian attire, even when it would be easier not to.

Bearing 

If we want to be leaders others respect, we need to carry ourselves with confidence, alertness, competence and control; to always be aware of how others perceive us; and to hold ourselves to the highest standards. The way we conduct and carry ourselves should reflect our values, our character. This is our bearing. 

Our bearing is reflected in how we look and act: How healthy we are, how well we care for our appearance, how we carry ourselves, and our manners all factor into our overall bearing. Our bearing is exhibited by how we present ourselves to the world - everything people can see, from our hair down to our shoes.

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If we include the elements of Fitness, Grooming, Posture, and P’s and Q’s   into the way we present ourselves to the world, we will go a long way toward building productive personal and professional lives.

Fitness – Fitness is a broad term that means something different to each of us, but it refers generally to our own optimal health and overall well-being. In a nutshell, fitness is defined as the state of being physically fit and healthy.

Physical fitness is generally achieved through proper nutrition, moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise, and sufficient rest. 

Regular exercise promotes strong muscles and bones. It improves respiratory, cardiovascular, and overall health. Staying active can also help us maintain a healthy weight, and reduce our risk of incurring the major health challenges that beset our society. 

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”

John F. Kennedy 

Grooming - Grooming is the act of taking care of our bodies through proper cleanliness and self-care. Personal grooming not only affects the way others see us, but it also affects how we feel about ourselves. When we look and feel our best, we are able to present ourselves confidently to others. 

Good grooming means practicing good hygiene techniques. Good grooming includes showering and having neat hair and clean, trimmed fingernails. Good grooming also includes having brushed teeth and clean clothes. 

First impressions matter and the way we look and carry ourselves create a favorable impression on those with whom we come in contact.

The visual impression we present is both immediate and permanent. It is extremely difficult to change a negative first impression

 
 “… just because no one comments on the fact that you dress like a biker chick at work, when everyone else is sporting Brooks Brothers, doesn't mean it's acceptable. They may be too nervous to confront you. Revert to the school uniform rule and you'll blend in nicely. Besides, it's much better if people notice you for your excellent work instead.”

Jacqueline Mansfield

Listen to Story 2​.

Posture - Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground.
 
We do not consciously maintain normal posture. Instead, certain muscles do it for us, and we don't even have to think about it. Several muscle groups, including the hamstrings and large back muscles, are critically important in maintaining good posture. Postural muscles also maintain our posture and balance during movement.  

To maintain proper posture, we need to have adequate muscle flexibility and strength, as well as efficient postural muscles that are balanced on both sides of the spine. Another vote for maintaining at least an adequate level of health and fitness. 

“Our health and well-being are things that we can control, to a certain extent. We can choose to eat healthy, we can choose to think positively, and we can choose to have good posture. All this stuff makes a difference in the way that we look and feel, and our confidence.”

Bethany Hamilton

P’s and Q’s - Mind your P’s and Q’s is an English language expression meaning "mind your manners", "mind your language", "be on your best behavior", "watch what you're doing". 

In the etiquette world, minding our P’s and Q’s (our manners) is an ingredient of all civility. How we treat others reflects our true character. By minding our P’s and Q’s, we create situations wherein all are respected and treated with dignity. 

Minding our P’s and Q’s has a nautical history, too. Sailors of yore minded their P’s (pea coats) and Q’s (queues, or braided ponytails) by looking sharp as they departed their ship for liberty. They would also ask their shipmates to help mind their P’s and Q’s, the dawning of shipmates taking care of shipmates. 

We need to continue with this tradition. Teammates always need to take care of each other. We train together and we fight together, and we need to play and have fun together. We need to take that first step in helping each other whenever and wherever possible. So, let’s start minding our P’s and Q’s, and help our teammates to do the same. 

“Life is an echo. What we send out - comes back. What we sow - we reap. What we give - we get. What we see in others - exists in us. When we mind our P’s and Q’s, loyalty and respect come back to us.”

Unknown 

​Conclusion 

Bearing is not a natural trait, something inherited like the color of our eyes or of our hair. Bearing is a skill that can be studied, learned, and perfected by practice. 

Bearing is something learned over time by living our values, observing leaders who demonstrate and act with a strong sense of bearing, and surrounding ourselves with teammates who exhibit strong overall bearing.

The impression that we make on others contributes to our success in leading them. How others perceive us depends on our Fitness, Grooming, Posture, and P’s and Q’s. 

We earn our reputation as leaders through the respect that others show us, how they refer to us, and how they respond to our guidance. Bearing is a critical attribute that we need to understand. Our effectiveness is dramatically enhanced by understanding and developing our bearing. 

Listen to Story 3​.

“You can have tin soldiers with parade ground military bearing, and you can have soldiers with the military bearing achieved through true confidence in themselves and their unit.”  

Codeloach

 

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