Develop a Sense of Responsibility Among Your Subordinates: 

          Another way to show your Marines that you are interested in their welfare is to give them the opportunity for professional development.  Assigning tasks and delegating the authority to accomplish tasks promotes mutual confidence and respect between the NCO and subordinates.  It also encourages the subordinates to exercise initiative and to give wholehearted cooperation in the accomplishment of unit tasks.  When you properly delegate authority, you demonstrate faith in your Marines and increase their desire for greater responsibilities.  If you fail to delegate authority, you indicate a lack of leadership, and your subordinates may take it to be a lack of trust in their abilities.  To develop this principle you should: 

• Operate through the chain of command.

• Tell your subordinates what to do, not how to do it.  Hold them responsible for results, although overall responsibility remains yours.  Delegate enough authority to them to enable them to accomplish the task.

• Give your Marines frequent opportunities to perform duties usually performed by the next higher ranks.

• Be quick to recognize your subordinates' accomplishments when they demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness.

• Correct errors in judgment and initiative in a way which will not discourage the Marine to try harder.  Avoid public criticism or condemnation.

• Give advice and assistance freely when it is requested by your subordinates.

• Let your Marines know that you will accept honest errors without punishment in return.

• Assign your Marines to positions in accordance with demonstrated or potential ability.

• Be prompt and fair in backing subordinates.  Until convinced otherwise, have faith in each subordinate.

• Accept responsibility willingly and insist that your subordinates live by the same standard.

REFERENCE:  Marine Corps Values and Leadership User's Guide for Discussion Leaders