Why is Squad Leading So Frustrating At Times???

[ZigZack]

I've noticed from my somewhat limited experience as SL that I have a 50/50 chance of having a squad that follows basic orders and commands. The last squad I had, we were clearing buildings, pushing aggressively, and cleared an enemy FOB in the first 15 minutes! But, I will get other squads that either don't listen or just start wandering on the map for a nature walk.

Any suggestions or advice?

[Nossa30]

Well calling people by name to come to me to get a rally significantly increased my ability to get people on me. And it works for other things too. It takes a lot more time to open map and hunt green dots and find where they are going and what they are doing but it really does help instill a level of awareness on an individual level.

[Oh Heck]

Not much you can do really. For some mysterious reason, some gamers purchase a game called SQUAD..based around squad team play...and then lone wolf it. All you can do really is kick them from the squad if they persist.

[Major.Pain]

Nothing i dispise more than having a SL who has you ping pong all over the map because he hasn't looked ahead to where the battle is going ten minutes from now or one who just sticks in one spot 90% of the game making super fob defending it even when your nearest defend flag has moved a couple of flags away, when i get those i just go and do my own sh*t.
Get the basic plans(attack/defend) and timings for them down first before you have your squad go on some crazy flank where your left hanging because the battle has moved on or set up that position that in the end will see no action, people want to shoot sh*t at the end of the day.
Placing basic move markers, having you Squad form up and move together when called for and being super fly with your rallies at the most basic level.

[Baba Booey]

Because of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ noobs. Ruining this game making it hard for other players.
There are usual like 1 or 2 squads who do everything fine but just are way better than all the noob scum and they rush the game in AAS.
It's like there are no balanced matches in this game anymore.
Should have stayed wtih PR tbh.

[SN4KE]

Know the game very well or at least be confident. If you seem like you don't know what you're doing your squad will think you're not worth listening to.

I've had my off days as SL and can see the guys starting to do their own thing. But when I'm in the zone my guys will follow my every whim no questions asked. 1400 hour SL here.

[Hasty]

Hey man squad leading can be a daunting task, for most it’s their first time legitimately leading people, I’m not talking about some group project but actually leading people. I know this is going to be cheeses but I’m going to plug my twitch link here. Come check me out and I’ll help you squad lead. As far as credentials go I was an 11B in the army for 5 years, and I love teaching factors of leadership and how to play the game of squad. Better squad leaders, better quality games. https://Twitch.tv/hastyflush

[ZigZack]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm already aware of military tactics since I'm an Arma milsim guy (though Squad is much more simple), and I understand leading since I played competitive sports my whole life. This more or less has to do with dealing with people who have no interest in playing as a team.

[Hasty]

Not to talk ♥♥♥♥. But you saying you understand leading because you played competitive sports is a bunch of BS, it really doesn’t translate m and contradicts your OP in competitive sports you have people who understand the sport (usually) and want to be there doing that position/earned it. You got a real long way to go if you can’t be humble and understand that doesn’t automatically qualify you as a good leader. And that’s a lot of the issues that new squad leaders face, you essentially got 5 minutes to figure out how to utilize all these different personalities and different skill levels to accomplish a task. Some key advice- start with something small, prove to the squad you can effectively complete that task/ be decisive at all times, try not to double back etc. then move on to more difficult tasks and make adjustments as best you can.

[ZigZack]

Originally posted by Hastyflush:

Not to talk ♥♥♥♥. But you saying you understand leading because you played competitive sports is a bunch of BS, it really doesn’t translate m and contradicts your OP in competitive sports you have people who understand the sport (usually) and want to be there doing that position/earned it. You got a real long way to go if you can’t be humble and understand that doesn’t automatically qualify you as a good leader. And that’s a lot of the issues that new squad leaders face, you essentially got 5 minutes to figure out how to utilize all these different personalities and different skill levels to accomplish a task. Some key advice- start with something small, prove to the squad you can effectively complete that task/ be decisive at all times, try not to double back etc. then move on to more difficult tasks and make adjustments as best you can.

Let me start off by saying I never meant any disrespect to you or anyone else. I originally started off by saying "Thanks for all the suggestions!". I also didn't mention that after every match I SL, I always ask everyone in my group for suggestions and feedback (the opposite of pride). Now that's out of the way, let me clarify my original comment. I played highly competitive baseball as a catcher, who is generally the leader on the diamond. I caught for pitchers who were throwing minimum 90mph, and I would be responsible for calling all the different pitches/locations (for both good and bad pitchers). That's a lot of responsibility when the whole team is depending on your "leadership". The problem with Squad is that not everyone has the same mindset, whereas in real life applications (job, military, sports, etc.) people usually have the same goal in mind. To be quite frank, Squad is comparable to coaching a rec ball team that has severely contrasting goals. Some want to pick grasshoppers in the outfield while others want to actually win.

P.S. When I actually had people "listening" to basic orders, we were a functioning squad that was clearing buildings, eliminating the enemy fob, and conducting an effective flank.

[ZigZack]

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

[Hasty]

Ok, to be clear I took zero offense. I was just analyzing what you putting out their, and to be honest that’s all this is. Your time as a catcher you felt a lot of pride and responsibility behind the plate, and that’s great I’m sure that helps you with communication and what not, however how often did you take responsibility for the failure of another member of your team? When the team loses who ultimately is blamed for the failure in that scenario? The pitcher? A guy on 3rd base who threw to first instead of 2nd? What I’m getting at is as a squad leader you are ultimately the figurehead that has to accept responsibility for your squads success and more importantly it’s FAILURES. And you opening up to your team and asking for suggestions and all is great... but you immediately lose any credibility to do your job, it’s basically you holding up a sign saying “I don’t know what I’m doing” it has good intentions but understand ultimately that’s how it is viewed. It also opens you up to be undermined by players who feel they have more experience, further opening you up to have loose cannons and lone wolves. Make sense?

[Hasty]

Also to add to your PS: we are not complaining about how we deal with people who listen, but how to get people to buy in and trust you as a capable and decisive leader in this game.

[ZigZack]

Originally posted by Hastyflush:

Ok, to be clear I took zero offense. I was just analyzing what you putting out their, and to be honest that’s all this is. Your time as a catcher you felt a lot of pride and responsibility behind the plate, and that’s great I’m sure that helps you with communication and what not, however how often did you take responsibility for the failure of another member of your team? When the team loses who ultimately is blamed for the failure in that scenario? The pitcher? A guy on 3rd base who threw to first instead of 2nd? What I’m getting at is as a squad leader you are ultimately the figurehead that has to accept responsibility for your squads success and more importantly it’s FAILURES. And you opening up to your team and asking for suggestions and all is great... but you immediately lose any credibility to do your job, it’s basically you holding up a sign saying “I don’t know what I’m doing” it has good intentions but understand ultimately that’s how it is viewed. It also opens you up to be undermined by players who feel they have more experience, further opening you up to have loose cannons and lone wolves. Make sense?

Great response! I see what you mean by taking ownership for even the failure of the squad. But what do I do when I have a squad that doesn't listen or care to my orders? What would you do?

[Lxcer]

I don't think it's the issue with the game. Being squad lead calls forth real life skill called leadership and not many people have that which is why people hate squad leading in this game. That said, people will be people at the end of the day this is a game to them and they really couldn't care any more about it unless they have the brains enough to know what cooperation means. You will notice that people who played this game long enough will more likely to cooperate than people who just got the game or is playing on free weekends. Needless to say the guys who go off and do their own thing won't be staying for long and time weeds them out. That is until the next buy wave.

[WombleDieHard]

Being a SL isn't easy and if you have squad members disobeying your command or playing lone wolf in your squad you are slightly screwed. Even other SL may not respond or just have no Scooby Doo on how to play the maps to full advantage.

The only way to go forth is kick the dead wood from your Squad and try and work with the SL who do respond to you.

Not easy but I have turned it around loads of times by having great players in my Squad.

Just be pleasent and support your team too its about being a team player as well as being a SL at the same time.

See you on the battlefield.