Premium Essay

Military Leadership

In:

Submitted By sabinabelohuba
Words 1493
Pages 6
Military leadership theory brings forth the discovery of many ideas regarding the application of knowledge from a military background in a business environment. Much information was premised on business owners, managers and employees working collectively, how to improve communication skills, and how to define a goal and motivate others to follow it based on military leadership. The connection between these two worlds of business and military is apparent. Many of today’s companies derive their structure and leadership model from that which is applied in the army. The military typically has a main leader or a decision \ maker, who transmits orders to subordinates at lower levels. This model is almost identical to what is seen in many business organizations throughout the world (Rost, 1993).
The US Army defines leadership as “The process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation, while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization” (Army Leadership, 2012). However, this definition does not delve into whether leadership is innate or not. There are two main ideas – Colonel Sherman L. Kiser states that leadership is an exact science capable of being understood and practiced by anyone or General Sir Archibald P. Wavell’s which states “no amount of learning will make a man a leader unless he has the natural qualities of one” (Taylor and Rosenbach, 1984). Leadership has gone through several stages of development throughout history, which could lead to get an idea of whether it is innate or not. People have long been interested in leadership, but it has only been relatively recently that a number of leadership theories have emerged. Interest in leadership increased during the early part of the twentieth century. Early leadership theories focused on what qualities distinguished leaders from followers, while subsequent

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Military Leadership

...LEADERSHIP If you ask someone in the military what is leadership, you are bound to receive a couple different responses. For instance, someone might give you the Army definition of the word which is; the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and or improve the organization. Or maybe you get the response that would sound something like this; leadership is the acronym for the seven Army Values. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Even if you do not receive one of those two responses, I can guarantee that the answer you are given reference quotes from the NCO 2020 Strategy or ADP 6-22 (Army Leadership). Regardless of...

Words: 1220 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Military Leadership Analysis

...This is a rather interesting question because I have served in the military and now being on the civilian side, I have had the fortunate and unfortunate opportunities to be around and communicate with many different leaders. What I have learned over the years is in order to be an “effective” leader one must possess the qualities of both a powerful and controlling leader. In order to be a “good leader” one must know how to use both qualities efficiently and effectively in the appropriate situation. A good leader has the ability to invoke calm to their subordinates in the midst of a storm, to rein control without micro managing, to be demanding and a disciplinarian without demeaning their subordinates, and most importantly to empower and inspire...

Words: 324 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Incorporating Morality and Spirituality Into Military Leadership

...Helana Ross (Shuck) Mr. Forester World Religions 28 February 2013 Incorporating Morality and Spirituality into Military Leadership “Spiritual-based (leadership): From this view, the nature of business itself is transformed - so that the primary purpose of business and leadership is spiritual fulfillment and selfless service to society, where both are motivated from the Source of creation. Wealth creation is no longer the goal; it becomes a means for enabling and sustaining this purpose. Business leaders promote the spiritual fulfillment of everyone touched by the business: Employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders, and society. Likewise, business leaders develop selflessness in their service to society, seeing the Source in all whom they serve” –William Miller. This one quote gives us a brief description of how spirituality can tie into leadership. If the military incorporates these two characteristics into its leadership, our leaders will be more effective. What defines ineffective leadership? What are characteristics of both ineffective and effective leaders? How do we use spirituality to become more effective leaders? All of these questions are about to be addressed. An ineffective leader is someone who isn’t capable of leading and can’t produce the desired effect (m-w.com). In the military, this is someone who can’t contribute to mission readiness. What are some obvious signs of an ineffective leader? The most commonly described traits are they are micro-managers...

Words: 1290 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Practice & Problems of Human Resource Department of Bangladesh Army

...PRACTICE & PROBLEMS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT OF BANGLADESH ARMY INTRODUCTION 1. Human beings are the most important resources in an organization. A firm’s / organization’s success depends on the capabilities of its members. Most problems, challenges, opportunities and frustrations in an organization are people related. Human Resource Management is one of the toughest duties of a manager or leader since humans differ in terms of attitudes, values, aspirations, motivations, assumptions, psychology, and life goals. Looking at today’s competitive world, managerial level staff will require more conceptual and strategic skills. Managers have to be proactive, able to anticipate technological developments and prepare their staff for whatever technological changes that might take place. This will be a successful task only when the HRM itself is fully aware of those changes and has the means to deal with them. HR managers have a number of roles to fulfill. They are the guardians of the manpower- the key assets of the organizations. They are also counselor and protector of employees and directly responsible for their effectiveness in the organization. They need to do their jobs in keeping with the existing laws, rules and regulations of the organization, and promote harmony at the workplace. This has direct bearing in a healthier and more attractive work environment. The success or failure of HR depends also on the top management’s recognition of the importance of HRM, and...

Words: 9920 - Pages: 40

Premium Essay

Five Functions of Management

...Five Functions of Management within the Army Denise Witherspoon MGT 330 Jonathan Good May 7, 2012 Five Functions of Management within the Army The five functions of management within the Army are inseparable. Through lost wars and battles, Army leadership had to learn the hard way why those functions were inseparable. In this paper, I will provide a brief narrative of the Army’s organizational structure and how it applies to the five functions of management. I will also incorporate leader and motivation theories as it relates to the Army. The Army’s organizational structure can be complex to those who aren’t familiar with the military. The Army consists of numbered armies, corps, divisions, brigades, and battalions that conduct full spectrum operations around the world.” (Department of Defense 2012). Those units report to the Department of Defense through a chain of command. The units within the Army have front line managers (Troop Commanders), middle managers (Division Commanders), and top managers (Commanding Generals). These managerial levels are comprised of Army officers. The enlisted leadership is comprised of line managers and staff managers. The President is the Commander-and-Chief of the armed forces, otherwise known as the President. His top-level management team consists of the Vice-President, the Chief of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense. The Army is a mechanistic organization combined with a Professional...

Words: 1774 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Transformational Leadership Paper

...Background Summary The United States (US) military has a rich history, which has paved the way for civilian societal advancements. Development of the military has a span of over two centuries starting with the creation of the Continental Army in 1775 under the command of General George Washington to what is now a current day War on Terrorism where specialized branches of the military are divided into subcultures that include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Notable leaders include General Colin Powell, an American-Statesman and retired four Star General in the United States Army who is considered one of the most popular and admired leaders in America. Douglas MacArthur, an autocratic leader who was an American 5...

Words: 2766 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Communication Culture in the Workplace

...Communication Culture In The Workplace David Jimenez BCOM/275 May 27, 2014 - July 1, 2014 Tracy Foote Communication Culture In The Workplace My previous employer, SAIC, was a great place to work, depending on the division, and I worked for two. What I noticed was leadership from division to division played a huge role in the dynamics of the workforce. The first division I worked for was designing, engineering, and assembling communication systems for the US Navy. The leadership was made up almost exclusively of retired or former military. The culture was a nice blend of the military type rules and regulations, coupled with the freedom that allowed each of us the room to make mistakes and not be humiliated by our supervisors. My second division was a little different experience. We were contracted to work overseas in Afghanistan and Kuwait. The fact that we operated in a war zone made things a bit different from the start. Leadership consisted of 100% retired military and our culture was very much like being back in uniform. Now, in both divisions we followed the same CREDO and SAIC Policy book, but the approach to these guidelines was very different. In one division I felt empowered and part of a Team I could contribute to on a daily basis. The other division created an atmosphere that upward mobility was not an option. SAIC created its very own intranet they called, ISSAIC. SAIC adapted ISSAIC as the primary channel to communicate with the workforce. Through...

Words: 374 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

To What Extent Was Spain’s Financial Weakness the Main Reason for the Success of the Dutch Revolt?

...Protestant domino effect, however, suppression became unattainable igniting the revolt. This revolt by the United Provinces was then successful, this is the case because of Philip II alienation and lack of respect for the nobility, Philip not taking advantage of the revolts weaknesses and lastly Spain’s lack of funds for her armies fighting the revolt. I am going to argue in this essay that Spain’s financial weakness was not the main reason for the success of the revolt. Further to that in this essay I would argue that the main reason was Philip II’s poor leadership. Firstly, one could argue that the main reason for the success of the Dutch revolt was because of Spain’s lack of money. Revolts are extremely expensive things to deal with when they are militarised. Philip, decided to turn to the military to solve the problem very quickly in the case of the Dutch revolt. This meant he spent a huge amount of money on the military effort because it went on for so long (some call it the Eighty Years War). This lack of finance in turn led to serious problems for Philip. One of these problems being the Sack of Antwerp. The principal cause of the sack was the delay in payment due to the soldiers by Philip II. Spain had recently declared bankruptcy, and 400,000 florins intended as payment to the troops were seized by the government of Elizabeth I when ships containing the florins sought shelter from a storm in English ports. The Spanish soldiers, angry at...

Words: 1354 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Army Report

...Organizational Behavior and Communication Com 530 January 13, 2012 Organizational Behavior and Communication The United States Army focused on personnel, training, technology, and leadership or this entire combine for the success of the Army in both peace and war. One of the important variables is culture; military culture of army personality, values, or way of thinking. Culture within the Army is widely diverse with the varieties of gender, religious background, races, or whether they are or will be active or reserve duty. As new people enter the Army, then they have to deal with external adaption and integrate them into the Army’s way of life and beliefs. New members are then taught to perceive and feel the same in the Army. The servicemen are taught limited use of forces in war at all possible, effects of military growth on units, insubordination causes, and innovation in the military, learning abilities impact within the organizations, leadership development, and potential conflicts on reconstruction teams. The Army has to be able to move large formation of servicemen safely on the battlefield, so there is a need to have critical control and command. Cultures The Army has the traditional approach where they have a higher up command (hierarchy) to direct and enforce policies, procedures, and process to fit the Army culture. Then the soldiers (clan culture) have more flexibility but less focus on control and structure. They are driven to shared goals, vision...

Words: 1136 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Unknown

...sexually assaulted, discriminated against in high roles, and given poor primary and reproductive healthcare. There should be a change in the availability of opportunities for women in service, fair recognition of their hard work, and they should be given equal rights. Today women in the military face many unjust things one of the leading problems is sexual harassment. Military sexual trauma is the experience of sexual harassment or completed sexual assault during military service. This occurs in both male and females militants. Based on research from the National Virginia Military Sexual Trauma Surveillance Data, approximately one in five women veterans receiving universal screening at a Veterans Health Administration facility reported that they experienced military sexual trauma. In an overall survey they found that seventy percent of soldiers have suffered sexual trauma most of which are women. According to the Department of Defense annual report on sexual assault in the military, 3393 service members reported being sexually assaulted between 2010 and 2011 eighty eight per cent of these were female. (RTFA) Possible people responsible for committing such a vicious crime could be a military personnel,...

Words: 769 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Suicides in the Military

...Suicides in the Military Over the Past 10 Years The most common myths about suicide in the military have changed since the events of September 11, 2001. Previously, it was a white male, between the age of 18-25, with one or more of the following factors: relationship issues, money problems, and job satisfaction. Since the war in Afghanistan stared on Sep 13, 2001, the age has increased from 25 to 44, race does not necessarily matter anymore, and add the pressures of not knowing what is going to happen and always wondering when/if “your time is up”. Along with this, add in the stress of preparing for your deployment, the stress of leaving your family, the stress of ensuring everyone is properly taken care of if the inevitable happens, and the stress of possibly, or actually, losing subordinates or friends to enemy gunfire or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), just to name a few. More males over the age of 30, who have had at least one deployment to Afghanistan or Iraq and have seen some heavy fighting or have lost friends to enemy mortars/rockets on main operating bases, have committed or attempted to commit suicide in the past five years, then ever before. After all the stress of combat, coming home to a life of no danger of snipers or IEDs, mortar/rocket attacks to your base, causes even more stress then people can even imagine. “Flashbacks”, hyper-vigilance, suspicion, and the fear of loud noises are also a major concern and cause undue stress to the sevicemember...

Words: 888 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Start a New Career

...proud military career and optimistically open a new chapter within a Department of Defense (DoD) Civil Service Agency or US Government Contract Agency. In preparation of this juncture, I feel to achieve an MBA will complement my global experience and bring all my technical, leadership, and management expertise together in a more lucrative upper management role. Start a New Career For most starting a new career can be a bit scary. Fortunately for those of us with a great deal of longevity in the military the ability to step ahead in the interview line is greater than those who have not served in the US Armed Forces. Many employers realize veterans bring a lot of value to their table, such as; accelerated learning curve, leadership, teamwork, diversity and inclusion in action, efficient performance under pressure, respect for procedures, international and technical trends, integrity, conscious of health and safety standards, and triumph over adversity (Veterans Today, 2010). Veterans also bring life experiences which only the military can bestow, soft-skills that unite individuals of all incomes, race, and nationalities, changing their fellow coworkers into a model of integrity, discipline and creativity. However, these fine qualities and characteristics woven into every veteran is fine for entry level positions or perhaps middle management, but achieving a foot in the door for upper management will require an MBA. Besides my extensive background with the military, there...

Words: 1080 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Importance of Following Direction

...the United States Army, I took an oath to follow all lawful commands given to me. Recently, I failed to abide by that oath I took over 3 years ago in telling my NCO no when given an order. This is a violation of Article 91. (Insubordinate conduct toward a non-commissioned officer) This is not something that I am proud of, not something that I feel I would ever intentionally do. In my situation, I took offense to the order in which I was given and allowed my emotions to overrule my military bearing. Obedience allows the military to operate efficiently and effectively which is extremely important to accomplish the mission in both relaxed and challenging environments. Military orders provide soldiers with direction to allow them to better perform their duties and limit mistakes. Failure to follow orders is a Violation of Article 92 (failure to obey order or regulation) of the UCMJ. As a result of such violation you can be subject to several punishments, the most severe being separation from the military with a dishonorable discharge. Since my poor decision, I have had time to step back and reflect on why I did what I did. I know it is nothing to be proud of, but I am a firm believer that everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is that you can admit wrong and learn from your mistakes to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes again. The lesson that I learned was simple, it’s not always about who is right and who is wrong, but handling yourself with honor in all situations....

Words: 802 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

National Guard

... Jennifer Hutchinson Everyone seeks to improve their own way of life and strive to provide for their own future. Through the National Guard one can find those answers that they seek. These improvements either they be educational, trade skills, or just to improve one’s mind and body can be found here. These military intuitions, such as the Army National Guard, could give these things to many and bring out the best in those who wish to reach for those goals in life. Only through these personal sacrifices and sheer dedication can they achieve their own personal goals in life. The National Guard has provided that for all those who wish to explore and challenge themselves in that way. It is a wonderful opportunity for those who make this decision to show their true merit and leadership capabilities. The National Guard has provided this service for many generations and will continue to do so as long as people wish to do so. The benefits of today’s National Guard contribute to improving guardsmen’s everyday life and personal growth in today’s society. In early colonial times, a need for protection and security for the town and families was sought. The country was new and enemies were numerous. The National Guards roots date back to 1636 when colonial Militia, made up of ordinary citizen...

Words: 1592 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Sexual Harrasment in the Military

...Sexual Harassment In The Military Specialist Edward J. Nofe Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany January 5, 2015 Joni Ernst is a well-respected United State Senator from Iowa. She has served more than 20 years in uniform. She is the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate. She along with countless men and women in the military has been a victim of sexual harassment. The truth is nobody is immune from this problem certainly not when you still have reports ranging from inappropriate advances to sexual bribery. Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite genders. Harassment differentiates from assault in the sense that harassment can be directly associated with your work setting. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that erodes morale and negatively impacts unit cohesion. All individuals in the unit must be treated fairly and with mutual respect .The consequences of sexual harassment affects the individual in the workplace through stress, physical fitness, and reenlistment intentions. Sexual harassment affects the unit’s effectiveness, cohesion and goal realization. Sexual harassment is not limited to the workplace, but can also occur in the work related environment. That’s why the importance of maintaining a secure and sound command climate...

Words: 1472 - Pages: 6