With so much training and education on leadership in the Military, why are leaders failing to demonstrate solid leadership?

2015-10-25T21:23:15-04:00

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-investigations-point-to-military-system-that-promotes-abusive-leaders/2014/01/28/3e1be1f0-8799-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html

Pentagon probes point to system tolerant of lousy leaders

Inspector-general investigations have focused on generals, admirals accused of brutal behavior.

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Oct 25 at 2015 9:24 PM

2015-10-25T21:24:08-04:00

Training and education is one thing...application quite another.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 25 at 2015 9:53 PM

2015-10-25T21:53:44-04:00

Because all the training is based mostly on theory with mixed results on real application. So what caused all the breakage? Humans. We are flawed. We can do some things well and many more poorly or not at all. So why I say theory? People look at those who are successful and observe what they are doing. Then they come up with a theory that if you do these 7 things (Covey) or whatever, you'll magically create a better world and people will put you on a pedestal. People mostly fail at it because it isn't in their nature.

So you have lots of seniors who have tinkered but never were full up round leaders who see there's a problem but have no idea how to deal with it. I was glad when I retired because the level of crappership was overtaking leadership so much, it was getting tougher to be effective when the system keeps adding drag.

So why the decline in leadership? There's less courage going around to do the right thing ALWAYS and take care of your people ALWAYS. We've also had great "leaders" who were tyrants that nobody had the chops to take down. You need a few of them in the right time and place. Patton, Rickover, to name a couple. They destroyed a number of people and careers due to their blast perimeter. Society is too focused on inclusiveness and everyone must be successful vs. cherry picking. Don't expect to see that kind of breed again any time soon.

I'll take one more shot that some members here won't like. I'm a systems guy and see there is limited resource stuff to bring good leaders along; and the peanut butter gets spread too thin. If anyone who has been to some serious leadership training and didn't wonder why say half or whatever there shouldn't have been there, then you haven't been a shrewd observer and possibly part of the half that should have not been there.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 10:08 PM

2015-10-25T22:08:21-04:00

The thing I see is that people in charge forget that there is a difference between Leadership Skills and Management skills. Just because you have one does not mean you have the other. If you are looking for leadership and place someone with management skills in that position it tends not to end well and vice versa.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 25 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-10-25T22:25:00-04:00

Generals and admirals constitute a good ole boy system.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 10:38 PM

2015-10-25T22:38:01-04:00

Sir, I have a few observations on this.

One: People get way too hurt, way too easily. We're in a tough no nonsense business. I don't care whether it's one weekend a month, or active duty. If you can't handle being yelled at or cussed out on occasion, I don't trust you to serve next to me. I don't know the exact reason for this, but I do believe that resilience and the ability to value oneself outside others opinions are skills that are sadly lacking in this generation. See the link.

Two: Toxic leaders, low quality leaders, whatever you want to call them have always been around. I just believe that with social media, cell phone cameras, etc. we're more aware of it. I remember when I was a kid my dad saying, "Never trust an officer." He had a couple bitter experiences to back that statement up with. Both my grandfathers have stories about the sad state of affairs in the early and mid 50s.

Three: Soldiers who are developed by toxic leaders will become toxic leaders, unless they consciously develop themselves otherwise. Sometimes you learn what to do, sometimes you learn what not to do. We can have all the talk and training in the world about leadership, but unless a soldier or leader changes who they are, how they think, and how they act, they can adjust how much profanity they use, and it won't change a thing. They can change the way they talk to their subordinates, but the problem isn't that, it's who they've developed into over the course of their career.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/15/coddled-kids-crumble-colleges-see-big-lack-resilience-among-students/?intcmp=obinsite

Coddled Kids Crumble: Colleges see big lack of resilience among students

The results of over a decade of nonstop hand-holding and helicopter parenting are boomeranging back to parents and educators.

Response by SSG Jesus Sijalbo made Oct 26 at 2015 3:34 AM

2015-10-26T03:34:42-04:00

We teach leadership in the service because we humans are not born leaders their are thought and made, some are just natural and born to lead! Some are just wannabe or pretend to be one. May I have a, "Hell Yes".

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 6:29 AM

2015-10-26T06:29:21-04:00

The human aspect! Some people get power and have no clue how to handle it while others are great leaders naturally.