Learn to Lead - Billy Mitchell Award

civil air patrol 1st Lt exam

A leader is a _.

Professional

What is professionalism?

1. The habit of putting the community's interests above their own.
2. Having special skills
3. Holding yourself and your peers to an ethical code.

Why must leaders be professionals?

Leaders must meet all three criteria in order to lead by example. They put the team's needs before their own, their knowledge, experience, and competence in their field set them apart from others, and they practice their professionalism in a way that respects their moral principles.

In an everyday sense of the word, what is professionalism?

Simply someone who is paid for their work.

What is a standard?

A standard is an established requirement, a principle by which something can be judged.

What is the most important standard?

The leader's example

Air Force non-commissioned officers epitomize what?

The Core Values

What is the challenge of transitioning from airman to NCO?

It involves transitioning from the one who was cared for to one who cares for others; from one who was taught to one who teaches.

What are the seven responsibilities of the non-commissioned officer?

1. Epitomize the Core Values
2. Guide, Instruct, Mentor
3. Support the Leader
4. Reward People
5. Correct People
6. Career Counsel
7. Keep Learning

What are the Air Force's three requirements for NCO readiness?

1. Technical Readiness
2. Physical Readiness
3. Mental Readiness

Give examples of how Air Force NCO readiness standards apply to CAP cadets.

1. Technical Readiness - First, NCOs must be technically ready to accomplish the mission. They have to ensure they have the technical know-how to lead others by looking at the standards and regulations.
2. Physical Readiness - Second, NCOs must be physically ready to accomplish the mission. Because of this requirement NCOs are traditionally the ones who lead their units in fitness training.
3. Mental Readiness - Third, if an NCO's mind is not totally focused on their professional duties, the mission will suffer. Cadet NCOs can show a commitment to mental readiness by promoting the wingman concept and reaching out for adult help when life seems to spinning out of control.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is when the leader sees himself or herself primarily as a servant of the team.

Leadership is not about controlling people, but .

serving them.

The servant-leader is _.

Servant first.

Servant leadership, then, is the new leader's vaccine ____.

Against becoming self-centered or a bully.

Example of servant leadership

Line staff will wait for the team to be fed first before eating.

Servant leadership is not about .

A personal quest for power, prestige, or material rewards.

How does servant leadership align with values in the military?

Pulling rank is often seen as a lazy, immature, and counterproductive way to lead in the military. Therefore, servant leadership, and the idea of caring which its built upon, is a natural fit for the Air Force. Air Force newspapers are filled with essays from commanders endorsing servant leadership.

What is coaching?

Coaching is the process through which leaders try to solve performance problems and develop their people. Coaching is a person-to-person experience, a relationship between an experienced person (the leader or coach) and an inexperienced person (the follower or coachee).

When does someone require coaching?

Anytime a leader identifies a need to help someone reach a higher level of effectiveness.

What are the elements of successful coaching?

1. Dialogue
2. Empowerment
3. Action
4. Improvement

How is dialogue an element of coaching?

Coaching is marked by dialogue, a two-way conversation between the coach and the trainee. The coach talks and listens to the coachee to try to understand what is blocking that person from succeeding.

How is empowerment an element of coaching?

One assumption about coaching is that people learn more when they figure things out for themselves. Empowerment occurs when the person who has all the answers resists the urge to jump in and "fix" someone's problem for them.

How is action an element of coaching?

The dialogue between coach and coachee must produce something. The coach's goal is to get the trainee to act, to try to do something differently and thereby solve the problem.

How is improvement an element of coaching?

Ultimately, the goal of coaching is to help the coachee reach a higher level of effectiveness. Coaching is successful if there is some sign of improvement or progress.

What are techniques of successful coaching?

1. Observation - Coaching begins with observation. The best way to gain an understanding of someone's strengths and weaknesses is through direct observation.
2. Purpose - Second, before beginning a dialogue with the coachee, the coach needs to be clear about the purpose of that discussion. Rather than shooting from the hip, the coach should enter the dialogue having a plan.
3. Dialogue - The dialogue is at the very center of coaching.
4. Follow-Up - Effective coaching includes follow-up that monitors how well the trainee is doing.

What are the tactics coaches can use to lead a good dialogue?

1. Mirroring - The coach uses words to paint a picture of the coachee's behavior. The idea here is to get the coachee to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, to see themselves as others see them.
2. Questioning - Asking open-ended questions is a sure way to have a meaningful conversation. Open-ended questions empower the trainee to find answers to their own questions.
3. Active Listening - Through active listening, the coach develops a deeper understanding of the trainee's attitude, frustration, and concerns.
4. Validating - Simply having someone acknowledge what you are going through can help.
5. Story Shifting - Through a "story shift," the coach asks the trainee to look at the problem in a different way or perspective.
6. Addressing Fears - Fear can stop a person from moving forward. A coach can help the trainee identify their fears and face them.
7. Finding The Bottom Line - Through the "bottom line" approach, a coach helps the coachee express the problem in one or two simple sentences. The idea here is that problem cannot be overcome until the trainee is able to define it precisely using everyday language.
8. Providing Direct Feedback - To be effective, feedback needs to be positive, constructive (serving a meaningful purpose), and specific (with some concrete examples).

What does "to supervise" mean?

To supervise means to observe and direct people in fulfillment of the mission.

Trust is a cornerstone of ____

Supervision.

What does fairness mean?

Fairness means following an impartial set of rules and applying them equally to everyone

But distinguishing between fair and unfair requires

Wisdom.

What does the concept of fairness ask leaders?

The concept of fairness asks leaders to treat things that are alike in the same way.

Why are trust and fairness cornerstones of supervision?

Trust - It would be impossible for a leader to unblinkingly supervise every team member all day long. You have to trust people to do the right thing.
Fairness - When team members believe they are being treated unfairly, they will be less willing to cooperate with their leaders.

What is a punishment?

A punishment is a negative consequence.

What is constructive discipline?

Constructive discipline is a learning process that provides an opportunity for positive growth.

What are the principles of constructive discipline?

Know that Ability Differs from Willingness - Before beginning to apply constructive discipline, the leader first needs to verify the facts. There are many reasons for people to fall short of a standard. Perhaps they are confused and need extra training.
Praise in Public, Correct in Private - This is one of the fundamental laws of leadership. A public dressing down is more apt to breed resentment than improvement. Sincere appreciation for a job well done is an easy, cheap, and amazingly effective form of motivation.
Choose the Right Time - Constructive discipline must take place when the problem behavior is still fresh in the follower's and leader's mind.
Control Emotions - When disciplining a subordinate, a leader stays calm. The leader never loses control.
Focus on Performance - To keep constructive criticism positive, leaders focus on performance. They criticize bad behavior and inanimate objects, not the offending individual.

What does punishment teach?

Punishment teaches someone only what behaviors to avoid. It does not teach someone what they actually should be doing.

What is motivation?

Motivation is the reason for an action. Motivation is that which gives purpose and direction to a behavior. In short, motivation is your "why." A person's why, their motivation, is their strong reason for desiring something. It's not the thing they desire, but the inspiration for it.

TRUE or FALSE: Talent and motivation are the same.

False; Talent is different from motivation. Someone may have enormous potential for success, but if they aren't motivated, they won't perform well.

Why must leaders understand what motivates their people?

Leaders who understand what motivates their people are apt to get them to fulfill the team's goals.

What is an intrinsic reward?

Intrinsic rewards are motivators at work within you. They drive you to something because of how they make you feel.

What is an extrinsic reward?

Extrinsic rewards are motivators at work within you. They drive you to act because you receive something tangible in return.

What is the key to motivation?

The key to motivation is to communicate a strong sense of shared purpose.

Why is the key to motivation having a shared purpose?

Leaders can motivate people by linking the team's mission with each individual's long-term goals, but the most effective leaders try to motivate by gaining agreement, by appealing to shared values, by appealing to the follower's sense of what is right and what needs to be done.

Why is leading volunteers harder than leading paid employees?

Compared with leaders of paid employees, volunteer leaders will find fewer extrinsic rewards in their toolkit. When money is not available as a motivator, a leader has to work harder in finding other ways to influence people.

Nowhere is the need to motivate by _ more apparent than in a volunteer organization like CAP.

Appealing to shared values

NCOs vs. Officers

NCOs:

1. Focus on the short-term needs of individual cadets and a small team
2. Ensure people comply with policies, rules, and standards
3. Train people to do their jobs
4. Fulfill the goals of the team, carry out activity plans, and develop a sense of teamwork

Officers:

1. Focus on the long-term needs of the whole team or teams of teams
2. Establish policies, rules, and standards
3. Assign people to the right jobs
4. Set goals for the team, plan activities, and organize a team of leaders
5. Carry the conditions necessary for the team to succeed

What are the three levels at which leadership is practiced?

Strategic, Operational, and Tactical

Why are the three levels of leadership skill?

Personal, People/Team, and Institutional

What is the leadership matrix?

The Air Force uses a matrix to illustrate that as the level of leadership changes, so do the skills required. For example, a sergeant who often works one-on-one with airmen needs outstanding people skills. However, a general who leads a massive organization still needs people skills, but sophisticated planning and organizational skills are even more important.

What is the strategic leadership arena/level?

The strategic arena is the highest level of leadership. Strategic leaders focus on the long term health of the institution. As such, strategic leaders are rarely involved in day-to-day operations. They try to imagine what challenges the organization will be facing in five or ten years.

What is the operational leadership arena/level?

The operational arena is the middle level of leadership. The challenges a leader faces here involve organizing and directing tactical-level leaders. They coordinate the minute details of the tactical teams performing the mission. They are middle managers who bridge the gap between the tactical and strategic.

What is the tactical leadership arena/level?

The tactical arena is the lowest level of leadership. The challenges a leader faces here are immediate, small in scale, and relate to everyday tasks. It is where "the rubber meets the road." Tactical leaders are first-line supervisors who help the people accomplish the mission.

What are personal-level leadership skills?

Personal-level leadership skills involve leading oneself and leading others, especially in a one-on-one or small team setting.

What are team-level leadership skills?

Team-level leadership skills involve leading large teams by directing other leaders.

What are institutional-level leadership skills?

The highest level of leadership skill involves leading an entire establishment (eg. not just a fighter squadron but the entire U.S. Air Force)

How can you support your boss?

Command Intent - Command intent is the leader's concise expression of purpose. When unforeseen problems arise on the job, an understanding of command intent guides the follower in solving the issue in a way the boss would find acceptable without the follower having to stop work, find their superior, and seek guidance.
Initiative - Initiative is the ability to make sound judgments and act independently. Those who show initiative do a job because they see it needs to be done. However, there is a fine line between taking initiative and doing one's own thing. For initiative to be helpful, it needs to be in agreement with the command intent.
Respectful Dissent - Dissent means to express an opinion that differs from the official view. But, how do people dissent in a respectful manner? First, they use the chain of command. Second, they argue calmly and objectively. They explain why their idea works best for the team. Third, they are tactful. Frank discussions with the boss belong behind closed doors. Finally, no matter what the boss' final decision may be, a loyal follower will be prepared to support that decision, so long as it is lawful and moral.
Completed Staff Work - One truism about leadership is that one should never complain about a problem without offering a solution. Subordinate leader/followers are obligated to provide the boss with "completed staff work." In short, this means the subordinate must thoroughly aspects of a problem before bringing it to the boss' attention. Ideally, the proposed solution should be crafted in such a way that the boss need only say, "I agree, do it."
Updates and Advice - One of the followers' duties is to keep their superior informed of any issues he or she would want to know about.

TRUE or FALSE: Dissent in a military-style organization is not allowed because it takes away from the principles of discipline and following orders.

FALSE; Dissent in a military-style organization may seem contract to the principles of discipline and following orders. But in first, the Core Value of Excellence requires it.

When it comes to offering a solution, followers must coordinate their proposal with the other __.

stakeholders - the people who have a direct or indirect interest in the issue.

Do what is right and _.

the boss will support you.

What is the check ride system?

It is a timeline that shows how cadet staff can enjoy some freedom as they plan projects on their own while still keeping their boss informed.

1. Assignment - Discussing goals
2. Preparation - Cadet prepares on own
3. Check Ride - Cadet presents ideas to boss
4. Execution - Cadet performs task
5. Feedback - Cadet and boss discuss room for improvement.

What are the seven needs of a team?

Common Goals - A team must be organized around a common goal. Without a goal or mission, there is no need for the team to exist.
Leadership - Every team needs leadership. Teams need people who can move the team towards its goals. Leadership can come from formal (official) leaders like squadron commanders, or informal (unofficial) leaders such as ordinary team members who have good ideas.
Involvement Of All Members - The main idea of teamwork is to harness each individual's strengths. Therefore, if even one member holds back their energy and talents, the team suffers.
Good Morale - Team leaders are concerned with morale: the level of confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time. The team has a better chance of succeeding when morale is high.
Open Communication - Team members need the ability to communicate with one another, with their leader, and with other teams. Ineffective communication among team members and ineffective use of meeting time are the two biggest complaints people have about team leadership.
Mutual Respect - Team members must show a commitment to mutual respect and all that it entails, When someone plays favorites, fails to honor their commitments, or fails to respect the dignity of each individual on the team, the team is less able to fulfill its goals.
Fair Way To Resolve Conflicts - In a team environment, conflicts are bound to arise. The challenge is to resolve them fairly and professionally. Effective teams find ways to resolve conflicts, either informally or formally.

What does TEAM stand for?

Together Everyone Achieves More

What are some common pitfalls that teams are susceptible to?

Teams Can Be Unwieldy - Reaching a consensus and coordinating plans with several people can be maddening.
Teams Pressure Individuals to Conform - Through conformity, the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, are influenced by other people, teams can be deprived of the creative thinking and individualism they need to succeed.
Free Riders - There's always a chance that there may be free riders, people who receive the fruits of the team's labor without doing their fair share of the work.
Groupthink - Groupthink occurs when team members seek unanimous agreement in spite of facts pointing to another conclusion. Put another way, groupthink is a herd mentality. Dumb bulls follow one another to the slaughter.
Lack of Accountability - If everyone on the team is in charge, no one is in charge. If everyone on the team shares responsibility, no one owns responsibility. Therefore, the leaders who charter teams need to communicate standards and make clear how team members will be held accountable for their performance.

What is the team's life cycle?

1. Forming - When a group first comes together, there is usually chaos.
2. Storming - As the team begins to take shape, individuals' personalities begin to show themselves. As these competing personalities clash and individual needs clash, team members come into conflict with one another. At this early stage, the team lacks the trust necessary to truly work in unison.
3. Norming - Now the team is coming into its own. They become more committed to the team's mission and one another.
4. Performing - At last the group has truly become a team. Performing is the stage at which the team is at its best.

Why does a leader have to be aware of the "forming, storming, norming, and performing" principle of team dynamics?

A leader has to be aware of the "forming, storming, norming, and performing" principle of team dynamics so they can provide the right support at the right time. A different style of leadership is needed based on the team's situation.

True or False: There are no signposts to help a new NCO lead a team.

False; Leadership researchers create models, easy to understand guidelines that boil complex theories down to something workable.

What is the L.E.A.D model?

Lead with a clear purpose - Set boundaries, explain what the goals are and why, help the team set its own goals, evaluate how well the team is reaching the goals
Empower to participate - Ask open-ended questions, listen actively, show understanding, summarize what the team is saying, seek different views and welcome dissent, record ideas
Aim for consensus - Use brainstorming, ask questions, listen actively, seek common interests, summarize, confront and debate ideas in a helpful way
Direct the team - Give clear directions, help the team work together, monitor the team's morale, keep the team focused, encourage people, reward people who go above and beyond

Why should leaders follow the L.E.A.D. model?

By following the LEAD model, the leader will meet all seven needs of a team.

A leader's critical thinking skills have a direct ____ on his/her ___.

influence; effectiveness

Why does a leader's critical thinking skills have a direct influence on his/her effectiveness?

As leaders become better at thinking critically, they imagine better ideas and solve problems more quickly.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. It is the habit of being guided by universal values of logic and a deep respect for the truth.

Developing the ability to think critically is a _ endeavor, a ___ process

lifelong; never-ending

Critical thinkers try to prevent and ____ from clouding their logic.

prejudices; emotions

What are the seven universal intellectual standards?

Clarity - The principle of clarity calls for critical thinkers to express their ideas such that people will know exactly what thoughts are racing through their brains.
Accuracy - The principle of accuracy demands that critical thinkers back up their claims and that other people be allowed to double-check those claims.
Precision - Precise statements mean what they say and say what they mean. Imprecise arguments can lead you way off target.
Relevance - The principal of relevance calls for all supporting claims to advance the overall argument.
Depth - Good critical thinking is marked by depth, the willingness to examine every imaginable complexity or factor bearing on an issue. Depth concerns how deeply a critical thinker is willing to dig into an issue.
Breath - Breath concerns how far across either side he or she is willing to look when considering an issue. For example, if a cadet is giving a minute-by-minute basis on summer encampment, but the overall question is "What's the Cadet Program about?" their argument will lack breath.
Logic - When one point supports the next and the conclusions flow naturally, an argument is logical.

What are the eight elements of a thought?

1) has a purpose 2) is attempt to figure something out 3) based on assumptions or beliefs you take for granted 4) has a point of view 5) based on data 6) expressed through and shaped by concepts and ideas 7) contains inferences in which we draw conclusions 8) leads somewhere and has consequences

What are the four modes of thinking?

1. Big picture thinking
2. Focused thinking
3. Realistic thinking
4. Shared thinking

What is big picture thinking?

Big picture thinking is the practice of stepping back from an issue or problem so as to take more of it in.

What are some benefits of big picture thinking?

Big-picture thinking helps leaders stay on target. By thinking of the big things while doing the small things, it makes all the small things in the right direction. Further, it promotes teamwork. When looking at the big picture, it's only natural that you will notice how the various members of a team support one another and help fulfill the mission. Finally, big-picture thinkers are able to synthesize or mesh together their learning. For example, big-picture thinkers can connect what they learn in history connects with what they study in English.

What is focused thinking?

Focused thinking is the practice of intensely studying an issue, trying to see it clearly, and not becoming distracted by other issues that are somewhat related to, but different from, the specific question at hand.

What is a benefit of focused thinking?

Researchers have found focused thinking is more efficient because it allows the brain to work better, while unfocused thinking can actually lower a person's IQ.

What is realistic thinking?

Realistic thinking is an approach where the leader tries to see the world for how it actually is, not how we might wish it to be.

TRUE or FALSE: Leaders who are dreamers gain credibility.

FALSE; Leaders who are realists gain credibility because they operate in the real world and are prepared for whatever curveballs come in their way.

What is shared thinking?

Shared thinking involves valuing thoughts and ideas of others while collaborating to resolve an issue.

What is the biggest obstacle in shared thinking?

The biggest obstacle in shared thinking is emotional insecurity

What are the benefits of shared thinking?

All of us working together are smarter than anyone of us working alone. Shared thinking is faster than other forms of critical thinking, too.

What is a logical fallacy?

A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning. When someone makes an argument based on bad reasoning, they are said to commit a fallacy.

What are the 10 most common logical fallacies?

1. Ad Hominem ("To the Man" in Latin)
2. Appeal to Authority
3. Post Hoc Fallacy
4. Appeal to Tradition
5. Red Herring
6. Weak Analogy
7. Straw Man Fallacy
8. Begging the Question / Circular Reasoning
9. False Dilemma
10. Slippery Slope

What is the Ad Hominem fallacy?

Instead of focusing on the logic of an opposing argument, an ad hominem attacks the other person.

What an example of the Ad Hominem fallacy?

"What can our new math teacher know? Have you seen how fat she is?"

What is the appeal to authority fallacy?

An appeal to authority tries to prove a claim by asserting that some smart person believes the claim to be true and therefore it must be true.

What an example of the appeal to authority fallacy?

"Cadet Curry says that the purpose of Cadet Program is to recruit for the Air Force and since he has the highest rank it must be true."

What is the Post Hoc fallacy?

The post hoc fallacy illustrates the difference between correlation (two things being related somehow) and causation (one event causing another event, like a chain reaction). Just because something happened and then something else happens, doesn't mean the first thing caused the second.

What an example of the Post Hoc fallacy?

Shortly after MySpace became popular, U.S. soldiers found Saddam Hussein.

What is the appeal to tradition fallacy?

This fallacy makes the assumption that older ideas are better, and the leader's job is to prevent change.

What is an example of the appeal to tradition fallacy?

"If we allow cadets to apply for encampment online, it save a lot of time."
REPLY: "No. We've always made cadets apply using paper forms."

What is the red herring fallacy?

A red herring is a distraction. And while a given line of thought may indeed be true, it is a red herring if it is not relevant to the issue at hand.

What is an example of a red herring?

A police officer pulls a car over for speeding. The driver complains, saying that they shouldn't pay a fine since there are so many dangerous criminals out there and the police should be chasing them instead. Although worse criminals do exist, this is a separate issue.

What is the weak analogy fallacy?

A fallacy that assumes that two similar things are exactly alike.

What is an example of weak analogy?

Encampment is CAP's equivalent of military bootcamp.