learn to lead 9

How did the officer's professional expectations rise with the birth of the modern military?

Prior to the 1800's, Officers behaved like aristocrats. In brief, the military profession was simply nonexistent. Now, officership functions off the concept of a meritocracy. The smartest, most creative, most expert, most accomplished individuals rise to the top and earn the most prestigious and rewarding positions.

Defend the requirement for officers to swear an oath of office

The oath's key principle is the officer's promise to support the constitution against all enemies.

The cadet officer's task is to

Try to emulate the hallmarks of officership. Though not legally bound, cadet officers can still think of themselves as pursuing a vocation of leadership and service.

Circa 2009, what are the methods of commission, and what percentage of officers come from each?

-Officer Training School:29%
-ROTC Scholarship:18%
-Service Academy:17%
-ROTC Non-Scholarship:12%
-Direct Appointment:17%
Other/Unknown:7%

Describe the four forms of indirect leadership

1.Leadership from a distance
2.Leadership through a link
3.Leadership through creation
4.Upward influence

Leadership from a distance

Leaders who are concerned with the development and performance of individuals who do not directly report to them are said to be indirect leaders who lead from a distance

Leadership through a link

Leaders who work through subordinate leaders are indirect leaders

Leadership through creation

Artists, philosophers, inventors, poets, and the like lead indirectly

Upward influence

The best leaders are so expert they are able to influence even their boss. Think of upward influence simply as direct leadership in reverse - the subordinate leads the superior, instead of vice versa. Thus, leadership can be "top-down and direct, and bottom-up and indirect."

What does the term "link" mean in the context of indirect leadership?

E.g. Flight commanders and element leaders are the "links" who relay messages to the lower levels.

Why can upward influence be a positive form of indirect leadership?

Upward influence will be seen only in organizations where bosses truly show they are willing to listen to subordinates, and when those subordinates are truly made to feel that their input is valued.

Why are organizations and leaders expected to honor a public trust?

Because power requires consent. The entire American civilization is built upon the belief that just powers come from the consent of the governed. Leaders who find themselves in powerful positions have an obligation to the public at large.

Some sample issues relating to corporate social responsibility are

-Corruption
-Stewardship
-Philanthropy
-Sustainability
-Human rights
-Transparency

Corruption

Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain

Stewardship

All members of an organization, especially its officers or leaders, are expected to be good stewards of the organization's resources. Stewardship involves the careful management of what is not yours.

Philanthropy

Today, corporations go to great lengths to share their profits with worthy charities

Sustainability

Sustainability or green business is a key issue in CSR. Sustainability means the organization acknowledges the limits of nature and tries to take a long-term systems view as to how it impacts the environment

Human Rights

the basic rights to which all people are entitled as human beings can't violate in business otherwise there is outcry (ex: Kathie Lee Gifford's clothing company used child labor in Honduras)

Transparency

Transparency is the principle that those affected by a business or organization should be allowed to know about its operations and practices

What is a professional organization

A group that seeks to further a certain profession, help members succeed in that profession, and uphold the public trust.

Why do professionals often join professional associations?

In their efforts to honor public trust, professionals join professional associations.

Why do most professional associations adopt a code of ethics?

Because it is a way for them to advance their profession and earn the public's trust for their community of professionals.

Define the term "dissent"

Dissent is the expression of opinions contrary to the official view, and a means for a leader to call attention to obligations that are higher than the duty to follow orders.

Why is dissent a necessary feature of leadership?

Because organizations need to learn quickly, and leaders who welcome dissenting views allow useful, if unpopular, ideas to be heard.

Why is dissent important to the team's success?

Because of the paradox of false consensus (Abilene paradox), it's clear that teams sometimes pretend to be cohesive when in reality team members harbor alternative views. People who have serious concerns about a plan of action avoid stating those dissenting views, preferring to go along with the watered-down compromises.

Defend the claim that dissent should be valued within the military

Although the military relies upon its chain of command and the duty to follow orders, the Air Force was itself born through the dissent of a single officer. Billy Mitchell.

Principles for dissenting with respect

-Use the chain of command
-Stay professional
-Recommend solutions
-Pick your battles
-Don't criticize an idea unless you can summarize it in a way that someone opposing you would admit your summary was fair.

Principles for encouraging and receiving dissenting views from subordinates

-Be mindful if you outrank someone
-How you handle dissent now effects the future
-Be mindful of your defensive behaviors
-Assume good faith
-Thank people for speaking up
-Give credit to those who come up with ideas

Why should leaders be skilled at moral reasoning?

Because officers play a special role in resolving problems that have ethical dimensions, they need to develop their capabilities in moral reasoning.

Define moral relativism

Moral relativism denies that there are certain kinds of universal truths. In ethics, this means there are no universally valid moral principles.

Define moral objectivism

Objectivism is the belief that despite cultures disagreeing about ethics across human history, some moral principles have universal validity. There is truth independent of human opinion that makes something morally right or wrong.

Define virtue ethics

All things are to be understood in terms of the ends toward which they aim. An acorn becomes a tree. A girl a woman. A cadet a leader.
gained through right desire, true reason, balance, and habits of character

Define duty ethics

A system of ethics that revolves around the concept of duty. Positive duties and negative duties Act only on the maxim as if what you did was universal law.
founded by Immanuel Kant

Define utilitarianism

"Ethics is a matter of producing the greatest amount of happiness." You measure goodness by its utility. An act is morally right if it produces utility, if it produces pleasure.

Summarize the "just war theory" according to Aquinas

War is moral only:
-if it is waged as a last resort
-it is waged by a legitimate authority.
-it pursues a just cause
-it is fought with right intentions
-it can be fought with a reasonable chance of success
-What separates heroism from madness is the fact that the hero believes victory is possible, the madman knows it is not.
-its goal is to re-establish peace
-the pain inflicted is proportional to the injuries suffered
-every effort is made to spare the lives of innocent non-combatants

What is the mark of an ethical leader?

A willingness to take moral challenges seriously, to think deeply about a personal code of ethics, and to apply that code consistently.

Define character education

Character education is any program designed to shape directly and systematically the behavior of young people. Further, character education must promote non-relativistic values that lead to good habits and responsible citizenship.

Define behaviorism

A belief in systematically employing rewards and punishments to control behavior.

Some examples of behaviorism include

Students who follow rules and aren't referred to the principle might earn the privilege of watching movies on Friday. Merit and demerit systems used at some CAP encampments are another example, at least when they try to affect individual character.

Some weaknesses of behaviorism are

-It's easy to give out demerits
-Real life is not a reward system
-Punishment does not develop individual character

Summarize the concept of developmentalism as it relates to character education

In contrast to the behaviorists, the developmentalists are concerned with how individuals systematically mature in their approach to moral and character issues over the life span. It's and appreciation for the growing capacity of independent thought.

What are the six stages in Kohlberg's theory of moral development

1.Obedience and punishment
2.Individualism
3.Inter-personal relations
4.The social order
5.Social contract
6.Universal principle

Obedience and Punishment

"How can I avoid punishment?" A toddler will sit still only to avoid being punished. He or she makes no appeal to "fairness."

Individualism

"What's in it for me? What do I get for following the rules?"

Interpersonal Relations

"I want to be liked and I'm learning that means I have to treat others as I want to be treated."

The Social Order

Reasoning from a law-and-order perspective right and wrong is a matter of rules and laws and other externals

Social Contract

Concern for individual "rights," majority rule, and democratic principles that are higher than mere written law. Individuals at this stage are willing to set aside the law, if they believe it to be unjust. They ask, "What makes a good society?"

Universal Principles

Living in accordance with conscience, regardless of external pressures working from timeless principles of moral choice.

Explain how leaders might apply Kohlberg's teaching as they mold the character of subordinates

No lectures, no sermons, no manipulations, no contrived merits or demerits. Instead, leaders try to assist their followers or students in reaching the next stage of their moral development. By helping them engage in "mental gymnastics."

Describe some criticisms of Kohlberg's theory and developmentalism in general

Kohlberg's scare has to do with moral thinking, not moral action. People who can talk at a high moral level may not act accordingly.

One noted author and retired AF general said about developmentalism

Ethical decisions become ever more complex as individuals grow in power, prestige, and rank. Good moral values will sometimes be in conflict. You must apply ethics with wisdom and maturity. This may be the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity for the enlightened leader.

Some practical ways to apply Kohlberg's theory of moral development are

-Challenge your followers' assumptions
-Ask your follower to explain situations from another person's perspective
-Make your follower predict likely outcomes
-Have your follower identify the rights, virtues, and goods at stake
-Have you follower identify vices, temptations, treachery that might come into play
-Modify a situation by asking your follower "what if"
-Ask your follower to identify the weakest link in their own argument
-Examine precedents has a similar issue come up before and how was it handled
-Go beyond rules or the laws. Will those rules and laws, even if enforced perfectly, reflect our ideals of fairness

Define the term conflict in the context of interpersonal conflict

Conflict is a disagreement through which individuals perceive a threat to their needs, interests, or concerns.

Why must leaders possess good conflict resolution skills?

Leaders are expected not only to be proficient in managing the conflicts that arise in their lives, but in helping others manage conflict as well. If you wish to lead, you will need to acquire special expertise in resolving conflict.

Name five types of conflict

-Parallel conflict
-Displaced conflict
-Misattributed conflict
-Latent conflict
-False conflict

Parallel conflict

has an objective basis. That is, the matter upon which the parties disagree is a real thing. Moreover, the two (or more) disagreeing parties accurately perceive what is in conflict. This shared understanding of the conflict is why it is called "parallel."

Displaced Conflict

also has an objective basis. (Again, the conflict is "real" and "verifiable.") In these situations, there is the true, underlying conflict, but attention is paid to the manifest or apparent conflict. More simply, in a displaced conflict, people argue about the wrong thing.

Misattributed Conflict

happens when the conflict is inaccurately perceived such that it is attributed to the wrong person. Perhaps one of the parties is simply confused about what's at issue, or perhaps someone is manipulating events behind-the-scenes to deliberately cloud their judgment

Latent Conflict

is that which should be occurring, but is not. Do you like dealing with conflict? Lots of people don't. In fact, many of us avoid conflict if at all possible. Latent conflicts may go away on their own, continue for years, or eventually explode

False Conflict

is the tragic case of disagreements that have no basis in reality

Why should leaders be adaptable when resolving conflict?

Because there is no single type of conflict, there is no single approach or solution to conflict. The successful leader must be adaptable and carry a mixed bag of tools for resolving conflict.

What are the five phases of interpersonal conflict?

1.Distal(background) context
2.Proximal(immediate context
3.Conflict interaction
4.Proximal outcomes
5.Distal outcomes

Distal (Background) Context

There's always a context to a conflict, a setting or a history that shapes the conflict from the beginning. The people involved in the conflict carry these circumstances into the conflict event.

Leaders need to be aware that a distal context can be shaping an interpersonal conflict. They should be mindful of how past events and memories of conflicts from of old can shape the conflicts of today

Proximal (Immediate) Context

If you have a long history with someone — a sibling or best friend, for example — your relationship will have a rich distal context. But your proximal or immediate context is more pressing on the conflict you're faced with today. Proximal context refers to the immediate circumstances affecting the conflict

Proximal conflict also includes the cause-and-effect of the conflict, the communicator's sense of what is causing the problem and what effect it is having on people.

Conflict Interaction

The conflict interaction is the focal process of the conflict, the moment when the two or more communicators butt heads. While distal and proximal context are often only partially visible, the conflict interaction is the conflict's most visible feature. During these moments of give-and-take, the communicators deploy their message tactics and strategies to "win" the conflict

Proximal Outcomes

Immediately following the conflict, we see the proximal outcomes, the immediate outcomes. During this phase, the communicators take stock in what just happened. They sort through their thoughts and feelings

Distal Outcomes

A single conflict episode may have a lasting effect. The conflict's effects might slowly emerge as time goes by and the thoughts, feelings, and practical results of the conflict settle down. These distal outcomes concern the long-term maintenance or deterioration of the various individuals' relationships.

Define negotiation

Negotiation is a deliberate process for two or more people or groups to solve a difference or problem.

What is the leader/negotiator's role in dealing with conflict

The job of the negotiator is to build credibility with the "other side," find some common ground or shared interests, learn the opposing position, and share information that will persuade the "other side" to agree to an outcome.

Define the term BATNA

Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. Simply stated, BATNA is what you would do if negotiation would fail.

What is the importance of BATNA?

Your BATNA can often be used to motivate the opposite party to stay in a negotiation. You can often convince the opposition to engage further in the negotiation when you reveal that you'd hate to go back to the boss and admit failure-and ask the opposition how his boss would react upon hearing the same news

What are the five basic negotiation strategies?

1.Evade strategy
2.Comply strategy
3.Insist strategy
4.Settle strategy
5.Cooperative negotiating strategy (CNS)

Evade Strategy

The Evade strategy is a passive, unassertive strategy where you don't have any motivation to work your expectations or meet their expectations. When might you "evade" or "kick the can down the road"?

Perhaps if the issue at hand is totally unimportant to you, you have higher priorities, or you lack the energy and drive to tackle the problem.

"No now, can you come back later?"

Comply Strategy

The Comply strategy tends to delegate the responsibility for the conflict's resolution with the other person or party. This (along with the "Evade" strategy) is a passive approach to negotiations

This strategy is preferred when preserving the relationship between you and the other party is the paramount concern, even if it is at the "expense of the task."

"Yes, absolutely, let's do it your way!"

Insist Strategy

The Insist strategy is useful when you believe that obtaining your objective is paramount, regardless of the cost to the opposition's interests or the relationship.

The Insist strategy is usually associated with a position and declared with a demand that leaves little room for movement and/or compromise.

"Take it or leave it"

Settle Strategy

The Settle strategy may be useful when you seek resolution to a situation, but see little chance for you to really get it "your way" (e.g., the Insist Strategy), or you don't want to "give in" (e.g., the Comply Strategy) to the opposition

By using the Settle strategy, you may minimally satisfy both side's task interests through the process of splitting whatever difference is separating you from the opposition, usually in the form of splitting the difference "somewhere down the middle."

"Let's split the difference and call it a day!"

Cooperative Negotiating Strategy

CNS is the Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence's enhanced version of the business world concept known as Interest-Based Negotiations.

CNS depends on each party's desire to achieve both a mutually satisfactory outcome while simultaneously managing the relationship

"Let's work together and make it even better!"

Why are negotiation skills important to leaders and cadet officers?

Negotiation is an aspect of leadership. Cadet officers will find the need to negotiate as they cooperate with senior members in leading their units, try to resolve disputes among cadets, obtain favorable pay and time-off conditions with summer employers, work with college officials on financial aid packages, and more.

In business life, you don't _

get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate.

Identify six practical steps for speaking up against everyday bigotry

1.Be ready
2.Identify the behavior
3.Appeal to principles
4.Set limits
5.Find an ally/be an ally
6.Be vigilant

Why is it important to speak up against bigotry?

If you don't speak up, you're surrendering part of yourself. You're letting bigotry win.