Leadership...the Vanishing

[LarryW]

This came to mind at the passing of Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and the selection of Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to the NCA. Both extraordinary leaders.

There are courses of instruction in the military and in industry that try to develop leadership skills, and thereby improve the process. Doesn't matter what that process might be (i.e., leading a military team or a civilian team to achieve a goal and do it consistently and reliably). IMHO QPs by and large are effective leaders, but was that because of natural selection or were those skills learned? I don't know the answer and maybe it depends on a wide variety of conditions, but if leaders are made how does a society make them?

Recently a small law enforcement agency in a rural area arrested a business owner following a report from a paid informant that drugs were being sold in his restaurant. The law enforcement agency managed to get Grand Jury indictments and a trial ensued. In the trial, however, it was discovered that the informant was passing bogus info to the agency because he was being paid for incriminating info. There was no corroborative evidence that proved the indictment. There was no conviction, but the business owner lost much of his business due to the publicity, exacerbated by the rural conservative community. In discussion with one of the law enforcement agency managers he said that the biggest problem in law enforcement today is in training and leadership.

ADM Grace Hopper noted accurately that, "You manage things, you lead people. We went overboard on management and forgot about leadership." She also said that soldiers in combat cannot be "managed" into success, rather they must be led. This isn't an observation unique to the Navy, or to the military. Leadership as a skill (and at least in our government) seems to be vanishing.

America was not "organized" into greatness during the last 8 years and it cannot be "negotiated" into greatness in the next several years. America must be led.

[Hand]

Pardon my ignorance, but how would a group of people who live in a bubble (Washington) lead a nation of middle class workers?

[LarryW]

Originally Posted by Hand

Pardon my ignorance, but how would a group of people who live in a bubble (Washington) lead a nation of middle class workers?

I know the feeling.

If they don't come to DC with leadership abilities in the first place they will never learn them from the status quo which is there. The point is to elect people who have leadership ability.

[Sohei]

Most of them aren't leaders to start with...managers at best...but not leaders!

[tonyz]

DC = many charismatic personalities enabled by an army of acolytes thirsting for power and a sniff of fame.

Leaders...in DC = extremely rare breed.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by tonyz

DC = many charismatic personalities enabled by an army of acolytes thirsting for power and a sniff of fame.

Leaders...in DC = extremely rare breed.

Yep. The former often excoriate the latter out of sheer inadequacy - it's a visceral defense reaction for them because they're uneasy being in the presence of someone who has done something for a reason bigger than themselves. Often why true leaders have such a rough time and may eventually just chuck it & head back to the ranch. No blame on that to be cast from this end.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Badger52

Yep. The former often excoriate the latter out of sheer inadequacy - it's a visceral defense reaction for them because they're uneasy being in the presence of someone who has done something for a reason bigger than themselves. Often why true leaders have such a rough time and may eventually just chuck it & head back to the ranch. No blame on that to be cast from this end.

Concur.

Among other things, leaders possess honor and integrity...most politicians do not...and political advancement and expedience does not demand it.

[Toaster]

The military is a crucible for leadership, and the more demanding units, Ranger Regiment, CAG, SF, Seals, Airborne units, place people in more stressful situations. There is a peer pressure to do well, and live up to high standards. People become like those that they are around.

When you have a bad command climate, it drags the unit and the individuals in that unit down. When you are surrounded by shitbirds, you either separate yourself from them, look for a way out, or you can become contaminated by them.

I do not believe that anyone can spend an extremely long period of time completely surrounded by temptation, practicing politics, making compromises on a consistent basis and ensure that they stay morally straight.

IMO a politician should be limited to 2 terms of congress, then 2 of senate and 2 as POTUS. Being a politician does not seem to be something that I would consider good to the soul.

The 51st Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (r) is an example of what has been elected. I'm certain that there are far more politicians that touch little kids, and use their vast influence to keep things quiet.