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Leadership Skills to Manage Diversity in the Military

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Essay 5: How Do Leaders Manage Diversity In The Military?
Introduction
Given the proliferation of missions that often have multiple objectives aligned to counterterrorism, humanitarian aid, and national defense, the alacrity at which the armed forces are expected to integrate and quickly deliver results in a foreign nation is increasing. The cross-cultural competency (3C) model is designed as a foundation for streamlining the cultural assimilation process, providing leaders and subordinates with a more efficient approach to quickly understanding and become effective in a culture different than one's own (Abbe, Gulick, Herman, 2007). As the alacrity and intensity of cultural assimilation is increasing across all branches of the military, combined with greater levels of mission complexity and required collaboration of foreign governments and agencies, developing a effective 3C model is essential for mission success. The intent of this analysis is to provide insights into how leaders can manage diversity more effectively in the military, especially those called upon to serve in cultures significantly different than one's own. Training in cross-cultural competency often includes references to the Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimensions and the specific attributes of collectivism versus individuality, two potentially polarizing aspects of military leadership in foreign regions (Goodman, 2012). The Hofstede Model of Cultural Dimensions is complimentary ot the 3C Model in that is
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