Summary: Individualized Consideration

1. Influential Soldiers that embody The Soldier’s Creed, Warrior Ethos, and their experiences are more apt to achieving organizational and operational excellence. Soldiers, leaders, and teams must seek individual and organizational improvement throughout their daily lives. Based on my experiences, I believe the elements listed below create and sustain a solid foundation that Soldiers, leaders, and teams should strive to incorporate.

I am Joseph Maruska, I am currently a Major in the United States Air Force. This essay will introduce you to my personal command philosophy. It will also summarize and analyze a brief interview recently conducted with a current squadron commander using my own leadership philosophy as a guide. Throughout this essay I will draw upon my own personal experiences and thoughts, lessons discussed throughout the Leadership and Command Course, as well the discussion with a current squadron commander. Leadership and command styles come in many different forms and there is not necessarily a correct or incorrect way to lead depending on your organization or current turn of events. This essay is simply my thoughts after being in the Air Force for the last eleven years.

After analyzing the case study: “Effective leadership in unexpected places: A socio-historical analysis of Red Tops dance orchestra”, It is my belief that Walter Osborne’s team leadership of “effective communication” and “specifying team mission and organization” as the most important and meaningful leadership traits to me as a military leader. These leadership traits are essential for enhancing the trust relationships between a leader and his subordinates as well as subordinates to leaders. These leadership traits are embedded in the Army’s definition of leadership “the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization” as stated in ADP 6-22.

There are several leaders that I have admired in my career over the years. One in particular that stood out was a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force who I served under. He was a very intelligent and vibrant leader who placed importance in military customs and core values. He was one whom I emulated in the military because of his task –motivated leadership style. He focused on the goals of the organization with the emphasis on service before self. The implications of his style of leadership lead me to believe that there was little to no relationships formed with lower ranking airmen. He was always able to get the job done because of the driven culture he represented. I learned a wealth of knowledge and information from this particular leader; I was able to create a balance by embracing his style of leadership and relating it with my style, transformational leadership. I believe it was successful, because of my efforts to focus in on the mission and create a balance in inspiring, influencing, and motivating Airmen across the globe.

Leadership can be viewed in many different ways and possess many different qualities. There are courageous leaders, respectful leaders, terrible leaders, and seemingly insignificant leaders but leaders nonetheless. But what is it that differentiates between a strong leader and a weak leader, or a powerful leader and an insignificant one? Is it the qualities in the leader or the decisions they make in key situations that define good leadership qualities? Some would define a good leader by their ability to do the right thing even if it is not the easiest choice. Others might define a good leader as one that possesses great integrity and leads by example. The military possesses many great leaders through a process of development and molding individuals to meet expected leadership qualities like honor, courage, commitment and integrity to accomplish any mission or goal. However, this process doesn’t always create the desired effect. So, let’s examine some good and bad examples of leadership qualities and break down what and how we can emulate them.

Leadership goals should always contain methods of a continuous process of learning through education, training, and individual experiences that help ensure that the message will be communicated in a confident and competent manner when leading troops. Soldiers tend to follow leaders that demonstrate and live the Army values, while displaying their confidence in every decision that affects change. Leaders are not born as organizational or tactical leaders; but grown by their genetic determinism, which is inside and the characteristics they work toward; that mold is which type leader they will become. Not just anyone can lead; you must have the desire to lead, be willing to make the commitment to being a leader, and prepare yourself properly, then you have the desire to become a leader. (Fulton, 1995).

General Powell displays transformation leadership through individualized consideration. “IC involves dealing with others as individuals and considering their needs, abilities, and aspirations as you work together to further their development.” General Powell’s Army background influences the idea of taking raw iron and fashioning it into a sword; as noted in his quote “leaders are made, not born” implies leadership is a shaping process. Transformational leaders who display individual consideration tend to coach and mentor, excel in two-way communications, listens effectively, and personalize interactions with subordinates. Part of General Powell’s principle of empowerment is an investment in the leadership potential of team members. This investment is necessary in sustaining productive organizations.

Leadership, according to the Army doctrine, represents individuals’ ability to influence people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization (“Leadership” FM 6-22). However, the varying characteristics of individuals that the Army attracts may instill this doctrine in many different ways, leading to different representations of leadership. Some individuals choose to lead their subordinate in a stern matter, only displaying matured emotions and a “tough-loving” attitude to guide them in the right direction. Others

Leadership development in the military is critical to its mission and objectives. Understanding and embracing leadership will foster an agile culture and facilitate attainment of strategic goals. People desire quality leadership to assist with achieving their goals, albeit personal or professional development. Having a clear vision and the motivation to perform at high-levels influences others to work synergistically together to achieve organizational goals. Insomuch, employees value being treated respectfully, fairly, and ethically. Leaders serve people best when they help them develop their own initiative and good judgment, enable them to grow, and help them become better contributors.

My leadership philosophy revolves entirely around the Army Values. In every action I take as a leader, I assess whether or not it lines up with the Army Values and the potential impacts. I have had a variety of leadership assignments during my career, all requiring a different leadership approach, spanning from team leader through platoon sergeant. My conflict resolution skills have greatly evolved through my twelve years in the Army, from rudimentary conversations to in depth problem solving. My professional development has had a profound effect on my leadership abilities, from NCOPD’s to mentorship from senior non-commissioned officers (NCO’s).

The Steps to Change and Growth from James Hunter bring several valuable points on preparing future leaders for a career or role where changes are constant, difficult and continuous throughout the process on becoming a leader. Embracing changes and focusing on new roles out of the comfort zone will urge the concept of developing leadership skill necessary to adjust, lead, change the way of thinking and develop new ideas that can potentially turn into greatness for future projects. Using James Hunter’s principles, I can develop the insight structure where I can feel hopes and belief on changes that may arise from a difficult situation. For instance, since I serve in the US military, having other mentors and leader stress the need to conduct constant training to my troops and embrace unique tactics and changes to tomorrow’s battlefields is something that I must trust get behind the overall concept of operations. I have been to many military conferences and training scenarios and one of my main goals is to leave the training feeling that I have learned something that can be use positively in my life and my profession.

As an officer in the United States Army, it has been imperative for me to understand every facet of leadership and why it remains important to be an effective leader. During this course, I have learned some valuable lessons about myself as a leader and how I can improve on my leadership ability in the future. The journal entries along with the understanding of available leadership theories have been an integral part of my learning during this course. For all of the journals and assessments that I completed, I feel it has given me a good understanding of my current leadership status and my future potential as a leader. All of the specific assessments looked at several areas in regards to leadership; these assessments covered several

Richard J. Shavelson and Lisa Towne provided a framework to address any question that poses research. For a DEL student, I found these principles as a solid guideline or in the military, standing operating procedure to follow. As I embarked on a journey of research in leadership theory, these principles are a standard in which I will start (Shavelson and Towne, 2002, p. 52).

Module 3 involves self-improvement through feedback. This module covered several techniques to improve an individual’s leadership ability. It is important in today’s Air Force that we not only accomplish the mission, but that we do so as effectively and efficiently as possible. As Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), it is vital to the mission that we effectively manage teams and that we are able to identity and rectify issues that distract from our mission. After reviewing the information in module 3, I found A-I Theory’s Basic Principles, specifically, Problem A and Problem B to be the most important. This dynamic involves problem A, the actual problem two or more people must solve, and problem B, the problems stemming from those people coming together to solve the problem (Course 15).

2. To be an effective leader, leaders must exhibit expertise, build trust with their subordinates and continually develop those subordinates. These three leadership traits create a positive work environment, which ensures soldiers “buy-in” to the leader’s vision. Thus, allowing the organization to be effectively and efficiently controlled . The subsequent paragraphs will clarify the importance of each leadership trait.