Posted on Dec 18, 2014
Suicide and Toxic Leadership: The Elephant in the Room
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What are your experiences regarding toxic leadership? For me it lead me to a miserable state of depression; I felt powerless and found myself saying, "no wonder the suicide rate is so high...".
Dave Matsuda, an anthropologist studying suicides among troops in the U.S. Army at the Army’s request, is pointing at “toxic leaders” as part of the problem.
Matsuda was hired in 2010 by then-Brig. Gen. Peter C. Bayer Jr. (now a major general) to try to help U.S. commanders understand what was going on below the surface in Iraq.
Bayer was supervising the Army’s draw-down in Iraq at the time. He wanted Matsuda’s help figuring out why almost 30 soldiers in Iraq had committed suicide or attempted suicide the previous year.
After studying the cases of eight of the dead soldiers, Matsuda found that while they did have complicated personal lives — generally given as the reason they had committed suicide — there also was fault to be found among the military commanders who had led them.
In each of the cases, he discovered a leader, or leaders, who had contributed to creating a “toxic” environment for the soldiers.
http://icombatstress.com/2014/01/25/army-suicides-point-to-toxic-leaders-as-a-factor/
Dave Matsuda, an anthropologist studying suicides among troops in the U.S. Army at the Army’s request, is pointing at “toxic leaders” as part of the problem.
Matsuda was hired in 2010 by then-Brig. Gen. Peter C. Bayer Jr. (now a major general) to try to help U.S. commanders understand what was going on below the surface in Iraq.
Bayer was supervising the Army’s draw-down in Iraq at the time. He wanted Matsuda’s help figuring out why almost 30 soldiers in Iraq had committed suicide or attempted suicide the previous year.
After studying the cases of eight of the dead soldiers, Matsuda found that while they did have complicated personal lives — generally given as the reason they had committed suicide — there also was fault to be found among the military commanders who had led them.
In each of the cases, he discovered a leader, or leaders, who had contributed to creating a “toxic” environment for the soldiers.
http://icombatstress.com/2014/01/25/army-suicides-point-to-toxic-leaders-as-a-factor/
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They are everywhere, and the Army is doing the wrong thing to weed them out. Our good leaders are leaving the Armed Forces because they are capable of having successful civilian careers, and are unwilling to put up with its toxic environment at the sake of their sanity. It's an epidemic, and I do not foresee our senior leaders taking enough action to ever make it not a problem. I have no doubt that these soldiers commanders, supervisors, leaders are at some degree of fault. I see things happen all the time and I tell people all the time "and they wonder why suicide rates are so high!" My list grows constantly with why our suicide rates are so high, so it confuses me to no end why leaders don't know. The best advice I can offer is to influence change at whatever level you are capable of. Maybe if enough of us try it will make a difference.
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First, one must understand the difference between a stern no nonsense leader and a bad leader. A no nonsense leader holds you to high standards but not unreasonable ones. If they have any good qualities they will acknowledge what you did right and then give constructive feedback on what needs to be improved in a clear concise manner. Then they should give you the chance to improve on meeting their expectations by acknowledging improvements. A bad leader is one who never tells you what you do right and only berates you on what you do wrong or you do not meet their requirements exactly how they want it. A real bad leader gives you a task with a very vague way to do it, and then rip you apart as you should have read their mind. You can be stern but still show a concern for your people and be approachable at the same time. Many do not know how to do this well.
I have been on business end of a real bad leader once. No one in the ranks is immune to it. I worked a staff assignment for a commander that no matter what the hell we did or much effort we put into the tasks they were never to his liking. Instead of any constructive criticism he would berate people even in public. He did know how to compliment our good work to his superiors. But he managed to do it in such a fashion that he was really tooting his own horn on how great his mentor ship was guiding the junior officers. Then of course as soon as as his superiors were gone he would criticize us for what he praised us earlier on. Luckily I was on a night shift and only had to deal with him for a few hours a day. He made the job stressful in a psuedo-combat environment versus the IDF attacks. In fact we actually welcomed the IDF alarms to the base because we knew he would be under his desk taking cover. That was less time we would have to deal with him before stepping to a flight.
It was bad. I was at a boiling point to where it was compromising flight safety as I was getting really irritable and was exhausted because I was letting him get to me. I dreaded everyday being around that guy. The best time I had was when he finally rotated out of there and things became a lot calmer. I can see how if someone is dealing with an internal issue and were induced that additional stress how they may reach a limit and feel their only way out is to walk off the planet.
I have been on business end of a real bad leader once. No one in the ranks is immune to it. I worked a staff assignment for a commander that no matter what the hell we did or much effort we put into the tasks they were never to his liking. Instead of any constructive criticism he would berate people even in public. He did know how to compliment our good work to his superiors. But he managed to do it in such a fashion that he was really tooting his own horn on how great his mentor ship was guiding the junior officers. Then of course as soon as as his superiors were gone he would criticize us for what he praised us earlier on. Luckily I was on a night shift and only had to deal with him for a few hours a day. He made the job stressful in a psuedo-combat environment versus the IDF attacks. In fact we actually welcomed the IDF alarms to the base because we knew he would be under his desk taking cover. That was less time we would have to deal with him before stepping to a flight.
It was bad. I was at a boiling point to where it was compromising flight safety as I was getting really irritable and was exhausted because I was letting him get to me. I dreaded everyday being around that guy. The best time I had was when he finally rotated out of there and things became a lot calmer. I can see how if someone is dealing with an internal issue and were induced that additional stress how they may reach a limit and feel their only way out is to walk off the planet.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you, Lt Col (Join to see) for sharing your experience with us.
As you mentioned, no a nonsense leader holds higher standards but if I may add: they live by those standards and lead by example. Successful leaders will ultimately enable, empower, and instill confidence in their subordinates. They make you feel powerful.
The term "toxic leader" could not have been more descriptive. The toxic leader not only makes you feel powerless day in and day out, but worse of all seeks to do so at every turn. The sad thing about it is as I was told (and your experience confirms it), "you just gonna have to wait it out; they'll leave soon enough" or "request a transfer". I noticed a looming cloud of depression on the countenance of those dealing with toxic leaders. What's even more sad is when bad leadership contribute to the epidemic.
Leadership is everybody's business and we must not lead someone to commit suicide and pretend it did not happen that way. That's why I dubbed toxic leadership in this framework as the "elephant in the room". Not much is being done to address it but an overflow of statistics, numbers, and mandatory trainings.
As you mentioned, no a nonsense leader holds higher standards but if I may add: they live by those standards and lead by example. Successful leaders will ultimately enable, empower, and instill confidence in their subordinates. They make you feel powerful.
The term "toxic leader" could not have been more descriptive. The toxic leader not only makes you feel powerless day in and day out, but worse of all seeks to do so at every turn. The sad thing about it is as I was told (and your experience confirms it), "you just gonna have to wait it out; they'll leave soon enough" or "request a transfer". I noticed a looming cloud of depression on the countenance of those dealing with toxic leaders. What's even more sad is when bad leadership contribute to the epidemic.
Leadership is everybody's business and we must not lead someone to commit suicide and pretend it did not happen that way. That's why I dubbed toxic leadership in this framework as the "elephant in the room". Not much is being done to address it but an overflow of statistics, numbers, and mandatory trainings.
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“Destructive leaders are focused on visible short-term mission accomplishment,” the students’ report said. “They provide superiors with impressive, articulate presentations and enthusiastic responses to missions. But, they are unconcerned about, or oblivious to, staff or troop morale and/or climate. They are seen by the majority of subordinates as arrogant, self-serving, inflexible and petty.”
All true, yet in my opinion, is not an excuse for committing suicide. Its a reason to make change, internally, or post Army.
"The problem is as old as the nation’s military forces, which were organized in 1775. What’s new are the efforts to identify it, label it, open up a discussion about it and eliminate it."
This should come as no surprise, the Army is made up from humans, humans from all walks of life, all demographics..
When trying to explain this to moms, dads, senators and congressmen I was fond of saying/ The Army is made up of people from your community, your home town.. and like your home town the Army has many great american heroes, and like your home town we also have murders, rapists thugs and thief's, because after all, our Soldiers came from you.
My point here is, assholes, some even sadistic assholes join the army.. When they play the game well enough to appear to have potential they get promoted,, and then, as is predictable, when they get to a position of authority, be it Drill Sergeant, PL, CO CDR, CSM they act out in a way that to them is natural.
I don't like it, I have experienced it, I chose to stay and not be one of them... Others chose a different path. Walk away, and or sometimes a more permanent solution.
All true, yet in my opinion, is not an excuse for committing suicide. Its a reason to make change, internally, or post Army.
"The problem is as old as the nation’s military forces, which were organized in 1775. What’s new are the efforts to identify it, label it, open up a discussion about it and eliminate it."
This should come as no surprise, the Army is made up from humans, humans from all walks of life, all demographics..
When trying to explain this to moms, dads, senators and congressmen I was fond of saying/ The Army is made up of people from your community, your home town.. and like your home town the Army has many great american heroes, and like your home town we also have murders, rapists thugs and thief's, because after all, our Soldiers came from you.
My point here is, assholes, some even sadistic assholes join the army.. When they play the game well enough to appear to have potential they get promoted,, and then, as is predictable, when they get to a position of authority, be it Drill Sergeant, PL, CO CDR, CSM they act out in a way that to them is natural.
I don't like it, I have experienced it, I chose to stay and not be one of them... Others chose a different path. Walk away, and or sometimes a more permanent solution.
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SGM Erik Marquez
And yes I have first hand experiences in Soldier Suicide. No.. I did not commit nor attempt suicide.
But I did help carry the Body of one of my solders from the Bradley he shot himself in while out on patrol, and I helped clean up the brain matter and blood so that Bradley cold go back out in sector, and I to this day think//What did I miss? I speak to his mother on occasion still... I know the pain a permanent solution to a temporary problem leaves in its wake.
And I once received a call,,,, one of my Soldiers had shot himself, reason unknown... I was first to the hospital three towns over, arriving before the Helo sat down. I held his hand in the ER while they worked to save him... having shot himself in the mouth with the bullet leaving his forehead.. His confused young wife by my side . He lived, and I watched helplessly as that event destroyed his military career, his personal life.. I sat with brother and parents and tried to understand the why.
Following his time after Army, I learned he tried again as well as set upon a path of self destruction.... So yes I understand the problem about as well as most anyone can that was not the one attempting or completing the act.
Toxic leaders... sure, why not blame it on that.... if not that it would have been Toxic personal relationship, or Toxic work place environment or anything but.. a human that came to a decision point.. and in there mind saw no outlet ...no right choice but to end their life. My opinion, millions a day come to that same decision point and choose something else.
But I did help carry the Body of one of my solders from the Bradley he shot himself in while out on patrol, and I helped clean up the brain matter and blood so that Bradley cold go back out in sector, and I to this day think//What did I miss? I speak to his mother on occasion still... I know the pain a permanent solution to a temporary problem leaves in its wake.
And I once received a call,,,, one of my Soldiers had shot himself, reason unknown... I was first to the hospital three towns over, arriving before the Helo sat down. I held his hand in the ER while they worked to save him... having shot himself in the mouth with the bullet leaving his forehead.. His confused young wife by my side . He lived, and I watched helplessly as that event destroyed his military career, his personal life.. I sat with brother and parents and tried to understand the why.
Following his time after Army, I learned he tried again as well as set upon a path of self destruction.... So yes I understand the problem about as well as most anyone can that was not the one attempting or completing the act.
Toxic leaders... sure, why not blame it on that.... if not that it would have been Toxic personal relationship, or Toxic work place environment or anything but.. a human that came to a decision point.. and in there mind saw no outlet ...no right choice but to end their life. My opinion, millions a day come to that same decision point and choose something else.
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SGT (Join to see)
Well said, SGM Erik Marquez. I can speak for myself and hopefully some when I say that what helped me persevere was my faith. I kept telling myself "it's not him against me", "this too shall pass", etc. I know I made it sound easy just now but it wasn't. My children (8 and 1.5) were able to help me smile in the turbilent times too.
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