E-leadership: can it be effective and what are the standards?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:04:43 -0400

E-leadership, if it exists, is the art and science of managing an organization and inspiring people to accomplish the mission through electronic media. Is this a critical skill that all leaders must develop in the "digital age"? Is it even possible to lead or inspire people through email, social media, and other digital connections?

What are the standards for using it? Does email allow all that we need in electronic information conveyance? If conference calls add something, then isn't video even better? Could distributed companies hold a battalion formation via Skype? LDPs via VTC could save thousands of dollars and hundreds of miles in travel in the Reserve Components.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 10 at 2015 5:08 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:08:05 -0400

Our world is completely reliant on technology. To ignore it or be unable to use it effectively is to be disconnected from the world around you. One cannot lead from a position of ignorance..

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 10 at 2015 5:15 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:15:06 -0400

IF I understand your question correctly, it has a place and a purpose. In its place, and for its purpose, it is useful. I have had to lead distributed teams on multiple occasions, both in the military and civilian contexts. It requires greater clarity of expectations and more explicit checkpoints than might be otherwise required.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 10 at 2015 5:15 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:15:43 -0400

It is a fast and efficient way to get the message out across the force.

Have you ever seen an email from LTG Honore? You couldn't read his messages but knew he was furious about something, you'd say he inspired many people, I attached a clip where he inspired a reporter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv5m4hTMuWU

LTG Russel Honore: "You're Stuck on STUPID!"

During a press conference in Louisiana, an obnoxious (surprise!)member of the news media tried to pull a fast one on LTG Honore, who had just the right answe...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 5:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:33:25 -0400

I like to keep in touch with my leaders and mentors from prior units on facebook. It's great to keep in touch and get a 2nd perspective if I am going through a rough patch.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 10 at 2015 8:25 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:25:52 -0400

I voted it should be used sparingly because there are times when in your face leadership is needed. If you are trying to get information out to the soldiers and their families then I see it as resource. Do not forget you still have to lead by example and interface with people.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 10 at 2015 8:27 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:27:28 -0400

The bigger an organization is, the harder it becomes to be a "visible leader."

Take a Base Commander for example, they are responsible for the safety, well being, and morale of thousands of troops. When I was stationed on Quantico, our Commander supplemented his traditional leadership skills with all-hands emails.

Currently, they use tools like Facebook to announce things like base closures, emergency conditions, and modifications to policy (Marines swapped to Desert, but it's still "winter" in VA, so sleeves stayed down).

E-Leadership, I think is a misnomer. I think what you allude to is one more tool in a leader's tool belt, to better support his troops.

Edit: Base closures, not foreclosures.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 8:37 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:37:01 -0400

I voted for it as essential, but that comes with some caveats. I believe we as leaders need to embrace this as a key concept of our generation, but there still has to be face time. Also, I think there are ratios for face:email that vary at every level. For instance, our first line supervisors need to emphasize face-to-face leadership and minimize electronic correspondence. Inversely, Commanders don't have the kind of schedule that allows them the time to provide a lot of face-to-face leadership with everyone on their team individually, so they need to embrace the electronic age. That's my opinion. You guys feel free to offer up some different ideas.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Mar 10 at 2015 9:07 PM

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 21:07:06 -0400

Leadership is the ability to influence people to get results. The best leaders aren't the ones that are just behind a desk, they are out in front, in the field, and interactive with people.

Technology needs to be leveraged, not leaned upon. The two are often mistaken for one another. That is a problem because there is a key difference where if used only as a crutch, the fight will stop even though the battle is still waging.

When you leverage technology, you are magnifying what is already in existence. So someone good will become better. On the reverse side, someone who is bad can become worse. Also an important part of communication is the empathy, care, and confidence that goes with it.

Your body language, tone, facial expression, and charisma play a large in role in people having to take the hill even if they don't want to. That is what a great leader does.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 10:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 22:42:38 -0400

Only a few hours into this discussion, and there are really great thoughts. I just wonder why no one has attacked E-leadership in combat. You know the PT-wearing, CP-bound, radio-jockey who makes lives miserable while living it up on the FOB!

In the Reserves, E-leadership is necessary; whether it is a necessary evil is far from decided. In combat, however, it raises concerns about disengagement from the fight.

I think the consensus, so far, is that E-leadership is essential, but I still believe that F2F leadership is paramount. Mastery of E-leadership must always be secondary.

Response by SSG Stacy Carter made Mar 11 at 2015 4:57 AM

SSG Stacy Carter — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:57:18 -0400

It is an essential skill that must be used wisely. Face to face leadership is still the best and most effective method of motivating personnel to get the job done. If a leader sits behind his/her desk all day and only does e-leadership the troops may have no confidence in their leader.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 8:08 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:08:07 -0400

I believe it is possible one of the best I've seen do it is CSAF Gen Mark Welch. In his first year he did a great job of using all the available media outlets to inspire, be transparent to lower levels and lead.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Mar 11 at 2015 8:35 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:35:39 -0400

It is essential. Does it replace face to face? absolutely not. It needs to be properly leveraged. Examples, not everyone can go to a Wing Commander's Call be it duty or space issues. If that leader also broadcast that Commander's Call via DCO, they are leveraging that technology to reach a much broader audience they ever could face to face. The CMSAF does a periodic "ChiefChat" video on youtube where he answers questions from the field submitted by facebook, email, video and the audience. With it he has the ability to get "the message" out to a much larger group then he could even a with a base visit. I have seen some bases have a virtual town call using FaceBook, reaching out to those folks living/working on base using their native means of communication.

One area where I personally have taken the lead is my unit has a "secret" facebook group for unit members and their spouses (meaning you cant search for it, and have to be added by one of the admins) that we push out general information to. Things like base/school closures, reminders for Sq events, tidbits about forthcoming policy changes, recognizing promotions, awards, etc. The feedback has been amazing. Even though folks are normally getting the same information via "bulk" email or even face to face, folks really engage with that means of transmitting the information.

These all leads me to what leadership is about. It is about getting people to do what you need them to do. Good leaders will have people do it because the folks they lead WANT to do it, bad leaders will just make them do it. "e-Leadership" is just another way to do it. Another way to look at it is this. With a good Leader, the addition of "e-Leadership" has the ability to make them even better. With a bad Leader, "e-Leadership" with likely make them that much worse.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 11 at 2015 8:37 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:37:06 -0400

E-leadership is difficult to do well, but IMO it is a very important skill for leaders to develop as part of their repertoire. I get it, people will say F2F is the only way to lead, yada yada. But that's just not true, especially in today's military. Leaders are required to e-lead as well, and often that can be harder to execute. It's true.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 7:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 19:15:20 -0400

In the Army Reserve, brigades have battalions scattered across the country, and battalions have companies scattered across several states. To conduct a Command and Staff, Commander's Update, or an OPORD brief, we usually rely on the conference call. I hate conference calls; they are like trying to conduct an orchestra...via conference call (Strings, what do you have to say?).

Has anyone ever seen Skype or another online collaboration tool (video) used to conduct unclassified, routine leadership meetings? If so, do you have any tips to share?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 7:22 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 19:22:33 -0400

I agree its an essential skill but does not replace conventional face to face leadership. We all need to learn out to use email, social media, enterprise sites and websites to communicate just as we used radios, telephones and memos (Do you older Army folks remember the DFs?) It gives us more information, speed and convenience However, in both civilian or military life, we should not use the keyboard as a crutch when the telephone or even a face-to-face conversation, when possible, is more effective.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 9:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 21:17:02 -0400

I read an article that I wish I could find again. It was written by the ceo if a fortune 500 company. He banned internal emails for 1 week and claims productivity went up 60%. Think about it, what do we do with an email with something to do, we sort it and forward to some smuck down the line to accomplish and we forget about it. Then when it doesn't get done we blame the smuck. This trend is bullshit. Remember you can delegate authority but never responsibility.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 25 at 2015 10:03 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 22:03:43 -0400

Proper electronic communication is far more valuable. Speak in an email as you would speak to a person and be professional and empathetic

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 8:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 08:15:34 -0400

http://onforb.es/RYDPUP