Has technology had a negative effect on your ability to lead in the military?

CW2 Kevin Perry — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:35:33 -0500

Although technology has helped a great deal in how we communicate as leaders, but do we rely too much on technology? Are those face to face counselings and check ins too often done by text, email or phone? Are we as leaders, missing out on the ability to read non-verbal communication and body language?

On the command level, are databases that report AFPT, Range scores and Training to BDE and DIV Commanders too much? Has leadership become less personal and more numbers driven because of these databases?

It seems we have lost the ability to help Soldiers, as the BDE Commanders are able to pressure the BN Commanders about individual Soldiers by name. The BDE Commander's percentage for AFPT is 1% below DIV standard, so the BDE Commander pressures all BN Commanders for Soldiers by name. So now the Company Commander and 1SG who really know this Soldier's actual situation become limited on what they can do to help as they are now getting pressure to do something. It seems the ability to help Soldiers with legitimate issues has been limited due to the numbers requirements of Commands using technological reporting functions. It seems the BDE Commander's ability to report 98% pass for the BDE is more important than the ability to help the Soldier's with legitimate issues.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 7 at 2014 9:43 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:43:18 -0500

I agree that technology has helped a great deal. However, I don't think people should nor do their "face-to-face" counseling via Skype, Google Hangout, Text or whatever else is coming down. I don't see many leaders saying to their subordinates "I'll call you on Skype later." I think they are still sitting down with them face-to-face in person for that much needed contact each leader needs to maintain with their subordinates.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2014 10:25 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 10:25:33 -0400

I agree with many of you here, technology has offered huge dividends in getting information out quickly, helps manage stats and readiness levels, and in some cases can reduce the amount of paper needed. But technology is an aide, it helps people execute their duties, but will never replace physical face to face contact and conversations. My first commander told me early on that you can't lead through email- I have tried to remember that and apply it to all my jobs.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2014 12:05 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:05:46 -0400

My soap box, opinion:

The biggest issue I've noticed as we continue to move forward with technology
is we have taken away the ability of our junior leaders to make decisions on their
own. I remember a time with no email, cell phones, pagers, and any other
instant communication devices. There was a time when we would sail down on Army
Watercraft to Panama from VA with nothing but a High Freg radio sometimes went
days without communication with the command. Any changes, issues we had to solve
them right there and then. Warrant
Officers, NCO"s and Officers made good common sense decisions that allow
for a mission complete status in the end with little or no contact from there
higher commands until after the fact.

Warrant Officers, Squad leaders, PLT SGT's, PLT Leaders, Company Commanders
had to make decision base on the info at hand to include utilizing what was
discussed in the previous mission briefs, weekly command and staff meetings,
and most important understanding the mission and what is to be accomplished in
the end “The Desired Outcome of the
Mission”. In this process our junior leaders were able to build up their confidence
and learn to trust in their abilities to lead and make critical decisions that
they could build from as they matured and moved up through their career.

We don't allow our leaders at the lowest level to make real decision
anymore. Leadership at all levels now wants to be immediately informed and as
other have mentioned; those above each level want to be the decision maker or
have input in everything that falls under their direction/supervision. A lot of
this is out of fear of some kind of failure or worried about how his/her
superiors would handle it or want.

We must strive to break this cycle. Leaders and all Soldiers tend, for the
most part lead as they see/saw others before them. We can preach it in the
school houses and we do, but until we practice it for real in the squads,
Platoons, Companies etc we are going to produce leaders that serve in critical positions
that won't or can't seem to make a decisive decision in a time to affect the
desired outcome. And in my opinion I'm already seeing way too much of it now.

Look we do have some great junior, mid and senior leaders out there working
hard and doing great things. But I do believe we are at a critical junction in
our Army. We have to get back to letting our junior soldiers grow and develop
without holding their hands in everything we do. I could keep going but I'll
stop my soap box.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made May 17 at 2014 8:03 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Sat, 17 May 2014 20:03:18 -0400

CW2 Perry, when I was with the 37TH Trans in Kaiserslautern (K-Town), Germany, my Rear Detachment Commanding Officer selected me to be the NCOIC on the range. It shock me to know that the rifle range is computerized, so I controlled the popup targets with a laptop it is amazing how far technology is going. But technology is taking away a lot of hands-on basic skills from our military, I read about the Air Force will use unmanned pilots for their fighter jets in a few more years. Is it good? No, when we think about it is part of the downsizing of our U.S. Armed Forces, less and less manpower just to save a few dollars.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 8:19 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 20:19:25 -0400

Unfortunately it is true... I have seen too much "leadership by e-mail" and "paper leadership". The interaction between leaders and supervisors has declined immensely... I would say technology has played a large roll in the decline. A supervisor can gather all the information they need to write a report, push for promotion, etc without ever having the need to do a face to face. In my opinion that's a travesty. We need intersection from leadership at all levels, we need to know our people and what drives them. Scores and databases cannot replace interaction. Unfortunately it has mades things easy in times where people are busy, deployed or tdy.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jul 25 at 2016 1:49 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 13:49:04 -0400

Kind of a dual edged sword in my mind. Technology has made it easier to have more information on your troops in an almost instantaneous time frame. However that same technology also tends to keep leaders absent from their people. Probably old school here but in my opinion a leader still needs to get out and know the troops, no matter what all the data bases are saying.