What is the most comprehensive and lasting solution for toxic/failing leadership?

This is something that someone else presented as well. But what is there to do at those higher levels. Division commands and higher have almost completely autonomy and no supervision.

I disagree, sir MAJ (Join to see) The strategy should be do your job as effectively as possible and become the leader that you need. SGT(P) Michael H.

I have seen many situations where the leadership was toxic, but ignored the staff. You can become the de facto leader in this situation even if you aren't in charge. It's more difficult, but instead of using position power, you are using personal power. It's a great way to grow personally as a leader, too. And you have a great example of the leader you do NOT want to be.

A1C Ian Williams - That is an awesome goal, unfortunately too often the best way to become the leader is to get out of the current environment.

A1C Ian Williams - I agree to a point, and that is what I did while there. I developed my subordinates to the point they could step into my position once I left. Their training needs were placed first, their personal issues were always handled before my own. However, when toxic leadership becomes further toxic despite your efforts, and Command is part of the problem, not even close to being part of any kind of solution, it is time to go!

I suppose that may be the end result, but is there a way to identify those that should not be there before something horrible happens?

SGT Joseph Gunderson - It starts at the top. If the CO and Sr Enlisted don't know it's going on, then they are not doing their job. If they do know and look the other way, that is equally to blame or worse. This goes for a Plt or a Division. Supervision is mandatory, not optional.

SGT Joseph Gunderson - The mission is what matters.

A1C Ian Williams of course it is. However, lately, we have seen leadership that has been so terrible that the missionis actually at risk along with lives of subordinates (e.g. the two ships that were wrecked and the latest developments from the investigation in Africa) How do we identify instances where commands are this derilict before something awful occurs?

Like yourself, SGT Joseph Gunderson I will only accept that foresight can prevent SOME instances. This is an issue of chain of command. This is not an issue of someone who placed in leadership roles too long or even that one person is incompetent of their speciality. I am not privy to the full files of the incidents you have illuminated for us. There is certainly a breakdown in communication within those records. If you want to solve this and I am sure you do, we should press our military superiors for more training in effective communication.

SGT Joseph Gunderson - If I were their leader, I would try to find the reasons for it, and it could be a lot of them. I would give them the leadership training or coaching they need, and a period of time to improve with clear expectations of the behavior I want to see and improvements in their staff. And if that doesn't work, I would replace them. If we did more of this, we'd have less toxic leaders and organizations. Military personnel get good leadership training so that's not usually the issue with them. Unfortunately, we tolerate it on the civilian side of the government way too much. Civilians don't get leader training, and they are a product of who taught them, how well, and their own ethics. It makes for failing organizations, and it makes it impossible for military leaders who are only there 3 or 4 years to fix it.

And how do we remedy a situation where subpar leadership can be identified?

I was actually talking about military leadership, but, yes, that is a good way to deal with government leadership.