Why are many Senior Leaders afraid of Generational change?

2016-05-12T23:20:25-04:00

I read alot of these posts on rally point, and I see Senior Leaders berating subordinates for challenging the status quo, or thinking outside the box. Maybe I understand it better because I'm out here on recruiting trying to get Generation Z to join, but generations change they react different, they are more technological, they learn from their tablets, or phones. They are more aware than our generation of the worlds issues but aren't doers like ours. So we as leaders will have to adapt our leadership skills to their particular mindset. As leaders we don't have one style of leading, we are multifaceted. I watch so many Senior leaders say "well back in my day", truth is you adapt or become left behind. Prime example is COIN Operations FM 3-24 one of the biggest failures of this war, and so many Senior Leaders preached it like it was the Gospel. It didn't work in Vietnam and after 15 years of conflict during OIF/OEF, and many WIA/KIA later, it takes Generals to challenge the Status Quo then get fired or resign? Bottom Line is never berate your subordinate from asking any question, even if you think its stupid, challenge them to think outside the box and not be robotic yes men. Finally im done with my Soap Box what are your Thoughts?

Response by SFC Wade W. made May 12 at 2016 11:32 PM

2016-05-12T23:32:59-04:00

I think you have some valid points. That being said the military has a long tradition of doing some things in a certain way because it works. If you join an organization that is 250 years old expect some things to be very set in stone.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made May 12 at 2016 11:37 PM

2016-05-12T23:37:39-04:00

Initial thoughts:
When your career is built on ticket punching change is scary --- it may have all been in vain.
When your nose is too far up your superior's butt it is nigh impossible to see what else is out there.
CYA and PC impede logical thinking and reaction to change.
To paraphrase DUNE "Fear is the mind-killer"

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 11:40 PM

2016-05-12T23:40:13-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member Comments: The current generation is not more technological than earlier generations. looking at a phone or tablet all day does not mean they are doing serious work. The current generation is not more aware of world issues than earlier generations. Current leaders may have to adapt, but the current generation has to also adapt. A phone or tablet will not solve all problems.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 11:42 PM

2016-05-12T23:42:57-04:00

Well.....back in my day. J/K. This is a valid post. I just finished a 3 day TM conference with all of the major players across the Army to established a path forward to present Soldiers technical manuals and diagnostic tools in a manner that is acceptable and adaptable to today's Soldier. For example, conducting PMCS from a tablet or IPad issued to each Soldier loaded with the latest and greatest diagnostics and IETM software instead of hauling around huge MSD's or tough books or relying on paper and PDF manuals. We brought many ideas to the table and it was all geared around today's and tomorrow's Soldiers.

Response by SGT Kyle Johnson made May 12 at 2016 11:57 PM

2016-05-12T23:57:39-04:00

I can agree with limitations. Having a smarter well informed SM is a good thing. Asking questions, learning their job, becoming proficient. My time in service was more of, if we wanted you to ask questions we would have issued some to you.
During my 7 years as a civilian in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. When I would teach a class to SMs related to their job, they drank up the info with many questions. Made me feel great!
You know there is a BUT coming... Yes there is... a big one... When I see these same troops and their SGT tells them to stack sandbags, clean weapons on and on.... All I heard was "why" common sgt, "why"...
There has to be a balance, when I told an SM to do a common task, it was once, and they did it. Properly. To their credit then as well, when another SM told me they would take care of something, they did it.
Been my biggest hurdle to get over in the civilian world, people who never do what they are asked or do what say they will do.. I see this creeping into the services... very scary to me.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 13 at 2016 1:17 AM

2016-05-13T01:17:47-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member I did not know we/they were afraid of generational change? It is the natural order of things, and we can't change it. We are all subject to thinking and saying how perfect things were back in the day...

- After 911, I can remember us all worrying about the state of our Army, and how young Soldiers were weak, and not tough like we were back in the day. We worried if they were up to the task... Well, I (we) found they were more than up to the task at hand, and in reality were probably better prepared for the task at hand than we were back in the day.

- I also often wondered... still wonder... if I would have been up to task... of joining the Army in a time of war, knowing I was likely going off to war. I would like to say I would have... But, who really knows.

Questioning things keeps us on track...

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made May 13 at 2016 1:54 AM

2016-05-13T01:54:44-04:00

Actually, it's been my experience (37 years worth in the Army) that "generational change" has been immaterial when it comes to perceptions of any generation (in the military). Any good leader is always looking for individuals who think "outside the box" or think period provided they do it within left and right limits. The issue is getting results (good ones) within acceptable time frames - not running debates and study groups. When time permits, I've asked my Soldiers for their opinions or their thoughts on how to best accomplish something. When time doesn't permit this approach I rely on my experience and training and direct them. No one wants or needs robotic yes men, at least from what I've seen. What I have to disagree on is that "Generation Z" is more aware of the world's issues. Frankly, most that I've dealt with and have known don't even know US current events (the exception being Soldiers). I have a 21 year old daughter and know many of her friends in the 18 - 25 year age group. Sure, some care about what's going on in the world but most are clueless. I do agree that they are all more technology oriented.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2016 5:34 AM

2016-05-13T05:34:25-04:00

I dont think its just senior leaders. I think most people are a little afraid of change because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Most people find comfort knowing certain things (or people) will be the same.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made May 13 at 2016 7:42 AM

2016-05-13T07:42:46-04:00

One military generation is no more technical than the next, it's just technology had changed and the generations change with it. Each generation was technically advanced for their own time. But they did see the plus and minuses of advancing technology and always warn soldiers to remember where they came from and always remember some of the older technology ways because they might come in handy.

Response by SGT David T. made May 13 at 2016 7:47 AM

2016-05-13T07:47:32-04:00

Leaders need to understand leadership beyond what the Army manual says. Read about concepts like generational diversity and insights may be discovered to help leverage your people's strengths more effectively.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made May 13 at 2016 9:17 AM

2016-05-13T09:17:07-04:00

This is the main reason MANY Soliders don't REENLIST!

Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made May 13 at 2016 10:13 AM

2016-05-13T10:13:05-04:00

I like your comments but what strikes me is each generation is shaped by the world that is around them as they "come into age." America of the Post WWII area is light years away. Kids today, particularly those who are "coming of age" in a Post 9/11 world are being shaped differently than those who have come before. The last 14 plus years have been eventful, particularly during the Obama presidency.

I agree that kids growing up then were doers. Eisenhower and JFK were presidents as America was fighting to regain "normality and peace." There were quiet social revolutions getting ready to break into the national consciousness but as a kid then I was mostly in my own world. I did not have to deal with the issues kids do today and I built tree forts and dear stands on our Vermont farm and worked hard on the near by dairy farm. I tracked dear and other animals in the surrounding woods and fields. Using iron sights, I could rid a field of wood chucks with some shots 500-800 yards away (great eyes back then). Now, we have red dot sights on 7/12 twist barrows that are just as accurate as I was "back in the day"....and I love mine... ;-)

The kids in basic training can now become expert these days with almost little effort. I recently tried a vertical range fire in an air conditioned room with M16 and M4 simulated guns hooked up to a computer. The young recruit next to me whined how lying down on the floor hurt her elbows and shins. Meanwhile I was having fun proving this "old soldier" still had game. I wonder what she would say if she had to throw hay bails on to a moving truck like my first girlfriend did one memorable summer. I also shudder to think how she would react to all the blood and goop coming out of a young heifer giving birth to her first calf. Yes, kids are more consumer oriented and expect things handed to them. They have no idea how and what it took to get that ear of corn to their dinner plate. I am afraid that reality will hit the harder than it ever hit me as a young "adult"

NOW MY REAL POINT - Leadership has been and will always be about relationships. It is a long and messy process because to be an effective leader you have to get inside your Soldiers' heads....a scary thought for some of you old geezers. You have to learn to relate to them from where they are and not where you want to be. You may be successful getting to "where you want them to be" at some point, but not before you acknowledge who they are and where they have been. And that takes time and effort and lots of listening. Take it from a 64+ year old Soldier, if you listen long and hard enough you will find what motivates and shapes your younger Soldiers.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 13 at 2016 11:38 AM

2016-05-13T11:38:38-04:00

There was a sci-fi short story I read as a kid. Earth and a colony of humans on another planet were at war. They were endlessly sending computerized weapons systems against each other. Neither side could develop a computer analog that could over power the other side's analog. Neither side was winning. Neither side was losing. But there was a lot of scrap metal floating in space halfway between the two planets. They were exhausting their resources.

The protagonist had a brilliant leap in technological thinking. Take the computers out of the warships and replace them with humans. Humans are not quantifiable by analogs and thus are unpredictable. Before the other side could understand what was happening and refit. The protagonist's technological advance won the war.

I reject the premise that senior leaders are afraid of generational change. Show me the road to victory and I am on it.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2016 6:14 PM

2016-05-15T18:14:30-04:00

They focus on the negatives more than the positives