Posted on Feb 2, 2016
Why do senior leaders fail? What are factors we can navigate to avoid leadership failure?
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When senior leaders fail (not because of scandal), it's beneficial to look at why. Some reasons for failure are: They have a political disagreement with the administration, they are taken out as a result of other's actions or inactions, and or they fail to mange conflict. There are also factors which may be navigated because they are intrinsic to the individual. Personal character attributes can contribute to a leaders failure as well. What do you think some of these attributes may be?
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Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 8
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I am looking at it in a total different perspective. I think that Senior Leaders also fail because of PMS (Power, Money, Sex) ! When one becomes to powerful and at a level of everyone is waiting and depending on them, they can get a little compliance and need humbling to keep them grounded from time to time.
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CPT (Join to see)
SSG Audwin Scott Yes we've discussed many times how Power, Money, Sex (Women) and let us not forget Alcohol have contributed to the downfall of senior leaders. What other reasons do you think senior leaders are relieved? Are they political reasons or intrinsic ones? Or Both?
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COL Mike Humphrey
I've seen many senior leaders fail due to excessive alcohol consumption, but a bigger reason is they become arrogant. "Its my way or the highway" they micromanage their subordinates, stop listening to suggestions, and stop learning. all leads to failure
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When leaders think that the rules they apply to their subordinates do not apply to them, or think RHIP is an actual regulation, then we are left with what we've been getting. Destroy a MAJ's career for trying to save lives through email, allow a GEN to retire after giving his mistress books of TS information. Seems fair? I know there are loads of MAJ's, but the chances of hitting the lotto are greater than your chances of getting four stars, but that shouldn't change the regs applying to them same as me. If a Senior Officer or SNCO makes an infraction that a JE or JO does, they should face the same penalties as the subordinates, and rank should NOT be seen as a factor.
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SSG Warren Swan
SGT Sean Wike - I'll get recalled just to be busted to E4. No one is allowed to make sense.
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COL Mike Humphrey
Your absolutely right. Regulations applies to everyone regardless of rank. In my mind rank does have its privilege, the privilege to serve, lead and mentor our subordinates. I do know some leaders look at RHIP differently, and they are wrong and usually fail.
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Getting to be a senior leader in the military tends to be a tightrope walk for all but those who have solid morals and principles CPT (Join to see) .
Senior leaders tend to fail for many of the same reasons at mid-level and junior leaders. We used to joke about people being promoted from lower level to higher level because they were incompetent or inefficient so that they would end up above their level of competence.
The higher up you get the more attention is drawn to you and the more likely you can be a target for jealous, unscrupulous and in some cases justified critics.
Senior leaders tend to fail for many of the same reasons at mid-level and junior leaders. We used to joke about people being promoted from lower level to higher level because they were incompetent or inefficient so that they would end up above their level of competence.
The higher up you get the more attention is drawn to you and the more likely you can be a target for jealous, unscrupulous and in some cases justified critics.
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