Posted on Apr 18, 2017
MG Mike Diamond here. I'll be by to discuss leadership and ways to improve the performance of your organization. What questions do you have?
24.9K
186
57
34
34
0
From RP Staff: We’re honored to host Major General Mike Diamond for a Live Q&A. He has commanded the Theater Support Command in the Middle East back in the early days of OIF/OEF and served as Director of Coalition Coordination and Deputy Director of Logistics at CENTCOM. MG Diamond has designed a process model, based on his own personal experiences in both military as well as civilian sectors, that can help everyone better lead their team. Along with his son, Capt. Christopher Harding (USAF), they have published a book, "The Diamond Process: How to Fix Your Organization and Effectively Lead People" being released April 17. Please post your questions below!
If you're interested, you can grab a copy of MG Diamond's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Process-Organization-Effectively-People-ebook/dp/B071CPGP48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=the+diamond+process
If you're interested, you can grab a copy of MG Diamond's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Process-Organization-Effectively-People-ebook/dp/B071CPGP48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=the+diamond+process
Leadership
Organization
Process Improvement
Performance
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
MG Mike Diamond Sir, thank you for taking the time to discuss leadership. What are your thoughts on mentoring, as a vital role of an effective leader?
(3)
(0)
MG Mike Diamond
Imperative!!!! Especially if one wants to be a "Complete Leader". Our charge as we get longer in the tooth is to 'give back' what we have learned over our years.
(4)
(0)
3
3
0
2
2
0
Sir thank you for taking the time to come to RP, and to listen to what we have on our minds, and assist in pronblem solving, brainstorming, and the execution of ideas.
Sir in the title it says "ways to improve the performance of your organization". This might be too broad of a brush, but here goes: How can we repair the work that was made to tear down the wall (Services) through kicking out experience for new and "improved", inform them you have 90 days to be gone, appeals, whatever, but that mistake you made five or so years ago has suddenly come back? In this example the NCO made it, owned it, paid whatever restitution to his/her branch, just to see that mistake come again to bite them. You cannot foster camaraderie and continuity in the ranks when at any time, it could be YOUR name on the chopping block, or a commander has to choose who he wants, and he wants both. Can only get one? So the backstabbing has begun, when will it end? How can you realistically tell a NCO who made a mistake years ago paid his price and was a stellar performer that his time is up? I'm going to break this down now. I was using "Services" now just Army. This way of doing business means if I was still in, there is NO BODY I can trust 100% of the way, and it should not be that way. If I'm in the "wrong click", I could be sent packing. The smallest flag is now the largest indicator telling the command "it's me, it's me, look over here". If taking care of Soldiers is one of my most important goals, when is the Army going to take care of me, and not through QSP/QMP boards. Not through flip flopping RCP's or the raising of points so there is no way on earth you'll make it, so you have to reclass just to stay in. Lets not get started on IDES. No continuity in the regs, no continuity in the standards, no unified command.
Sir with all that we've lost, it'll take a LONG time to replace, train to standard, and deploy men and women who are capable of doing a job that had we not used the "buddy kick out" system, we'd be ready to do anything at anytime. We're not, and it shows miserably when you get to see the faces. Technology is beautiful, and it is an awesome tool, but a tool is all it will be. It cannot do shuras on Sundays with local leaders, it cannot get on the ground and locate HVT's, it will not send itself as a CAO to a fallen's family.
Sir in closing, the military can do a LOT with just a little. It's been that way forever, and it is a good measure to instill the ability to fight harder, stronger, and longer than your opponents. Problem is when those "opponents" can be your buddies, raters, senior raters, and reviewers, we're fighting a battle none of us want to loose. It's made worse when the "terrorist" isn't a "terrorist" at all. It's a "joke" that is not a "joke" to us, but there is nothing being done to stop the hemorrhaging. It's called sequestration. I'm not speaking for anyone else but the ACA was important to some. To me, the battle no one is fighting and shining a maglite on is Sequestration. 100 days in office could've took that away. It needs to go and I could care less what party or president does it. The services should not be a 1 million strong Blue Falcon Force. I apologize for length, but this is something that no candidate really broached in the elections, is still not on anyone's hot plate, and it needs to be dealt with soon. Or are we going to st back and let our kids and their kids fight a battle we can easily fight for them?
R.
Swan
"DUTY FIRST"
Sir in the title it says "ways to improve the performance of your organization". This might be too broad of a brush, but here goes: How can we repair the work that was made to tear down the wall (Services) through kicking out experience for new and "improved", inform them you have 90 days to be gone, appeals, whatever, but that mistake you made five or so years ago has suddenly come back? In this example the NCO made it, owned it, paid whatever restitution to his/her branch, just to see that mistake come again to bite them. You cannot foster camaraderie and continuity in the ranks when at any time, it could be YOUR name on the chopping block, or a commander has to choose who he wants, and he wants both. Can only get one? So the backstabbing has begun, when will it end? How can you realistically tell a NCO who made a mistake years ago paid his price and was a stellar performer that his time is up? I'm going to break this down now. I was using "Services" now just Army. This way of doing business means if I was still in, there is NO BODY I can trust 100% of the way, and it should not be that way. If I'm in the "wrong click", I could be sent packing. The smallest flag is now the largest indicator telling the command "it's me, it's me, look over here". If taking care of Soldiers is one of my most important goals, when is the Army going to take care of me, and not through QSP/QMP boards. Not through flip flopping RCP's or the raising of points so there is no way on earth you'll make it, so you have to reclass just to stay in. Lets not get started on IDES. No continuity in the regs, no continuity in the standards, no unified command.
Sir with all that we've lost, it'll take a LONG time to replace, train to standard, and deploy men and women who are capable of doing a job that had we not used the "buddy kick out" system, we'd be ready to do anything at anytime. We're not, and it shows miserably when you get to see the faces. Technology is beautiful, and it is an awesome tool, but a tool is all it will be. It cannot do shuras on Sundays with local leaders, it cannot get on the ground and locate HVT's, it will not send itself as a CAO to a fallen's family.
Sir in closing, the military can do a LOT with just a little. It's been that way forever, and it is a good measure to instill the ability to fight harder, stronger, and longer than your opponents. Problem is when those "opponents" can be your buddies, raters, senior raters, and reviewers, we're fighting a battle none of us want to loose. It's made worse when the "terrorist" isn't a "terrorist" at all. It's a "joke" that is not a "joke" to us, but there is nothing being done to stop the hemorrhaging. It's called sequestration. I'm not speaking for anyone else but the ACA was important to some. To me, the battle no one is fighting and shining a maglite on is Sequestration. 100 days in office could've took that away. It needs to go and I could care less what party or president does it. The services should not be a 1 million strong Blue Falcon Force. I apologize for length, but this is something that no candidate really broached in the elections, is still not on anyone's hot plate, and it needs to be dealt with soon. Or are we going to st back and let our kids and their kids fight a battle we can easily fight for them?
R.
Swan
"DUTY FIRST"
(2)
(0)
MG Mike Diamond
Thx for your concerns. Yes, we have gotten away from some things that served us well previously. I do cover in quite detail several of those things we have gotten away from. When we got away from them, we set the stage for opportunity for blame game stuff to take place. Leaders have ventured away from their true responsibilities.
Leaders got us into this fix and they willl have to lead us out-not the same leaders though!
I agree with you about sequestration. It has been addressed but not resolved. Yes, it must be taken off the plate and not hold our service members hostage.
Leaders got us into this fix and they willl have to lead us out-not the same leaders though!
I agree with you about sequestration. It has been addressed but not resolved. Yes, it must be taken off the plate and not hold our service members hostage.
(2)
(0)
SSG Warren Swan
MG Mike Diamond - thank you for your honesty Sir. It does show a different side to the GO ranks. In what you just said now, is more than many will openly admit and fight for. Thank you again for your honesty Sit.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
Sir, we have heard often of the leadership skills developed in the military that can translate into the civilian world. However, what I am curious about is, what doesn't translate from military leadership to civilian leadership--particularly in business, though governance may count too--and how is that gap bridged?
(2)
(0)
MG Mike Diamond
Some of the combat skills may not transfer but many of us can find ways to translate the vast majority. We just need to be creative and persistent
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
MG Mike Diamond
Yes it does become cyclical unfortunately. Both the bad as well as good leaders have their impacts felt when they are in power
(2)
(0)
SSgt (Join to see)
MG Mike Diamond - do you find that metrics get in the way of spurring progression of development on more efficient methods? Can being too focused on the numbers kill a business?
I ask because my current employer is all about metrics...to the point that they are blind when inefficiencies are pointed out about the metrics. They want any new idea to be tested by metrics. By definition, new ideas don't have metrics to judge.
I ask because my current employer is all about metrics...to the point that they are blind when inefficiencies are pointed out about the metrics. They want any new idea to be tested by metrics. By definition, new ideas don't have metrics to judge.
(1)
(0)
MG Mike Diamond
Metrics are good when we have experience to leverage. New ideas are best assessed using common sense
(3)
(0)
SSgt (Join to see)
MG Mike Diamond - Amen, sir! But, I think you're referring to a more and more mythological creature there...ha ha ha
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
1
1
0
First, let me take this opportunity to thank each of you for your service to our great nation as part of TEAM DEFENSE! We are all part of a team unparalleled today that despite its warts and scars is still one the best organizations out there.
I look forward to responding to your questions!!
I look forward to responding to your questions!!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I'm definitely interested in reading your book sir. With junior leaders being promoted so fast these days it's been difficult to provide proper mentorship. It seems like every other month we have Soldiers being automatically promoted without even having to really do anything. Especially in the Army Reserve the sense of earning a promotion is slowly going away and bringing about a culture of Soldiers that feel a sense of entitlement that they should be promoted just because they show up.
(1)
(0)
MG Mike Diamond
SFC Molina, You present another area where I feel we need to get back to basics. Setting more realistic expectations would be tops on the list. Lowering the bar does not help anyone. Entitlements just simply have no place in an organization (Like the US Military) that is precipitated on serving!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
0
0
0
Only questions I have is how can I return back to OIF of OEF? I'm in need of a job badly. I'm going nuts being home.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google