Posted on Sep 14, 2019
SFC Recruiter
4.74K
55
25
16
16
0
I previously wrote a little piece about “Confidently wrong Non-Comissioned Officers” and how they are destroying the Army, in my view at least. Recently, one of the many people who prompted me to write that piece, was selected for promotion to the next grade. In my opinion, this person lacks the temperament to lead someone out of a wet paper bag, and lacks flexibility and adaptablility and even a basic understanding of human interaction. That said, this persons sphere of influence just got much larger, or will when they pin the next rank.

Situations like this, where near unanimously the unit (to include officers) has a disdain for this person due to their treatment of the Soldiers in their charge, and people that have known this person in the past almost all have the same things to say as we did. It makes me think that we can identify toxic leadership starting at the PSG level by using 360 evals and making them a part of board files. This could help prevent the selection of individuals for the next rank who should not be in charge of anyone, ever.

Understandably the goal is not to be liked by your platoon, but to be respected and looked up to as a leader people WANT to follow, not HAVE to listen to. I can understand some level of hesitation to doing these at the PSG level, but I think it may be necessary to start there in order to prevent these individuals who are toxic from becoming First Sergeants or CSM’s. Or, more accurately, to draw their attention to their deficiencies so they can correct them and improve themselves as a leader. What are your thoughts?
Avatar feed
Responses: 17
CSM Darieus ZaGara
5
5
0
The Army’s selection system works great. It is the evaluation process that is flawed, and that flaw are the leaders that are afraid to be honest and gives everyone in their command stellar ratings. A 360 would not do any better. I have seen 360s in the Federal and Private’s sector, and it is much the same, everyone does exceedingly well on their 360. Bottom line, hinest and fair assessments. This e who get by will be caught up with. The beauty of the Army is there are enough leader in the chain that Sikdiers should not suffer. Thank you for your service v
(5)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Capt Retired
5
5
0
My former boss had a sign on his door that said:

There are none so dangerous as those who do not know and do not know that they do not know.
(5)
Comment
(0)
SFC Recruiter
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
A very wise statement indeed!
(3)
Reply
(0)
SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
Sad, but True!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CAPT Kevin B.
3
3
0
Besides being an engineer, I also have a grad MS rug in Systems. The 360 is a process where people are asked questions about someone else. You would never, never build a factory, create a product, etc. if your "accuracy" was like that of what people think. But we tend to react as if a 360 is accurate. The responses can give you a hint on areas you might want to dig deeper on, like the Climate Survey. I've watched both assessments over a number of years and bottom line, I don't believe they're much good. The reason is lack of follow up. You know, that verify thing? Then when you do know, is it worth doing anything about? What you essentially have is no standard yardstick, muddied further by people's' perceptions (or lack of), tallied by mid NCOs and OFFs who don't understand the interrelationships (or lack of), and typically used for decisions by those who have no personal knowledge (Boards). These things tend to be crutches that are substituted for effective perceptual, Eval Writing, and decision skills. The reason we create these crutches is we refuse to invest in creating the aforementioned talent. We want something that isn't ours to make up our minds for us. I sat many boards and my experience is obviously dated. Back then we didn't need no stinking 360 badge to see what we needed to see with sufficient accuracy. Has this stuff gone that far down the toilet such that a 360 tool would help? As Mr. T said, "I pity the fool."
(3)
Comment
(0)
SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
Well stated!
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close