Henry V 4.3

We have been talking about this for a decade now, at least since Colonel George Reed published his paper on toxic leadership in Military Review, an article that has fueled innumerable leadership journal clubs in and out of the military.  It happens that in the ensuing years the military has been embroiled in a series of increasingly unpopular wars that have asked much of leaders at every level.  It is very likely as General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said, that our system has favored “competence over character.”  The need for short term results (within the two years or less of a short command tour) instead of an investment in the long term – including leader development – may be an unanticipated consequence.  Regardless, senior military leaders are increasingly characterized in the press as toxic and displaying poor moral judgment.

Toxins are poisons.  Toxic leaders poison those around them, particularly subordinates.  One colleague of mine characterized a toxic leader he knew as an “equal opportunity yeller” who “used to spit and slobber” as he yelled at you.  This is not a new trend.  Fifteen years ago in his monograph on generational challenges in the officer corps, Dr. Leonard Wong referred to a common theme among young leaders, “They have lost faith with the senior leadership of the Army. They believe they [senior leaders] are either out of touch with reality or liars. We’re losing a generation of good leaders.”  That was before 9/11.

An antidote is a substance which can counteract poisoning.  The term derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι (“antididonai,” “given against.”)    The Good Book teaches “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10). Phillips Brooks, a nineteenth century American clergyman said, “Character is made in the small moments of our lives.” Continue reading →

Life is a series of transitions.  Like Gandalf leading the Fellowship of the Ring through the Mines of Mordor, we arrive at a new place with a series of different options or directions, and say as he did in the movie, “I have no memory of this place.”  My family faces a transition next year after three decades of federal service.  Life will not be the same.  “I have no memory of this place.”  How do we choose the right direction?  Perhaps it begins with listening.

Our vocation is what we are passionate about.  (Vocation: a calling, from the Latin “vocatio,” or “voctus,” past participle of “vocare,” ”to call.”)  We naturally exercise those talents we enjoy. With the practice that comes from the joy of exercising these passions, we come progressively better at them.

We can often identify elements of vocation in our family life, in our work and in our leisure.  What are the things each day that get us out of bed, that we look forward to, that bring us joy and a sense of purpose?  I realize for myself that my vocation generally includes some combination of the triad: to lead, to teach, and to serve.  The common denominator of the three is people.  What drew me to clinical medicine is what draws me to leadership and academics: I like being around, learning from and perhaps even positively influencing others.  I like seeing them exercise their own talents, working toward a common purpose and finding their own vocations.  Realizing this truth about myself required me to listen carefully to my own calling, my vocation. Continue reading →

The Dreamworks movie “The Croods” is a story about a family of Neanderthals who hope to survive prehistoric life and a series of cataclysmic events with the family motto, “always be afraid.”  (They end up changing their outlook, of course, learn to take risk and innovate.)  The movie is essentially a story about overcoming “negativity bias,” the notion that “bad is stronger than good.”  This theory argues that we tend to remember negative events more clearly than positive ones, that negative episodes in a relationship have greater impact than positive ones, and that we learn more from negative things than from positive.  As we enter cataclysmic times, we may have the same tendency as the Croods to cling to fear and the familiar.  We need examples to encourage us.  We can find inspiration in the volunteers among us who give the most precious thing that they possess on behalf of others: their time.  They exemplify the Latin phrase I learned from my brother/scholar, “Signa proferre:” “Colors to the front.” Continue reading →