Growing Better Leaders for the Future: A Study in Optimizing Self-Awareness

Abstract

The United States of America is at war literally and figuratively. The literal war is the global war on terror manifested by current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Drawing on the same resources are the ongoing stability and support operations that include peacekeeping operations in Bosnia Kosovo and the Sinai desert. If that isn't enough, the Army continues to fight the figurative war of transformation. Success of the transformation effort lies within the Doctrine Organization Training Materiel Leadership and Education Personnel and Facilities (DOTMLPF) framework. The focus of this paper is on leader development for the Future Force an effort the Army must begin immediately to ensure our future and junior leaders of today are our successful senior leaders of tomorrow. This study highlights the basis of successful leadership as emotional intelligence. At the foundation of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. Essentially if leaders optimize their self- awareness they increase their emotional intelligence and consequently connect more effectively with the led which in turn makes them better more effective leaders. This paper recommends two methods for optimizing self-awareness. Those methods are psychological testing and 360-degree feedback.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 03, 2004
Accession Number
ADA423368

Entities

People

  • Richard C. Bassett

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Feedback
  • Homeland Security
  • Military Operations
  • Military Personnel
  • Personality
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychological Tests
  • Schools
  • Security
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.