Beyond Words: Leader Self-Awareness and Interpersonal Skills
Abstract
Being self aware and using interpersonal skills will be significant to leader success given the 2006 release of the Army's new mandate to create, develop, and nurture a different kind of Army leader. The Army's goal for growing leaders to meet the strategic challenges of the 21st Century is to develop the "Pentathlete". Success in the future Army environment will be measured by the leader's ability to build relationships with various governmental interagency, military multinational and non-governmental organizations. These organizations will not be as familiar with the tactical and technical skills that are well honed within our military leadership. Rather, interpersonal skills will be the equalizer as pentathlete leaders cross cultures striving to build consensus and accomplish missions. Mounting corporate and military research continues to show that leaders backseat self-awareness and interpersonal skills in favor of tactical and technical ones. This imbalance equates to short changing the possibilities for leaders to build future leaders and teams - a disturbing paradigm in light of the Army's transformed environment of the Pentathlete leader. Several recommendations are explored to enhance and improve leader self-awareness and interpersonal behaviors to build trust, openness and increased ownership and productivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469614
Entities
People
- William H. Montgomery Iii
Organizations
- United States Army War College