Styles Of Leadership And My Organization

Styles Of Leadership And My Organization

Research Topic: Styles of Leadership and My Organization (Army) Create a detailed outline for your research paper. The detailed outline should have an outline for the following: · Introduction · Literature review · Findings · Recommendations · Conclusion Make sure that you map the references from the annotated bibliography to the sections. It is expected that each section will be about half page to a page. This assignment needs to follow APA guidelines. Remember to put all your references and citations in appropriate APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The military, particularly the United States Army, operates within a complex environment that demands diverse leadership styles to achieve strategic objectives and maintain operational readiness. Leadership within the Army has evolved significantly, influenced by various theoretical frameworks, practical experiences, and organizational needs. The adoption and adaptation of leadership styles such as transformational, servant, and emotional intelligence-driven leadership are pivotal in shaping effective military leaders. This paper explores the various leadership styles applicable to the Army, their characteristics, and their influence on subordinate performance and organizational culture. The importance of understanding toxic leadership's detrimental effects is also highlighted, emphasizing the need for effective leadership development programs. These insights are contextualized within a broader scholarly discourse, drawing from recent research to support the argument that adaptable, ethical, and transformational leadership styles enhance military effectiveness.

Literature Review

Scholarly works have extensively examined different leadership styles in military settings. Asbery (2015) emphasizes the harmful impact of toxic leadership, which undermines morale and performance, calling for rapid intervention strategies. Similarly, Aubrey (2013) delineates traits associated with toxic leaders, advocating for targeted development programs aimed at eradicating such traits. Conversely, transformational leadership has been championed for its capacity to foster positive change and acceptance within the military environment. Castillo (2020) highlights the unique challenges faced by female military leaders, demonstrating that transformational leadership can facilitate inclusion and organizational transformation when properly implemented. Cheung (2019) explores the relationship between perfectionism and leadership styles, identifying transformational leadership as particularly effective and strongly correlated with high standards. Hamad (2015) underscores the charismatic and transformative qualities of military leaders, advocating for transformational leadership as essential for military success. Similarly, Kirchner and Akdere (2014) analyze leadership development through human resource strategies, emphasizing the importance of structured training and organizational culture in shaping effective leaders. Steele (2019) examines the link between leader development activities and leadership competencies, reinforcing that practical training contributes significantly to leadership efficacy. Straus et al. (2018) introduce the concept of leadership attributes that are malleable and measurable, providing tools for effective personnel development. Uddin (2019) advocates for servant leadership principles, emphasizing care and service to subordinates as drivers of organizational performance and moral integrity. Walters (2018) emphasizes emotional intelligence as a critical trait for adaptable and self-aware military leaders, supporting ongoing leadership development initiatives.

Findings

The literature indicates that effective military leadership hinges on a mixture of transformational, servant, and emotionally intelligent traits, with a pressing need to address toxic leadership's adverse effects. Toxic leadership, characterized by traits such as authoritarianism, lack of ethics, and narcissism, significantly diminishes morale and mission success. Interventions to eliminate toxic traits and promote positive leadership styles are essential, as supported by Asbery (2015) and Aubrey (2013). Conversely, transformational leadership emerges as the most beneficial, promoting motivation, acceptance of change, and organizational cohesion (Castillo, 2020; Hamad, 2015). Emphasizing inclusivity and diversity, especially the challenges faced by female leaders, Castillo's work points to the need for targeted policies that foster transformational leadership, particularly among underrepresented groups. Cheung’s (2019) research links transformational leadership with high standards of perfectionism, highlighting its role in maintaining excellence without sacrificing well-being. The development of leadership attributes, as explained by Straus et al. (2018), underscores the importance of measurable traits, such as emotional intelligence, which can be cultivated through training programs highlighted by Walters (2018). Leadership development programs within the Army, as discussed by Kirchner and Akdere (2014) and Steele (2019), are vital in preparing future officers to embody these traits, thereby improving overall organizational effectiveness.

Recommendations

Based on the reviewed literature, several recommendations emerge for enhancing leadership within the Army. Firstly, rigorous screening and training programs should focus on eliminating toxic traits by identifying and addressing dysfunctional behaviors early, as advised by Asbery (2015) and Aubrey (2013). Implementing comprehensive leadership development programs emphasizing transformational qualities can foster ethical, innovative, and inclusive leaders, as advocated by Castillo (2020) and Hamad (2015). Specifically, integrating mentorship, targeted training modules on emotional intelligence, and inclusive leadership practices will enhance leader effectiveness. The Army should also promote a culture of continuous learning and self-awareness, guided by leadership attribute measurement tools recommended by Straus et al. (2018). Embedding servant leadership principles, emphasizing care, service, and subordinate development, can strengthen leader-subordinate relations and improve organizational loyalty, aligning with Uddin’s (2019) findings. Furthermore, organizational policies should support diversity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring the underrepresentation of women in leadership is addressed by tailored mentorship and development programs. Lastly, fostering a climate that values-perfectionism aligned with organizational standards, without compromising mental health, can be achieved by applying insights from Cheung (2019). These strategies collectively aim to build resilient, adaptive, and ethical military leaders capable of navigating complex modern warfare challenges.

Conclusion

The effectiveness of leadership in the U.S. Army significantly influences organizational success, personnel morale, and operational effectiveness. The literature advocates for a shift towards transformational and servant leadership styles, emphasizing the development of emotional intelligence, ethical standards, and inclusivity. Addressing toxic leadership and fostering positive traits through structured training and development initiatives are crucial steps in this process. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by diverse groups, including women in leadership, can further enhance organizational resilience. Implementing these recommendations will ultimately lead to a more adaptable, competent, and morally grounded military leadership framework, capable of fulfilling the strategic demands of modern warfare and peacekeeping missions. Continuous research and tailored leadership development initiatives are essential to sustain these improvements and ensure that Army leaders are equipped to meet evolving challenges effectively.

References

  • Asbery, J. (2015). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of former US Army personnel and their perspectives on toxic leadership. Education Doctoral Paper 227.
  • Aubrey, D. W. (2013). Operationalizing the construct of toxic leadership in the United States Army. University of Phoenix.
  • Castillo, B. J. (2020). Exploring the nature of transformational leadership in the military: A phenomenological examination of lived experiences from female leaders (Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University).
  • Cheung, B. M. L. (2019). The relationship between perfectionism and leadership style in US military veterans (Doctoral dissertation, Chestnut Hill College).
  • Hamad, H. (2015). Transformational leadership theory: Why military leaders are more charismatic and transformational? International Journal on Leadership, 3.
  • Kirchner, M. J., & Akdere, M. (2014). Examining leadership development in the US Army within the human resource development context: Implications for security and defense strategies. The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, 26(3).
  • Steele, R. (2019). Army Reserve Officer Training Summer Camp: Examining the relationship between leader development activities and leadership evaluations.
  • Straus, S. G., McCausland, T. C., Grimm, G., & Giglio, K. (2018). Malleability and measurement of Army leader attributes: Personnel development in the US Army. RAND Corporation.
  • Uddin, S. (2019). Characteristics of servant leadership can complement the Army leadership requirements. Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth KS.
  • Walters, S. (2018). Emotional intelligence and leader development: Measuring trait emotional intelligence scores of mid-career commissioned US army officers (Doctoral dissertation, Western Kentucky University).

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