Intrusive Leadership

» Vickytoo - Intrusive Leadership

Drew,

What is going on with the Navy? It certainly doesn't seem like the leadership style I observed when I was on active duty. I wonder if this intrusion into sailors' personal lives began with the zero tolerance of drinking and driving, wearing seat belts, etc.

Is intrusive leadership as a leadership style now being taught in Leadership training or is this an observation of what is actually occuring?

Vicky Sandvig

-- posted by Vickytoo

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» AWillis - Re: Intrusive Leadership

In response to message posted by Vickytoo:

It's not being taught at the leadership continuum, which is undergoing its own changes (stay tuned for that one), but it IS being discussed amongst the upper chain of command, and has even come out at conferences and in message traffic. In short, the order is coming down to practice this type of leadership, even though it's not the "official" policy.

The assumption is now that we need guidance in all phases of our lives, and the zero defects mentality makes our leaders into fearful micromanagers, afraid to take risks, but all too ready to tell us how to live, even when our leaders DON'T live that way.

The basis of the idea, I think, started with Tailhook and the embarrassment that it created, and has progressed further as time went by. Fearful of any negative publicity is an apt desription of the Navy. See the latest issue of the Navy Times, which has a long article on the NINE Commanding Officers which have already been relieved of duties this year (yes, I know it's just May). Of course, they don't release the details of why any of these COs are gone, just that they are.

Although I have no proof of this, another reason could be the cost of recruiting, training, and transferring replacement personnel. It's cheaper and easier to intrude on my life than to find a new Leading QM, despite the 30% overmanning in my rating.

Finally, probably the most insulting assumption is that we're just not smart enough or responsible enough to take care of ourselves. This idea is becoming more pervasive in America in general, but it's worse in the Navy. There are enough people who can't or won't take responsibility for themselves, so the upper chain of command feels that they have to do it for them, so they go looking for problems. (Note: I actually HAVE heard this particular line of reasoning from officers and chiefs.)

I only have four years left, and I'm glad of it. I'm SO ready to go.

Drew

-- posted by AWillis

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» virwill7 - Re: Re: Intrusive Leadership

In response to message posted by AWillis:

Andrew: Very interesting comments. Am writing on this right now. Please consider going to http://www.navytimes.com/, scrolling to the "zero defects" prompt halfway down the page, and providing your input in that forum.

-- posted by virwill7

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