On leadership: no shortcuts

Retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan writes a military blog about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He provides some interesting commentary on the practice of leadership.

Good leadership is developed through experience, study, reflection, mentoring and the mental capacity to embrace variety of ideas.

Providing the "why", or purpose, is also a central responsibility for leaders. Purpose is more vital than the tasks to be undertaken. Leaders inspire through giving their people meaning.

But the authority granted to leaders has many limitations. Consequently, leading through influence is a critical skill. Clear purpose helps, but leaders must invest in developing the logical and emotional appeal of tasks and missions, collaborate with others and then communicate using various mediums. This has been proven again during the war in Ukraine.

... Creativity is a foundation for new tactics and strategic approaches, and it should also influence a leaders’ self-learning activities to build and sustain excellence in their profession. And creativity stems from curiosity. Military institutions must have the right incentives to nurture curiosity in their leaders. This has not always been the case in many Western institutions.

... The most vital human skill in any military organization is leadership. Those who are appointed to command service personnel – at whatever level of military activity - must be able to lead and to influence.  To be an effective military leader, they must develop the command presence to convince others to do very difficult things in trying circumstances.

This is not an art, or a skill, which arises spontaneously in any individual. Leaders must be developed, and incentivised within a transparent and relevant promotion pathway. It is a process that requires deep institutional investment over time, as well as a personal commitment to professional learning by leaders at all levels.

I don't know anything about war except that it is always evil -- and in the case of this terrible Ukrainian conflict, probably just and necessary. Such is the horror of the human condition, when humans must lay everything on the line for home and freedom.

But I have seen a good deal of leadership and even exercised some, especially in large electoral campaigns. In large endeavors involving lots of people working for a common cause, even in an entirely civilian context, Ryan's prescriptions seem to me deep and true. There are no shortcuts. 

Conscious attention from existing leaders to care in helping others develop the skills helps. In a fairly benign environment, many people can find a right level of leadership for their talents and possibilities. And organization which develops leaders well will thrive if thriving is possible.