Leadership

The leader assessment and development module emphasizes the Army leadership requirements model and the development of the core leader competencies; lead, develop, achieve. As I proceed with my career, the contents of this module will be of greatest assistance to me for maximizing my professional growth and development. FM 6-22 refers to the lifelong learning experience and states, “Leader competence develops through a balanced combination of institutional schooling, self-development, realistic training, and professional experience.” Although numerous educational venues and life experiences contribute to the development of the core leader competencies, the most significant factor in the lifelong learning process to master the core leader competencies is through self-development. Self-development is the process by which a person’s character or abilities are gradually developed. It is dependent upon self-awareness, which is “being aware of oneself, including one’s traits, feelings, and behaviors.” The ability to look within oneself to identify strengths and weaknesses is crucial for establishing professional goals, developing, and implementing a plan for improvement. If one fails to follow the process of self-awareness and self-development, the means to the end is unknown. In other words, the pathway to developing the core leader competencies will lack foresight, direction, and clarity. For example, several years ago I established a goal to seek and obtain board certification as an orthopedic clinical specialist in physical therapy. After practicing orthopedic physical therapy for more than 12 years, I anticipated I would pass the exam without participating in any preparatory activities. I took the test and failed; however, the exam served me well from the perspective of increasing my self-awareness regarding my strengths and weaknesses. I used the results of my exam as a guide to establish and incorporate a plan for improvement. I dedicated myself to the self-development process and passed the exam one year later. Without foresight (self-awareness), direction, and clarity I initially failed to accomplish my goal. However, with it, I was able to expand my knowledge and attain the goal, thereby demonstrating two components of the core leader competencies (develop, achieve). To achieve maximum potential, a leader must have the dedication and commitment to seek continual growth. Dedication to the lifelong learning process is essential for mastering the core leader competencies. However, the foundation of the process comes from within and directly correlates to the individual desire to seek and participate in the self-development process. This requires an innate desire to learn a new skill, expand knowledge, and accomplish goals. If an individual does not possess this desire, they will fail to learn from institutional training, formal education programs, and their work experiences. Therefore, self-development is the most significant factor in the lifelong learning process. It will lead directly to attaining the core competencies of develop and achieve. Leaders who commit to the self-development process throughout their lifelong learning experiences will undoubtedly be mastering the core competencies of develop and achieve. They will also, in many cases inadvertently, be serving as role models. The “lead by example” approach is essential to leading effectively over the course of time and sets examples for other to follow. A leader with commitment and dedication to self-development will stand as a beacon to their superiors, peers, and subordinates and will influence others to excel and develop as leaders. Their actions serve to create a culture in which the value of self-development and a proactive approach to learning are recognized and ultimately rewarded (goal attainment, promotion, assignment, school acceptance, etc.). To reflect upon my personal experience of pursuing and obtaining board certification, I was not aware of the impact my commitment and dedication to personal self-development was having on my staff. Through the duration of my preparation, which extended approximately nine months, I had several of the staff physical therapists inquire about the board certification process, test format, and my experiences preparing. When I received the results and notified the staff of my success, they expressed their pleasure and pride in my accomplishment. More importantly, since that time, one of my staff successfully pursued and attained board certification, another is preparing for the exam this year, and several others now have a goal in their development plans to seek certification within 1-2 years. My desires to seek and obtain board certification and my commitment to the self-development process, although for purely personal reasons, had a direct influence upon my staff (lead by example) and created a cultural change within the office. As a manager (leader), the change in culture and staffs desire to excel is far more rewarding than my personal success. Numerous educational venues and life experiences contribute to the development of the core leader competencies. However, the most significant component in leadership assessment, development, and the lifelong learning process to master core leader competencies is through self-development. The components of self-awareness and self-development provide the foundation for long-term personal growth. Dedication and commitment to this process will maximize my potential and ensure readiness for opportunities that arise. Furthermore, as a leader, I serve as a role model and establish standards that will have a direct influence upon others. My commitment to self-development will extend beyond that of attaining personal development and goal achievement. It will contribute greatly to the core competency of “leading” and will have a direct and positive impact on my peers, subordinates, and promote changes in organizational culture. Therefore, due to the overarching effects of the self-development process contributions to mastering all of the core leader competencies, it is the most significant factor in the lifelong learning process and will be most important in my future as an Army leader.