Leadership is a significant concept in many spheres of life, and the military sector is not an exception. Leadership denotes actions that are taken to provide people with purpose, direction, and motivation to make them perform a specific task. Current security threats demonstrate that it is necessary to draw particular attention to this phenomenon within a framework of mission command (MC). In this case, it will be possible to address the existing challenges and contribute to a more secure world. Thus, US Army leaders are required to meet a set of requirements, including the ability to promote proactive change and flexibility in training and on the battlefield. As for MC, this concept synchronizes leaders’ efforts at all levels to achieve the desired result and overcome the enemies. MC consists of six principles that represent various spheres where individuals should demonstrate their leadership qualities. These principles include building teams with the help of trust, establishing shared understanding, demonstrating a clear commander’s intent, exercising disciplined initiatives, using orders, and accepting risk. Each of these principles provides leaders with practical guidelines on how to improve their skills. For example, building teams is possible with the help of authentic leadership that, in turn, emphasizes the significance of knowing oneself, listening, expressing, appreciating, and serving authentically. (1) Furthermore, creating shared understanding is necessary to ensure that leaders of all levels and their subordinate soldiers understand the purpose and intent and can operate within their borders. (2) The lesson to extract is that leadership is of significance when it comes to MC, and this concept consists of six essential principles. If leaders manage to follow each of these principles, they will improve their commanding skills. As a result, they will be able to achieve the desired goals and defeat the enemies.
References
Kevin Cashman, Leadership From the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life (Provo, UT: Executive Excellence Publishing, 1998): 120-128.
GEN Martin E. Dempsey, “Mission Command,” White Paper, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., 2012