Growing Better Leaders for the Future: A Study in Optimizing Self- Awareness

摘要

The United States of America is at war literally and figuratively. The literal war is the global war on terror manifested by current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Drawing on the same resources are the ongoing stability and support operations that include peacekeeping operations in Bosnia Kosovo and the Sinai desert. If that isn't enough, the Army continues to fight the figurative war of transformation. Success of the transformation effort lies within the Doctrine Organization Training Materiel Leadership and Education Personnel and Facilities (DOTMLPF) framework. The focus of this paper is on leader development for the Future Force an effort the Army must begin immediately to ensure our future and junior leaders of today are our successful senior leaders of tomorrow. This study highlights the basis of successful leadership as emotional intelligence. At the foundation of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. Essentially if leaders optimize their self- awareness they increase their emotional intelligence and consequently connect more effectively with the led which in turn makes them better more effective leaders. This paper recommends two methods for optimizing self-awareness. Those methods are psychological testing and 360-degree feedback.