Essay: People management challenges – communication, leadership

As a prior military service member, one of the most focused objectives is developing competent leaders within the organization. Army prioritizes readiness across all operational departments to ensure soldiers are led in great confidence and expertise. In the combat documentation/ production field, mission readiness is what 55th Signal Company aims for. Combat Camera specialists are known to deploy rapidly individually and most times in small teams. Leaders must ensure that soldiers exhibit enhanced performance and adaptability. But leadership can sometimes fall short of managing soldiers effectively in ways that affect mission objectives. Leadership challenges in 55th Signal Company is most common through communication and lack of leadership roles. According to a recent article, “In a complex and uncertain world, the Army will cultivate leaders who thrive in uncertainty and chaos,” (as cited by AUSA, 2016).  As a leader, it is important to address these challenges and take initiative to improve the company’s leadership strategic approach.
People Management Challenges
Two people management challenges in our organization are lack of effective communication and insufficient leadership roles.  These two challenges are most noticeable in the company due to difficulties in developing and strengthening individuals and teams. Leadership face issues such as delays in mission readiness and failure to accomplish mission objectives.
Communication
The purpose of effective communication is to help engage soldiers be able to communicate with peers and leaders without hindering the mission. In today’s generation, a majority of enlisted soldiers at 55th Signal Company are Generation Z. Leadership must shift towards a different management approach when it comes to cultivating soldiers at the expected level. According to Army Doctrine Publication 6-0, “the importance of communication strengthens bonds within a command. It builds trust, cooperation, cohesion, and shared understanding.” (as cited by Ford, 2015). Effective communication is key to resolving conflicts and properly execute an action. But leadership must also demonstrate an open-minded perspective to understand and better relate to younger soldiers. When there is lack of communication in the work environment, soldiers become rebellious and irresponsible. Most of the younger individuals become either intimidated or careless with their co-workers and leaders. Thus, soldiers are not properly performing at the company’s desired level of mission readiness and the company loses respect of its soldiers. Soldiers are not able to grow and improve in their skills and capabilities. According to Venter, “Generational differences cannot be changed, but members of different generations can try to understand each other and validate each other’s values. Understanding, respect and open-mindedness will lead to meaningful communication where generations can motivate each other and bring out the best in each other.” (2017). If leaders at 55th Signal Company can integrate improved communication skills, there would be less barriers to the development of individuals, teams, and possibly future leaders too.
Leadership roles
Another challenge 55th Signal Company faces is the lack of leadership roles within the unit. Most of the time half of the company is deployed while the other half are new graduated soldiers who don’t possess any leadership experience. This insufficiency creates issues with delays in team development and it impacts the growth of soldiers to improve their competency skills. When soldiers are deployed out on missions, they are expected to be subject matter experts in their jobs and be able to lead themselves or their assigned teams efficiently as many of the missions are time-sensitive. When 55th Signal Company lacks leadership positions, those in position of previous leadership loses balance in work priorities and time management.  In addition to the effects of lack of leadership roles, lack of effective communication also contributes to this challenge.  According to a recent article, “Followers must have a desire to learn, be observant of their leaders, and know what leadership qualities to look for and internalize.” (The Military Leader, 2016). Soldiers must be able to feel confident and empowered by their leaders to take on positions out of their comfort zones. If 55th Signal Company continue to lack leadership roles, mission objectives would be compromised and the company would not reach successful transitions.
Enhance employee productivity, engagement and morale
As a leader in 55th Signal Company there are three important aspects in which can bring successful engagement and productivity amongst lower enlisted soldiers Those three aspects consists of personal connection, meaningful feedback, and breaking hierarchy. All three aspects are all interrelated with each other that can resolve and improve challenges with effective communication and lack of leadership roles. As a leader, it is important that we connect with lower enlisted soldiers and understand them as an individual. This involves learning who they are, their aspirations and goals, fears and concerns, skills and talent, etc. When leaders can relate to their peers and relate on a deeper level, they create personal connection. Leaders can connect in ways that allow soldiers to feel safe and comfortable communicating without feeling sense of intimidation. In return, as leaders we are able to provide meaningful feedback that will help them grow and thrive as future leaders. When leaders are able to provide insight to their performance, soldiers are able to utilize this feedback as a way to challenge themselves. When soldiers are empowered to take on challenges, they are willing to do more, learn more, be more. As leaders, it is also our responsibility that we break hierarchy without losing respect. In other words, when leaders implement effective communication skills, soldiers are able to effectively speak to senior leaders without feeling fear of punishment or intimidation. Soldiers should be able to address any concern or vital information to senior leaders in which can help progress them become potential leaders in the future as well as contributing to the company’s mission objectives. This creates a culture of progression and success.
Recommendations
Majority of the time, 55th Signal Company is equipped with many training exercises and programs that both instill communication and leadership initiatives. Two programs that can potentially improve in these areas of deficiency is Team STEPPs and Afterburner seminars. Team STEPPS is a program developed by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and serves to “enhance communication, as well as other fundamental team processes and states, such as team structure, leadership, situation monitoring, and mutual support.” (AHRQ, 2017). This program helps improve collaboration and awareness. Though it serves as a main focus towards health care, the ideal aspects of the program can effectively eliminate communication barriers in 55th Signal Company. Another program is the Afterburner seminar. The Afterburner Seminars are training workshops that help individuals and teams to solve complex scenarios through communication, problem solving, and active roles. This workshop is customizable to the particular needs of the unit that are applicable to mission objectives. According to Afterburner, “we use exhilarating and fast-paced programs based on exactly that — aimed at altering the way your team thinks about continuous improvement. thereby increasing the adoption and retention of what they’ve learned.” (2018). 55th Signal Company can benefit from this program and produce leaders in an engaging manner without losing soldiers desire to take initiative in leadership positions.
Insight
As a leader in 55th Signal Company, being Open Minded and patient about leading soldiers in the most effective manner can create a culture of enhanced productivity and engagement. When leaders keep an open-minded perspective, they allow soldiers to feel comfortable and secure in communicating and giving feedback. Not only are leaders and lower enlisted soldiers able to have effective communication skills but they are also able to learn from each other. Another insight as leaders is maintaining patience throughout organizational change. Dealing with soldiers in today’s generation requires a lot of time and patience. Change does not occur over night and sometimes there are soldiers with diverse personalities that may create a barrier to effective communication and initiative to take on leadership positions. It is important as leaders we practice patience in order to achieve successful soldier management.
Conclusion
. In Conclusion, there are various challenges in 55th Signal Company that could delay mission readiness and objectives. Two of those challenges pertains to lack of effective communication and lack of leadership roles. Lack of effective communication can cause misunderstanding, conflict, and low morale. While lack of leadership roles can cause lack of team development and future leaders. These challenges impact the way the organization can move forward and deploy at any given notice. As a recommendation, 55th Signal Company can utilize programs such as Team STEPPS and Afterburner to help resolve these challenges. As leaders implementing these programs can help enhance the company’s leadership management approach and improve productivity and soldier engagement.