JUHTIMINE EESLIINIL. JUHTIMISNÕUANDED USA ÕHUVÄE KESKASTME, NOOREM- JA ALLOHVITSERIDELE

FRONTLINE LEADERSHIP: LEADERSHIP ADVICE FOR USAF JUNIOR OFFICERS, MID-GRADE OFFICERS, & NCOS

Abstract

The aim of this article is to give an open-eyed insight into what good leadership looks like without the usual cliché-ridden platitudes that may provide momentary feelings of inspiration but prove to be hollow in practice. The authors discuss their personal experience with leadership, support it with credible sources, and throughout maintain an understandable and direct manner. The work carries with it a healthy amount of cynicism, blunt statements, and critical views into the U.S. Air Force. The aim is to provide straightforward mentorship for those seeking frank and honest leadership advice currently lacking in the earlier ranks. The article begins with a discussion on why bad leaders exist in the Air Force: a topic of which every service member has knowledge but it seems to be taboo to publicly acknowledge it. Poor leaders may graduate from the Squadron Officer School, the NCO Academy, or even the Air Command & Staff College. Poor leaders maintaining successful careers is something that is not supposed to happen, but it does, and it must first be acknowledged in order to be addressed. The first part of this article provides the reader with practical lessons on good leadership, focusing on aspects such as humility, followership, empowerment, and mentorship. True leadership is not a single aspect but the sum of them all. The second part provides an example for how some key principles of good leadership may be carried out in practice. It is one thing to tell someone to lead, it is quite another to offer them something they can reasonably emulate. Paraphrasing Winston Churchill: it is a tragedy if a man finds himself unprepared or unqualified in the moment that could have turned out to be his finest hour.