gen barry r. mccaffrey, usa (ret.) june 2013 leadership of complex organizations presentation to:...

GEN Barry R. McCaffrey, USA (Ret.)June 2013

www.mccaffreyassociates.com

LEADERSHIP OF COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS

Presentation to:Norwich UniversityTodd Lecture Series

June 11, 2013

BARRY R. McCAFFREYGENERAL, USA (RETIRED)

211 N. Union Street, Suite 100Alexandria, VA [email protected] 1 of 13



BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL BARRY R. McCAFFREY, USA (Ret.)

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AUTHORITY POWER. (Hire-Fire-Promote-Compensate)

EXPERT POWER.(Judgment and Experience Produce Success)

REFERENT POWER.(Does your team see you as a positive example)

LEADING DURING CRISIS

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LEAD YOUR SUBORDINATES.

CONNECT THE TEAM HORIZONTALLY.

REINFORCE YOUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP.

THREE DIMENSIONS OF LEADERSHIP

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WHEN IN CHARGE…TAKE CHARGE.

DEVELOP A PLAN.

MANAGE DOWN ONE LEVEL…SEE DOWN TWO.

DON’T EVER BE SATISFIED.

GO FIRST.

FACTORS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

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THEORY X? (Pain Avoidance – goal disconnect between mission and individual)

THEORY Y? (Success drives individual – pride links individual to mission)

LEADERSHIP ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE

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COGNITIVE DISSONANCE – AUDIENCE FILTERS OUT THE LEADER’S MESSAGE. (Use the right language – common values and link to the past)

PREVENT AUDIENCE CHANGE OF PERCEPTION OF THE LEADER. (Sell the messenger and then the message)

SELL THE REWARDS OF ACCEPTING CHANGE. (We are solving your problems not mine)

ALL CHANGE BOTH GOOD AND BAD –IS RESISTED WITH EQUAL INTENSITY

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FORGET THE MBA MODEL…NOT NUMBERS BUT OUTCOMES.

FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMERS.

BACKWARD PLAN THE BUSINESS CONCEPT (PEOPLE, RESOURCES, PLAN, TIME) HOW DID WE GET TO THE OUTCOME?

DON’T DO PERFECT WORK – ISSUE SIMPLE MISSION AND WARNING ORDERS TO YOUR SUBORDINATES IMMEDIATELY.

DE-CENTRALIZE – GIVE RESOURCES, AUTHORITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO YOUR SUBORDINATE TEAM LEADERS.

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

LEADERS ORGANIZE – DON’T THEORIZE

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BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE. (overweight, alcohol, tobacco, exercise)

GET 31/2 HOURS OF SLEEP, EAT TWO MEALS, READ.

REMEMBER YOUR HONOR. (What would your Mom say?)

AT RETIREMENT – HOW WILL YOU BE VIEWED BY YOUR FAMILY AND THE RISING LEADERSHIP?

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!

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**All data retrieved from the CIA World Fact Book - 2012

PUTTING A VALUE ON AMERICA

Trillions Thousands

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Source: The Gallup Organization, Poll dated June 7-10, 2012

13%

21%

21%

25%

37%

37%

41%

44%

56%

75%

20%

Congress

Television news

Banks

Newspapers

Public Schools

Supreme Court

President

Religion

Police

US Military

0% 40% 60% 80%

29%

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE:A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN

INSTITUTIONS

Medical System

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TEN LEADERSHIP LESSONS

• The difference between being selected as Chairman/CEO or Vice-President.

• The only consistent trait of very successful leaders.

• The relative power of reward and punishment.

• Invest in technical expertise and leadership development – the same as financial controls, marketing, capital investment.

• Decentralize authority, resources, time, and accountability to subordinate commanders.

• Units do what the commander checks.

• Listen to your boss – you may be about to learn something.

• Be careful about competition among subordinate elements using comparative metrics.

• The leader must not share his worst fears with the troops.

• Lessons from Colin Powell – Honor the first line workers.

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LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS – SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE

• Changing a leadership culture cannot be dictated from above.

• Don’t ask people for more than they can do.

• Develop sensible financial controls or someone will steal the money 100% of the time.

• Teach integrity…set the example…always have compassion.

• Only try one major new initiative at a time.

• You cannot borrow a leadership style that does not fit you.

• Dealing with the international community – follow the rules your mother taught you.

• Being out front can be risky.

• Be candid in addressing a personal leadership confrontation but do not lay all your cards on the table – especially in writing.

• If you are a drunk - we’ll never put you in charge.

• How to easily run large, complex organizations.

• Realistic training and rehearsal of procedures will absolutely predict crisis behavior.

• How to successfully execute complex plans.

• You cannot lead if the troops have not granted you their trust.

• When you screw up – aggressively accept personal responsibility.

• Embrace diversity.

• Communications – use the right words.

• Stay scared -- and get in the first punch.

• Only be transparent with a lawyer you are paying.

• Do not forget obedience.

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gen barry r. mccaffrey, usa (ret.) june 2013 leadership of complex organizations presentation to:...

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