Moral Conflict Courageous Leadership CH MAJ Robert W

Moral Conflict & Courageous Leadership CH (MAJ) Robert W. Boettcher USAACE Ethicist 1

Professional Military Education System Education – (Latin) educare which means “to lead out” and “to nourish. ” q “to lead out” of ignorance; from a lack of knowledge. Purpose of Education – is to provide information in order to cultivate, indoctrinate, and improve the mind and therefore, behavior. Cultivate thinking and behavior 2

Introductory Observation Do you believe your leadership is going to create conflict for you? 1. Courage begins with an inward battle 2. Courage in leadership is balancing a giant 3. Courage is making things right 4. Courage makes all other virtues possible 3

Introductory Observation Fact: As a leader you will have inward conflict within yourself, as well as outward conflict with your formations. Therefore: As a leader you are a conflict manager … you operate in conflict … conflict is your business … conflict is why your leadership is needed in the first place. 4

Introductory Conclusion Courage is the ability to move forward in spite of pain, grief, or fear. Fear is anything that causes unpleasant emotions from being mildly alarmed to terrified. Public speaking … confrontation … performing in front of others … failing ADRP-1; 2 -19. Leadership demands courage. Our mission, our duty, and life itself require we reject cowardice—we accept risk, overcome adversity, and face our fears. 5

Starting Point for Leadership Personal Identity • • know your personal descriptive identity know your identity in the Army culture A crisis in both personal identity and how one relates to the Army ethos (i. e. my beliefs, values, strengths, weaknesses, fears, and confidence) ill equips leaders with the necessary skills to lead effectively. 6

Terminal Learning Objective ACTION: Discuss how to manage conflict in Leadership. CONDITION: Given a directive to explain how to manage conflict the learner will be in a classroom environment given applicable references, scenarios, video, and conducting a facilitated discussion about courage in leadership. STANDARD: The learner must demonstrate comprehension of the task in accordance with the performance measured verbally through class participation. 7

Purpose The intent of this class is not necessarily on how you should lead, but rather on identifying personal conflict and your leadership style. Key Question: “Am I creating too much conflict in my leadership style or not enough? ” “What decisions can I live with? ” “Am I too strict or not strict enough? ” “Can I conquer fear or do I fear others too much? ” “Do I possess the character traits necessary to lead effectively? ” 8

Lesson Data Safety Requirements – None Risk Assessment – Low Environmental Considerations – It is the responsibility of all Soldiers and DA civilians to protect the environment from damage. 9

Resources • ADP 6 -22 – Army Leadership and the Profession (change 1, 25 Nov 2019) • Lane, Timothy S. and Paul David Tripp. “How People Change, ” Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2008. • Kouzes, James M. , and Barry Z. Posner. “The Leadership Challenge, ” 4 th ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishing, 2007. 10

Instructions Plot & Action: Watch a 12 minute video clip of “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” and assess 3 very different leadership styles. A novel by Patrick O’Brian about a commander and physician during the Napoleonic wars in 1801 -1815. The story follows the adventures of two ships in battle: the Surprise (a 14 gun ship of the royal navy; British) and the Acheron (a French ship). • Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) – Commander (Captain) of the gun ship Surprise. • Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) – Irish physician appointed by Aubrey to be his naval surgeon • Hollom (Lee Ingleby) – Naval cadet; an officer below a lieutenant (i. e. midshipman) 11

Exercise Discussion Question 1: Courage begins with an inward battle. Based on the video clip and personal experience, what kind of inward battle must one fight in order to be courageous in the following characters: 1) Captain Jack Aubrey? 2) Midshipmen Hollom? 3) Naval Surgeon Stephen Maturin? 12

Exercise Continued Discussion Question 2: Aubrey says, “Don’t set out to make friends, they think you weak. Nor be a tyrant. It is leadership they want, it is strength. ” Courage in leadership is balancing a giant: when to be friendly and when to be stern. In considering the leader-follower relationship and unit cohesion based in the video clip and personal experience: 1) What are the positive effects of courage (Aubrey)? 2) What are the negative effects of cowardice and foolhardiness (Hollom)? 13

Exercise Continued Discussion Question 3: Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over. Based on the video clip and personal experience, what leader actions demonstrate courage, that is, making things right? 1) Captain Jack Aubrey? 2) Naval Surgeon Stephen Maturin? 14

Exercised Continued Discussion Question 4: Courage makes all other virtues possible. Virtues are those qualities of moral excellence that are developed through the seven Army values. A lack of courage in failing to do the right thing is a moral breakdown. 1) Why do people collapse morally? 2) What does it take to develop courage? 3) What is the relationship between courage, commitment, character, and 15 self-discipline?

Exercise Answers Captain Jack Aubrey? The inward battle is: a. “What can I live with? ” 1) Do my actions produce the intended result? a) Does it demonstrate fair and impartial care for the Soldier to others? b) Is it painful enough to deter future unwanted behavior? c) Does it allow for a full recovery (redemption)? Midshipmen Hollom? The inward battle is: a. “I cannot conquer fear because I fear others too much. ” 1) He cared too much what others thought of him. 2) He felt there was no redemption for his fear, since he feared what he could not control. 3) He felt he had no advocate, but the one young seaman who wasn’t enough. Dr. Stephen Maturin? The inward battle is: a. “I need to protect those who have no voice. ” 1) He struggled with balancing empathy and wanting to ease the Sailor’s pain. 2) He was frustrated with the idea that CPT Aubrey was not affirming his complaint. 16 3) He struggled between friendship and counselor to CPT Aubrey.

Exercise Answers 1. What are the positive effects of courage in balancing a giant (Aubrey)? a. A clear example of leadership is displayed. b. Order is maintained in the ranks. c. Respect is coveted (treat people as they should be treated – i. e. fair) 2. What are the negative effects of cowardice and foolhardiness in not balancing a giant (Hollom)? a. The Sailor (Soldier) is put at risk. b. Respect is mocked. c. Destructive behavior spreads like a cancer. 17

Exercise Answers Captain Jack Aubrey in making things right? a. He publically demonstrated courage after Midshipman Hollom demonstrated cowardice. b. He doctrinally executed justice for injustice (reclaimed respect and order). c. He rebuked Midshipman Hollom’s fear, but paved the way to courageous leadership. Naval Surgeon Stephen Maturin in making things right? a. He had the courage to candidly disagree with the CDR and demonstrate another possible right. b. He had the courage to support the CDR and submit to his finally decision. c. He had the courage to maintain his friendship with CPT Aubrey. 18

Exercise Answers 1. Why do people collapse morally? a. Not sustaining personal maintenance in personal identity. (1) Mental identity … spiritual identity … physical identity 2. What does it take to develop courage and overcome fear? a. Training, education, time, perseverance, learning to manage fear, interaction with others, etc. 3. What is the relationship between courage, commitment, character, and self-discipline? What do all of these have in common? They are learned a. Commitment is being self-disciplined to a set of standards that develops the character required to be courageous … (i. e. moral courage). 19

The Captain’s Funeral Speech “The simple truth is not all of us become the men [and women] we once hoped we would be. We are all God’s creatures. If there are those among us who thought ill of Mr. Hollom, spoke ill of him, we failed him in respect to fellowship. And we ask for your forgiveness Lord. And we ask for his. ” People are our responsibility and our business. As a leader you are a conflict manager … you operate in conflict … conflict is your business. 20

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