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In posting #4, we challenged ourselves to consider how much time we allocate toward actually
"reflecting" as opposed to time spent persistently "performing". Moreover, the purpose of our reflection was just as important - ethical clarity.

"Managers assert drive and control to get things done; leaders pause to discover new ways of being and achieving." (Kevin Cashman, "The Pause Principle; Step back to Lead Forward")

With the layers of disruption facing organizations today, complex and ambiguous problems are the new norm and the clarity leaders spend great energy aspiring to attain is rarely readily apparent.

Wicked problems require messy solutions

Colonel Timothy Winand, prior CO of 1st Battalion 2nd Marines and panelist at the 2017 Professionalism Summit held this week in Annapolis, MD offered this quote:

"Soldiers are not machines but human beings who must be led in war. Each one of them acts 'differently' at 'different' times, and must be handled 'each' time according to his particular reaction. To sense this and arrive at the correct psychological solution is part of the art of leadership." (Adolf Von Schell)

Consider this:

Command leaders must attain trust and confidence throughout their organizations where Sailors and Marines are deliberately and consistently engaging each other - hopefully with "correct psychological solutions".

But…how do you attain "correct" solutions?
How do you imbue your leaders to understand and cultivate “correct” solutions?

A leader’s ethical clarity is the great equalizer:

This is not a grow just in time solution! When you need it...you need it!

Further still:

Leaders often spend too much time focused on the solution, the results, rather than the process. However, when reflecting on "correct psychological solutions", leaders should spend a majority of their time focused on the word "correct" rather than "solutions". So, there is something to discover and get right…even before the "process"...

.....and.....

.....it’s called character.....

Character Process Results

I offer Brett Ledbetter’s short video on "Building Your Inner Coach" to sum this up.

How are you building your inner coach?