Blackjack Self Study #47: BG (Ret.) Bolduc — The 4 Key Elements to Successful Senior Leadership

This week’s selection was written by BG (Ret.) Don Bolduc and published on Small Wars Journal this past April. BG (Ret.) Bolduc is the former commander of Special Operations Command — Africa and led Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan shortly after the 9–11 Attacks in 2003. You can read more about him and his Soldiers in the Doug Stanton book “Horse Soldiers” which recently was turned into the movie “12 Strong” about how his teams fought with the Northern Alliance against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in 2003. It’s a phenomenal read and proof that horseback cavalry still has utility on the modern battlefield.

BG (Ret.) Bolduc is also a champion of advocacy regarding destigmatizing Post Traumatic Stress and mental health issues.

In the article BG (Ret.) Bolduc discusses four key elements of leadership to include humility in leadership, providing top cover for mistakes, failure as a teaching tool, and organizational change. You will see similarities in these points and elements from the leadership philosophy I’ve published to the squadron.

RTE Humility on the Leadership Operations Overlay along Axis Intent is essential to providing honest, candid, and open leadership towards Objective Mission Command.

Use of mistakes as training tools and vehicles towards improvement are essential. Mistakes are only a problem when they are repetitive and go uncorrected over time. Use of mistakes as learning opportunities for individual and collective improvement are necessary. No one is perfect and I believe no one fails on purpose — everyone generally tries to do the right thing and has pride in their profession and conduct. While outliers occasionally present themselves we have to have faith and trust in those we work with. When they stray outside these boundaries we must hold them accountable and give opportunities for improvement.

Organizational change is necessary and healthy to innovative and progressing institutions. This of where your platoon, troop, or the squadron was when you arrived and where you are now. Change is good as it contributes to the progression and advancement of skills and readiness over time. It bolsters efficiency and effectiveness. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. As we identify shortcomings in processes and procedures we must actively seek to make those systems better so we collectively improve.

Lastly, thank you all for the diligence and hard work you’ve put in over the past 6 months. The squadron is better because of your efforts. As we depart for opportunity leave today enjoy your time with friends and family. You have earned time to unwind and rebalance over the next two weeks. I will not be sending out another Self Study reading during block leave so this can marinate until we return and get back after it with the Spur Ride, Squadron Ball, Family Spur Ride, and our next squadron collective training events in late summer.

Thank you for all you do every day to keep us Ready.

Question for Discussion:

1. How do you implement this four elements to your leadership style as a platoon leader/platoon sergeant, staff officer or NCO, Commander, or First Sergeant?