The „for one another spirit“ - military principle for civilian leaders | Thomas Harbaum | TEDxBerlin

Key Concepts

• Military leadership principles
• Transferability of leadership principles to civilian world
• Authenticity, trust, and vulnerability in leadership
• Complex emergencies and their impact
• Team building and shared consciousness
• Core values and ethical compass
• Self-awareness and self-confidence
• "For one another" spirit

Liberia Ebola Outbreak (2014)

• Context: Liberia ranked among the lowest 10% in the World Development Index.
• Crisis: Hit by an unprecedented Ebola outbreak in September 2014, resulting in thousands of deaths.
• Initial Response: Uncoordinated mix of NGOs, press, and local authorities, described as an "invasion of disaster relief."
• Hans Rosling's Impact:
  • Provided valid statistics on the outbreak.
  • Shared his thoughts and fears, creating trust through transparency and authenticity.
  • Informally took command, leading to a 180-degree shift in the relief effort.
  • Integrated and targeted activities towards a common purpose.

Military Leadership Principles

• Orders vs. Execution: Orders must be followed in the military, but there's a difference between soldiers obeying orders and executing them as a trusting team.
• Trust-Based Teams: When soldiers trust each other and their leader, they know their limits won't be overstretched, risk assessments are sound, and they understand the bigger picture.
• "For One Another" Spirit: Aiming for a team that operates for one another, not just with one another.
• Shared Consciousness: Term coined by General Stan McChrystal, referring to a state where team members have a deep understanding of the mission and each other's roles.

Applying Military Leadership to Civilian Settings

• Complex Emergencies: An epidemic is a complex emergency, and the current global political situation can also resemble one.
• Impact on Organizations: These situations impact the performance of companies, universities, schools, and hospitals.
• Sustainable Transformation: Challenges can be used as opportunities for sustainable transformation of systems.
• Convincing and Visionary Leadership: Requires leadership based on trust in teams.
• Mutual Trust: Trust is not a one-way street; it requires self-confidence and self-awareness from all team members.
• Vulnerability and Authenticity: Opening up and becoming vulnerable are fundamental enablers in building trust.

Core Values and Ethical Compass

• Importance of Core Values: Core values must be identified and agreed upon within teams.
• Non-Negotiable Values: These values are not negotiable and serve as a constant ethical compass.
• Transforming Groups into Teams: Transforming a group of individuals into a trusting team takes time but is worth the effort.
• Coherence: When thinking and acting for each other becomes the guiding principle, coherence is achieved.

Self-Awareness and Personal Transformation

• Becoming Self-Aware: Finding, accepting, and living one's true self.
• Identifying Core Values: Writing down core values and reflecting activities against them.
• Inner Strength: This process supports inner strength, authenticity, and self-consciousness.
• Vulnerability as Strength: Using vulnerability as a strength to prepare the ground for mutual trust.
• Transformation of Mindset: Requires a transformation of one's mindset and the culture in both military and civilian settings.
• Constant Commitment: Requires constant leadership commitment and accountability.

Conclusion

The speaker emphasizes the transferability of military leadership principles, particularly the importance of trust, authenticity, and vulnerability, to the civilian world. The Liberia Ebola outbreak serves as a case study where these principles, exemplified by Hans Rosling, led to a coordinated and effective response. Building a "for one another" spirit within teams, grounded in shared core values and ethical considerations, is crucial for success in both military operations and civilian organizations facing complex challenges. The journey requires self-awareness, personal transformation, and a constant commitment to leadership, but the rewards are significant in terms of team coherence and overall success.