Tuesday, February 2, 2010

“Psychology of Leadership from the Battlefield to the Boardroom (Newswise)” plus 2 more

“Psychology of Leadership from the Battlefield to the Boardroom (Newswise)” plus 2 more

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Psychology of Leadership from the Battlefield to the Boardroom (Newswise)

Posted: 02 Feb 2010 11:27 AM PST

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Questions for Col. Tom Kolditz, PhD

Reporters/editors/producers Note: The following feature was produced by the American Psychological Association. Feel free to use it in its entirety or in part; we only request that you credit APA as the source. We also have a photograph of the researcher available to reprint, as well as other experts on this topic.

Newswise — Col. Tom Kolditz, PhD, is a social psychologist, soldier and skydiving instructor. As a professor, APA fellow and chairman of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point, Col. Kolditz studies human behavior and leadership in dangerous and extreme contexts. He has examined research conducted in Iraq during active combat operations and applies it to the challenges of leadership in business and daily living.

APA. Why study people in dangerous environments, such as battlefields or natural disasters?

Kolditz. It's simply good science. Scientific evidence is limited to the context in which it's gathered, and most of our social science is based on evidence accrued in mundane or even controlled settings, in the absence of excitement, fear and awareness of one's eventual death. While it is reasonable to assume these same results could happen in real world settings, it is not reasonable to assume that theories don't require retesting in dangerous environments to make sure the results are similar and not gotten by chance. Extreme contexts demand the replication and extension of scientific work, and this is not a new idea or limited to social psychology.
Also, it's a moral responsibility. The number of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, military personnel, humanitarian aid workers and others working under conditions of physical risk exceeds 5 million people in the United States and 40 million worldwide. We recently watched in horror as the nation of Haiti was plunged into extreme circumstances. All these people deserve social science tailored to the conditions in which they live and work, whether voluntarily as public servants or as victims of natural or man-made disasters. For example, data gathered in combat in Iraq by social psychologist Patrick Sweeney both advanced our understanding of trust formation and has provided the evidentiary basis for leadership education and training to many military, law enforcement and business leadership programs.

APA. How is the information gathered in deadly environments useful in business and other contexts?

Kolditz. Crisis leadership has always been important in business, and even more so given our recent and ongoing economic challenges. In the past, business schools have taught crisis leadership through case studies of business leaders who fought their way out of some extraordinary management challenge. A different, more effective way of understanding how to lead in crisis is to study those who routinely work in extremely risky environments—ground combat leaders, extreme sport coaches, firefighters and others. Their crisis leadership skills are polished, well-developed and effective. All of us, regardless of occupation, can learn a lot about leadership from crisis professionals. For example, research with the West Point parachute team revealed low levels of motivating behavior among highly experienced parachute team leaders, compared to high levels of motivating behavior among team captains of more routine, safer sports. In-depth analysis revealed that dangerous contexts inherently motivated those participating, requiring calming, rather than motivating, leader behaviors. Such insights have led to businesses training middle management in how to regulate employees' emotions relative to the situation, rather than simply providing training in "how to motivate employees."

APA. Can we apply your findings to fighting terrorism – specifically, guarding against acts of violence in airports and airplanes?

Kolditz. Yes. Terrorists use violence to manipulate our feelings of physical and psychological well-being in ways that harm our society—a social phenomenon. In my own work, I've defined in extremis contexts as circumstances where followers believe that leader behavior will influence their physical well-being or survival, so during terrorist events, there is direct application for the leadership lessons we've developed thus far. For example, research has revealed that in dangerous contexts, the levels of perceived competence required for trust development are higher than in ordinary, safe contexts. Security organizations are compelled to account for that in hiring and developing staff. Research has also suggested that compared to people who feel safe, people in fear for their lives are more susceptible to charismatic, persuasive messages than rational or emotional appeals. Anyone communicating during or after a terrorist event can benefit from such knowledge.

APA. Are military leadership skills similar across countries? What role does culture play?

Kolditz. No, leadership skills vary dramatically in the militaries of other countries and cultures. In the United States, we're fortunate to have an all-volunteer military, transformed since the 1980s into a highly educated, well-trained, well-equipped professional force focused on excellence in leadership. As a result, most major U.S. businesses have teams of human resource professionals whose primary function is to directly recruit leaders from our military, especially service academies. Amazingly, in 2009, a service academy, West Point, was named the top college in the United States by Forbes Magazine. In contrast, most other countries use some form of conscription or national service, put much less emphasis on education and leader development, and have much less experience with conflict. The U.S. training teams that are developing the Iraqi police and military forces have to understand how people influence each other in Iraqi culture and teach culturally appropriate principles, rather than attempting to transplant leadership approaches typical of the United States. Five years ago in Afghanistan, professors from West Point helped develop the curriculum and design of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. The focus was not only on academic curriculum and leadership skills, but on developing a leader identity in graduates so that the Afghan military would be better led.

APA. How do the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan uniquely aid psychologists and other researchers who study leadership?

Kolditz. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been, and continue to be, tragic in their human cost, notwithstanding the longer-term promise of stability in the Middle East and beyond. But there are some interesting phenomena for those who study leadership. The unique character of insurgent warfare means small unit leaders, lieutenants and captains, are granted tremendous autonomy in the execution of their missions. This freedom to operate has led to amazing levels of adaptability developed in young leaders in hostile environments. These conflicts are teaching us what the essence of leadership is, and can be, across cultures.

APA. Is leadership in dangerous contexts a valid area of study that is scientifically testable?

Kolditz. It's unquestionably valid and testable. What's key is how to define dangerous contexts. It's not productive to attempt to measure the physical characteristics or outcome probabilities associated with an environment; danger is far too subjective a concept. In my own work, I define leadership in dangerous contexts as giving purpose, motivation and direction to people where there is imminent physical risk, and where followers believe that leader behavior will impact their physical well-being or survival. Follower beliefs are empirically measurable and researchers frequently measure beliefs. Researchers do not, however, routinely measure beliefs where there is significant physical risk to themselves or the subjects of interest. Ethical considerations prevent researchers from creating such conditions, but there are opportunities to collect data where risk is already occurring. Studies following Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, for example, provided data being published now in our journals. In my own work, I have gathered information in active combat zones and in parachute training programs, and from leaders who routinely work in such places.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.


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LA Salle - Team Notes (USA Today)

Posted: 02 Feb 2010 10:07 AM PST

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As an undergrad back in the 1980s, La Salle coach John Giannini majored in psychology. He must be tapping into some of those over 25-year-old classroom lessons this season with his Explorers.

You see, despite being shorthanded due to foot injuries to senior wings Ruben Guillandeaux and Kimmani Barrett and the spring semester-long suspension of Terrell Williams, Giannini has managed to keep his team's collective psyche intact. Despite losing one-third of his nine-man rotation with the injuries and Williams' suspension, Giannini's team is 11-10 overall and 3-4 in Atlantic 10 play.

Not a great record, but not bad considering the circumstances. His team hasn't quit. In fact, they battle hard each and every night, but are done in some nights because of the lack of firepower due to the injuries and Williams' suspension. How has Giannini kept his team's fighting spirit intact? The rapid emergence of 6-10 freshman Aaric Murray into the A-10's best young player has sure helped. A top-50 national recruit out of the Glen Mills (Pa.) School, a school for court adjudicated youth, Murray has been compared to Bob McAdoo by one Philadelphia college basketball writer.

Of course, comparing a freshman to a former NBA great is way premature, but La Salle's young big man has the ability to affect a game with his rare perimeter shooting skills for a 6-10 guy as well as with his rebounding and shot-swatting ability.

"For La Salle to get a player of his caliber is a real credit to their [coaching] staff," said George Washington coach Karl Hobbs of Murray earlier this season. "I see him as the best player in the league [Atlantic Ten] within two years."

Murray's quick ascension to stardom gives the Explorers a pair of pro prospects in its starting five -- the other being La Salle's 6-5 senior Rodney Green (1,745 career points), a stat sheet-stuffing guard who will leave as one of the school's top 10 all-time leading scorers.

Seeing how good La Salle's one-two punch of Green and Murray are makes you wonder just how good these Explorers would have been, if Barrett (13.3 ppg) and Guillandeaux (9.5 ppg) hadn't gotten hurt.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Freshman big man Aaric Murray (12.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), who got into first-half foul trouble and scored just 11 points vs. Temple (a school that recruited him heavily), is the only player in the nation to average at least 2.5 blocks and 1.0 made three-pointers per game. In fact, Murray is the first D-I player since Seton Hall's Eddie Griffin back in 2000-01 to pull off the feat.

--La Salle senior forward Yves Mekongo needs 15 pointsto become the 48thExplorer ever to score 1,000 career points.

--According tokenpom.com, La Salle boasts the third tallest team in the country with an average height of 6-foot-7. Florida State is first (6-feet-7.2 average) and North Carolina is second (6-feet-7.1 average). The long-limbed Explorers lead the A-10 in rebounding margin (+5.8).

ON THE SPOT: With 6-5 senior Ruben Guillandeaux and 6-6 senior Kimmani Barrett (who have scored a combined 1,833 points at La Salle) both on the shelf with foot injuries, La Salle coach John Giannini is asking more from 6-2 freshman Parrish Grant. He'll be needed this week as the Explorers host a pair of tough A-10 foes, Rhode Island and Saint Louis. In particular, Grant's ball-handling skills should be greatly needed against Rhode Island, a team that loves to press opponents.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Since Kimmani (Barrett) went down, we're really reliant on Rodney Green and Aaric Murray. When Rodney and Aaric play well, we're successful. If one of them gets into foul trouble or has a subpar game, we struggle." -- George Washington La Salle coach John Giannini said of his injury-riddled roster.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SEASON RECAP: La Salle was supposed to be a real factor in the Atlantic 10 race this season, but the Explorers' rotation is in shambles -- following foot injuries to key seniors Ruben Guillandeaux and Kimmani Barrett as well as the recent semester-long suspension of 6-8 junior Terrell Williamsand its win-loss record has suffered as a result.

PLAYER ROTATION: Usual starters -- F Steve Weingarten, F Jerrell Williams, C Aaric Murray, G Rodney Green, G Yves Mekongo. Key subs -- G Parrish Grant, F Devon White, G T.T. Carey.

GAME REVIEW:

Charlotte 84, La Salle 82

La Salle 80, Fordham 73

Temple 64, La Salle 52

GAME PREVIEW:

vs. Rhode Island, Tuesday, Feb. 2

vs. Saint Louis, Saturday, Feb. 6

at Duquesne, Sunday, Feb. 14

at Dayton, Thursday, Feb. 18

vs. St. Bonaventure, Sunday, Feb. 21

IN FOCUS: Following its 64-52 loss vs. Temple this past weekend, things won't get any easier as quality foes Rhode Island and Saint Louis visit Tom Gola Arena this week. La Salle, the A-10 leader in rebounding margin, will need to hit the glass with its usual verve to have a chance to sweep these two tough foes.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Ruben Guillandeaux (9.5 ppg in 2009-10) is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right foot. If he can't make it back on the floor soon, then he might have to redshirt this year and return in 2010-11.

--G Kimmani Barrett underwent surgery on his fractured right foot last week and likely won't return until the Atlantic 10 Tournament, if at all. Barrett is averaging 13.3 points and 3.8 rebounds a game this season.

--F Terrell Williams (2.2 ppg in 2009-10), whose twin brother Jerrell starts for the Explorers, has been suspended from La Salle for the entire spring semester for violating university regulations. Terrell Williams will be allowed to re-enroll at La Salle for the summer session and rejoin the team.

Reverse psychology works for Sugar Bear coach (The Log Cabin Democrat)

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 04:56 PM PST

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So much for best-laid plans.

Playing at Natchitoches, La., on Saturday, the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears trailed Northwestern State in the second half.

"I walked into the locker at halftime and said, 'Ladies, I really don't know what to say because I don't know who you are right now; I think they took it to heart," said UCA coach Matt Daniel as he described the scene at Monday's weekly Bearbacker luncheon. "We got off to a fast start in the second half, then hit another lull.

"We couldn't get our team to execute anything all day. I told them (during a timeout), 'You tell me what you want to run and we'll run it,' You're typically talking to four freshmen and a sophomore when you're asking that question and they look at you and say, 'OK, we have no idea.'

"So, I say if nobody wants to run anything, the just go play. And I'll be dogged if they come out of the huddle and call an offensive play and execute it better than any play we've run all day long. It's like reverse psychology 101 and it just happened to work out in our favor." Things are working out favorably so far for the Sugar Bears as they stand 15-5 and are tied for the lead in the Southland Conference East at 5-2.

But they face one of the stiffest challenges of the season Wednesday night against 17-4 Lamar, which is the West leader and unbeaten in conference play.

"We will have our hands full," said Daniel, whose team has won five straight and has assured itself of a winning season. "We will continue to battle. And if we continue to do what we are supposed to do, the results will take care of themselves."

MEN

The UCA men have lost three straight after a home victory over Nicholls State on Scottie Pippen Night.

"I'd give us high grades for playing hard, but we've got to play a little better and play a little harder," said UCA coach Rand Chappell, whose Bears are 7-14, 1-6. "It comes down to making shots. We're struggling, particularly from the 3-point line. We're trying to concentrate on shooting fewer 3s, but you have to have balance.

"I'm frustrated for our guys because they are a pretty good group of guys and they're working hard and trying to get things done and it's not quite working like it should. At other times, I'm frustrated at our guys for not being able to carry out our game plans like they need to and everything else."

Chappell thought the Bears played well in a 60-53 loss to Southeastern Louisiana on the road. The Bears held a team that specializes in 3-point shooting to no 3s until the final two minutes.

"After the game, we thought that team (Southeastern) has a lot of firepower, and we competed to the end," Chappell said. In a 74-68 home loss to Northwestern State, Chappell said, "At the start of the game, we completely didn't guard Will Platt."

Platt, a forward who shoots with his left hand, scored a career-high 29 points, 18 in the first half. He was averaging 10.8 points a game and was four of 28 from the 3-point line.

"The scouting report on him was that he takes it to the left hand and drives to the hole every time," Chappell said. "Probably the last two games, five times he had driven to the basket, scored and got fouled. In the scouting report, it was you can get a late hand on his jump shot but don't let him go by you. 

"As coaches, we take responsibility for that being a little misleading in that he made shot after shot. As players, you've got to take responsibility that (4 of 28 3-point shooting) you don't have to guard him. If he's gone shoot the ball there (long range), you've got to be up on him a little bit and still not let him get by. You've got to be able to do both."

In the Northwestern game, the UCA point guards had one assist and 10 turnovers against the Demon pressure.

"I don't know if I've ever heard of a team winning in that situation," Chappell said.

The Bears travel to Lamar (10-2 at home) on Wednesday night, then continue on the road to Sam Houston State, which is undefeated in conference play.

"I thought from the beginning of the season they were the favorite and they are kind of proving that," Chappell said. "It's a cahnce to measure ourselves against the top team in the league. It's college basketball. If you go in there a play a good game and get it going, you have a chance to win any given night."

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