Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons

The military serves as a vital bridge between strategic goals and societal values. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the potential and limitations of Empowering Leadership (EL) in the armed forces. Considering the current post-pandemic context and the geopolitical shifts in a volatile, unce...

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Main Authors: João Teixeira, Leonor Pais, Nuno Rebelo dos Santos, Bruno de Sousa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Merits
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8104/4/4/26
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author João Teixeira
Leonor Pais
Nuno Rebelo dos Santos
Bruno de Sousa
author_facet João Teixeira
Leonor Pais
Nuno Rebelo dos Santos
Bruno de Sousa
author_sort João Teixeira
collection DOAJ
description The military serves as a vital bridge between strategic goals and societal values. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the potential and limitations of Empowering Leadership (EL) in the armed forces. Considering the current post-pandemic context and the geopolitical shifts in a volatile, uncertain, fragile, and complex world, we look at how EL can boost adaptability. We started by addressing military organization structure and evolution, followed by the EL concept and its impact on organizational performance. We discussed its benefits, progress, and role in modern military environments. The analysis points out EL benefits, despite the challenges posed by the military’s strict hierarchy, which can limit EL’s effectiveness, but concluded that this style can be effective when aligned with Mission Command. We analyze EL’s nuances in military settings, presenting three propositions and stating their potential, challenges, and limitations. This study offers insights into leadership dynamics in the military, highlighting the delicate balance between empowerment and traditional structures.
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spelling doaj-art-41705b6e6b4f4d83bea9e16882ede8732025-08-20T02:57:02ZengMDPI AGMerits2673-81042024-10-014434636910.3390/merits4040026Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and ConsJoão Teixeira0Leonor Pais1Nuno Rebelo dos Santos2Bruno de Sousa3Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, PortugalFaculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, PortugalResearch Centre in Education and Psychology (CIEP-UÉ), School of Social Sciences, Universidade de Évora, 7000-812 Évora, PortugalFaculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, PortugalThe military serves as a vital bridge between strategic goals and societal values. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the potential and limitations of Empowering Leadership (EL) in the armed forces. Considering the current post-pandemic context and the geopolitical shifts in a volatile, uncertain, fragile, and complex world, we look at how EL can boost adaptability. We started by addressing military organization structure and evolution, followed by the EL concept and its impact on organizational performance. We discussed its benefits, progress, and role in modern military environments. The analysis points out EL benefits, despite the challenges posed by the military’s strict hierarchy, which can limit EL’s effectiveness, but concluded that this style can be effective when aligned with Mission Command. We analyze EL’s nuances in military settings, presenting three propositions and stating their potential, challenges, and limitations. This study offers insights into leadership dynamics in the military, highlighting the delicate balance between empowerment and traditional structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8104/4/4/26empowering leadershiparmed forcesmilitary culturemilitary organizationVUCA/BANI environmentmission command
spellingShingle João Teixeira
Leonor Pais
Nuno Rebelo dos Santos
Bruno de Sousa
Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
Merits
empowering leadership
armed forces
military culture
military organization
VUCA/BANI environment
mission command
title Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
title_full Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
title_fullStr Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
title_full_unstemmed Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
title_short Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons
title_sort empowering leadership in the military pros and cons
topic empowering leadership
armed forces
military culture
military organization
VUCA/BANI environment
mission command
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8104/4/4/26
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AT leonorpais empoweringleadershipinthemilitaryprosandcons
AT nunorebelodossantos empoweringleadershipinthemilitaryprosandcons
AT brunodesousa empoweringleadershipinthemilitaryprosandcons