Thursday, September 16, 2004
Help is on the way?
“I will give them the chance to make mistakes out there.”
- Rep. Porter Goss
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20308-2004Sep14.html
It is a truism in Military and Intelligence circles that the zero defect mentality is the guiding maxim of leadership. A mistake free bland record is a surer guide to promotion than a string of successes broken by one error. Many onerous and stifling decisions are made by leaders who know that the subordinate’s mistakes will destroy the leader’s career. In other words, a leader wants a team that never drops the ball. He demands whatever is necessary to hold on to the ball, because at the end of the day keeping the ball is far better for his career that putting points on the scoreboard. But the players are human beings who inevitably will fumble. A leader needs to accept this fact and still encourage the risk taking needed to score. This type of leadership strengthens the entire team. If, as CIA Director, Porter Goss stays true to his word he will begin to change the mentality of intelligence teams all over the government. The cultural change would be a real step in improving the defense of this nation. That alone is worth his confirmation.
- Rep. Porter Goss
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20308-2004Sep14.html
It is a truism in Military and Intelligence circles that the zero defect mentality is the guiding maxim of leadership. A mistake free bland record is a surer guide to promotion than a string of successes broken by one error. Many onerous and stifling decisions are made by leaders who know that the subordinate’s mistakes will destroy the leader’s career. In other words, a leader wants a team that never drops the ball. He demands whatever is necessary to hold on to the ball, because at the end of the day keeping the ball is far better for his career that putting points on the scoreboard. But the players are human beings who inevitably will fumble. A leader needs to accept this fact and still encourage the risk taking needed to score. This type of leadership strengthens the entire team. If, as CIA Director, Porter Goss stays true to his word he will begin to change the mentality of intelligence teams all over the government. The cultural change would be a real step in improving the defense of this nation. That alone is worth his confirmation.
