Fear and Intimidation

Fear and Intimidation. Not two words a normal person would consider when thinking about leadership. Can fear and intimidation be used to describe a leader? In my opinion, if a person has to use fear and intimidation to lead, they are not a leader.

If you follow military news, there are recent stories regarding a Naval officer who left command early (not by choice) due to cruelty and maltreatment of the crew, and conduct unbecoming an officer.

This Naval officer led by fear and intimidation. I've included several links below that describe the incidents and stories. If you read some of the comments on a popular military blog, I Like the Cut Of His Jib, you may be surprised and wonder how these stories could even possibly be true.

Even if half the stories are true, how can a Naval officer stay in the U.S. Navy for over 25 years with this type of personality? It sounds like several people complained about the wrath this Naval officer spread, but it fell on deaf ears.It is my opinion that the U.S. Navy failed here. They should not have allowed this person to promote or take command of two ships.

Working for a person in authority who rules by fear and intimidation is cruelty. Officers and sailors can be motivated by this, but it is negative motivation whose results are mediocrity. Who would want to do their best work when no recognition is afforded them. Who wants to go the extra mile if they will be ridiculed or embarrassed in front of their peers and subordinates?

This type of perceived leadership is ineffective. It is not conducive to good order and discipline and the results could be costly and deadly. This Naval officer should have been sent "home" long ago.

Regarding the Navy's stand, what type of leadership did this Naval officer's superiors exhibit when complaints were received. Why did the complaints fall on deaf ears? Was it because this Naval officer was a woman, a woman on the "fast track" destined to become an admiral?

I don't believe her misconduct was gender related, but her being put into positions of increasing responsibility was. Navy leadership failed!

Having served under this Naval officer for 18 months, I know first hand that every story reported and written is very plausible.  I lived through many of them.

There is one good thing from all this; I learned a lot about leadership from this Naval officer; I learned what is not effective when leading officers and sailors.


05 Dec 10: Update from Navy Times (see bottom link below):


"By a vote of 2-1, the board found CAPT Graf had committed misconduct; by unanimous vote, it found she had committed conduct unbecoming of an officer for the maltreatment and cruelty toward her crew as commanding officer of the Yokosuka, Japan-based cruiser Cowpens.  The panel unanimously voted to recommend she be separated from the Navy with a general discharge and be allowed to retire as a captain."

This recommendation will now go to the Secretary of the Navy for approval.


http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1971246,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1969602,00.html
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/03/nt_graf_to_dahlgren_030810w/
http://www.stripes.com/news/admiral-relieves-cowpens-captain-1.98063
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-graf-board-convenes-112910w/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-graf-board-of-inquiry-cruelty-113010w/ 
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/12/01/reckoning-for-a-female-captain-bligh/#comment-220130
http://www.militarycorruption.com/hollygraf5.htm
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/12/navy-officers-in-graf-inquiry-say-they-feared-skipper-120110/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/12/navy-panel-general-discharge-for-captain-holly-graf-120310w/