1) Broadening Opportunities – I will say that overall, I suggest that Broadening is being seen as not a deviation as the next step after KD. Go ahead a check out the Smartbook PAM 600-3 (via MilSuite, under S1Net) and you’ll see that is expressed under your branch’s career chart (possibly called the Talent Management Career Timeline now). I will also add that I think this will very based on branch and what you’ve already done in your rank (ex: Jr vs. Sr CPT time/that’s pre & post KD).

2) Does anyone have a broadening opportunity that they have recent experience with? — Right now I am on track to go to Grad school and then go to USMA to teach, so that is a 4-5 year broadening assignment. I will say that I feel that I’ve had to spend quite a lot of time convincing HRC that going to teach at USMA is an acceptable COA. There’s a very strong stigma against it, at least from the people (to be clear, not branches) I’ve worked with. Over the last few years before going on this track, I’ve had multiple conversations, and even got a call last summer after I had PCS’d to my present assignment (the one I’m moving from to grad school) by a senior officer at HRC who I’ve never worked with before ‘to just double-check’ that I wanted to do this COA. Thus, from some I’ve encountered a lot of resistance that I’m going to ruin my career if I do this. From others (mentors), I’ve been encouraged to go back to the PAM, to look at the 2 & 3rd order effects, and approach my confidence through these routes and understanding.

3) What role does humor play in effective leadership, if any? — ABSOLUTELY humor plays a role! I’ll throw in two cents about humor, and then sarcasm. Humor is very powerful. I concur that elements of humanity and shared experiences are exactly why it is so important. It’s a bit challenging to pin down because you can tell a structured joke, use self-deprecating humor, use different voices or accents (if you’ve got that skill), use your physical body to express movement, or ‘joke/mess around’ with others. The result for me is that it shows the focus on your humor that you are not just your rank, you’re the leader who happens to be wearing it. Also, why the structure of jokes is cerebral, I think it can express to the witness of a good joke that “ah, this person is someone down-to-earth and who I can bring a problem or question to. They might not take it so seriously, as a developmental opp instead of a problem”. Laughing with someone is such a powerful bonding experience, again because it is a human interaction and has nothing to do with the clothes (or rank) you happen to be wearing.

Sarcasm – used appropriately, maybe sparingly, I would encourage very, very rarely with subordinates. Having a good line should not be at the expense of someone else, unless you have their approval (this can be understood from friendships), although sarcasm by it’s nature is at the expenses of a person or an idea. Sarcasm is a tool, but situation dependent.