Compare the Navy definition of leadership on p. xxi with the Army’s definition. How are they similar? How are they different?

Leadership is defined in many ways and depending on how is applied to the structure of an organization will influence the climate, morale and the overall performance of the employees. Looking at the differences and similarities of how the Navy and the Army define the concept of leadership is inevitable to find gaps and conflicts in the way the Navy defines leadership.

The definition of leadership found on the book Turn the Ship Around is according to the Navy’s perspective. “Leadership is the art, science, or gift by which a person is enabled and privilege to direct the thought, plan and action of other in such a manner as to obtain and command their obedience, their respect, and their loyal cooperation” (Marquet, 2015, p. xxi). On the other hand, the Army defines leadership as “the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.” (Field Manual, 6-22). According to the Navy’s definition leadership is about controlling people. A person that is being controlled work under pressure and it won’t perform as great as a person that is working in an environment that allows space to self-grow professionally without feeling fear of the decisions he/she made.
In contrast to the Navy’s definition, the Army motivates everyone to become a leader and to pursue actions and shape their own decisions for the greater good of the organization. While the Navy’s definition of leadership creates division between the soldiers, leaving us with two types of soldiers; those that give orders and those who followed them, the Army’s definition of leadership recognizes that every person has the ability and potential to be a leader.

Both interpretations of leadership have the same goal, but the way they are written will lead to two different results on the organizational climate. We need to ask ourselves what is the image of leadership that we want to enforce in our organization and why do we want others to follow us.

-Stephanie