Mastering Leadership Concepts: “Be water, my friend.”
NOTE: The Military-Affiliated Tribe (MAT) refers to military-affiliated students, all service members, all veterans, and their family members, regardless of their affiliation with Austin Peay State University.
MAT members often face unique challenges when transitioning into civilian life or navigating their careers. Leadership is a critical skill in both military and civilian contexts. However, many practices must be left behind, including the famous “knife hand.”
We have all encountered various types and methods of leadership throughout our lives and careers. We found some leaders inspiring and some lacking. So, what made the difference? Some may answer that the leader was kind, compassionate, direct, or had many other traits. However, the answer is much more straightforward: fluidity. Mastering a fluid leadership style can significantly enhance one’s influence and effectiveness.
This article explores how the Path-Goal Theory of Leadership and Bruce Lee’s philosophy of adaptability and fluidity can guide MAT members in developing versatile leadership skills.
The Path-Goal Theory of Leadership
The Path-Goal Theory, created by Robert House, suggests that effective leaders help their team members reach their goals by clearing obstacles and offering the proper support. This theory highlights four main types of leadership behaviors:
Directive Leadership: This style is about providing clear instructions and setting expectations. Think of it as giving detailed directions on a road trip. You ensure everyone knows the route, the destination, and the steps to get there. It’s helpful when tasks are complex or team members need specific guidance to avoid confusion.
Supportive Leadership: This approach focuses on caring for your team’s well-being. It’s like being a good friend who listens and offers a helping hand when needed. Supportive leaders create a positive work environment, showing empathy and understanding. This style is instrumental when team members face stress or personal challenges, as it helps to boost morale and job satisfaction.
Participative Leadership: Here, leaders actively involve their team in decision-making. Imagine planning a group outing where everyone can choose the destination and activities. This inclusive approach helps team members feel appreciated and respected, encouraging a sense of ownership and teamwork. It’s particularly effective when you need diverse perspectives and buy-in for the decisions.
Achievement-Oriented Leadership: This style is about setting high goals and expressing confidence in the team’s ability to achieve them. Think of it like a coach encouraging their athletes to break records. Achievement-oriented leaders inspire their teams to reach new heights by challenging them and showing faith in their capabilities. This approach is excellent for highly motivated teams who thrive on overcoming challenges and achieving excellence.
The Path-Goal Theory can be particularly beneficial for MAT members as it aligns with the structured yet supportive environment often experienced in military settings. However, to fully leverage this theory, one must embody the flexibility and adaptability that Bruce Lee championed.
Bruce Lee’s Philosophy of Adaptability and Fluidity
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle; you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee Bruce Lee’s quote emphasizes the importance of adaptability and responsiveness to changing circumstances. For emerging leaders, this means being able to switch between different leadership styles as needed, much like water taking the shape of its container.
Integrating Path-Goal Theory and Bruce Lee’s Philosophy
Empty Your Mind: Clear your mind of rigid preconceptions and biased assumptions. Approach each leadership situation with openness and readiness to adapt. For instance, imagine you’re a senior leader in a corporate setting, overseeing a diverse team of employees. One of your employees is working on a high-priority project requiring creativity and precision. An assumption you can make about that employee is that they would benefit from a direct approach due to their role and background. However, approaching this leadership situation with openness and readiness to adapt creates an environment where employees feel valued and empowered to perform at their best.
Be Formless, Shapeless: Adapt your leadership style to fit the situation. In a directive role, provide clear guidance; in a supportive role, show empathy and understanding. This adaptability is crucial in diverse environments, such as a university with a mix of civilian and military-affiliated students and employees.
Water in a Cup/Bottle/Teapot: Just as water takes the shape of its container, adjust your leadership to the needs of your team. For example, in a participative role, involve military spouses in decision-making processes about family support programs, acknowledging their unique perspectives.
Flow or Crash: Know when to be gentle and when to be forceful. In some situations, such as addressing personal challenges faced by veterans, a supportive approach is needed. An achievement-oriented approach is more effective in others, like driving a project to completion.
Potential Pitfalls and Balancing Techniques
While flexibility is crucial, there are potential pitfalls if not balanced correctly:
Over-Adaptation: Constantly changing your style without a clear purpose can lead to confusion. Ensure that your adaptability is strategic and aligned with your team’s goals.
Follower Dependence: Excessive support can make followers overly dependent on the leader. Encourage independence by gradually reducing support as followers become more competent.
Complexity and Ambiguity: Balancing multiple leadership styles can be complex. Continuous self-reflection and feedback from your team can help you navigate this complexity.
MAT Applicability
Leaders at all levels, whether in military service or civilian roles, can significantly enhance their effectiveness by adopting a fluid leadership style. Service members and veterans are accustomed to operating in high-stakes environments, requiring swift adaptation of leadership styles to enhance mission success and team cohesion.
Example: In Combat Situations: Directive leadership is often necessary, but post-mission debriefs might benefit from participative leadership to gather diverse insights.
During Training: Achievement-oriented leadership can push service members to excel, while supportive leadership ensures their well-being.
Conclusion
A fluid leadership style is essential for MAT members transitioning into civilian roles or navigating their careers. By integrating the Path-Goal Theory of Leadership with Bruce Lee’s philosophy of adaptability, leaders can enhance their effectiveness and resilience. Remember, “Be like water, my friend”—adapt, flow, and sometimes crash through the obstacles in your path to success.
The Military-Affiliated Professionals Program
The MAPP provides all manners of career service to the military-affiliated students of Austin Peay State University. This population is estimated to be about one-third of its total student population.
In addition, the MAPP extends its services to all service members, veterans, military and veteran spouses, and military and veteran family members, regardless of their affiliation with Austin Peay State University.
Services can be provided virtually or in person under the MAPP. Let us know your needs, and we will tailor our services to meet them.
Austin Peay State University’s commitment to our service members and veteran communities remains unmatched.
To take advantage of the services offered by the MAPP, contact us at,
Call or text: 931-221-7930
Email: mapp@apsu.edu.
Email: mapp@apsu.edu
If you would like to donate to our program, visit http://give.apsu.edu/. Select Newton Military Family Resource Center Fund of Excellence. The Military-Affiliated Professionals Program falls within that category.
Austin Peay State University
At APSU, we proudly serve you during your academic career. We are invested in your success and have created a division dedicated to our Military-Affiliated Students and their families. The Military and Veterans Affairs Division comprises several offices and resource centers trained to help you fully utilize your education benefits. From offering condensed 8-week courses through the Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell to getting career advice from our Military-Affiliated Professionals Program, we are ready to support your success.
Friends of the MAPP
