Empowering Leadership in the Military: Pros and Cons

João Teixeira (), Leonor Pais, Nuno Rebelo dos Santos and Bruno de Sousa
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João Teixeira: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Leonor Pais: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal
Nuno Rebelo dos Santos: Research Centre in Education and Psychology (CIEP-UÉ), School of Social Sciences, Universidade de Évora, 7000-812 Évora, Portugal
Bruno de Sousa: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-115 Coimbra, Portugal

Merits, 2024, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: The military serves as a vital bridge between strategic goals and societal values. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the potential and limitations of Empowering Leadership (EL) in the armed forces. Considering the current post-pandemic context and the geopolitical shifts in a volatile, uncertain, fragile, and complex world, we look at how EL can boost adaptability. We started by addressing military organization structure and evolution, followed by the EL concept and its impact on organizational performance. We discussed its benefits, progress, and role in modern military environments. The analysis points out EL benefits, despite the challenges posed by the military’s strict hierarchy, which can limit EL’s effectiveness, but concluded that this style can be effective when aligned with Mission Command. We analyze EL’s nuances in military settings, presenting three propositions and stating their potential, challenges, and limitations. This study offers insights into leadership dynamics in the military, highlighting the delicate balance between empowerment and traditional structures.

Keywords: empowering leadership; armed forces; military culture; military organization; VUCA/BANI environment; mission command (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J L M (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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