Doug Cartland's Four-Minute Leadership Advisory
Doug Cartland, Inc.
10/01/2013

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Absenteeism is a leadership issue.

 

I recently read Charles Glass' superb new book, The Deserters, in which he follows the story of three soldiers during WW II, two American one British. At some point in their military careers, during this second war to end all wars, they walked off the line...they deserted.

 

Glass often quotes a 1943 groundbreaking study called, Psychology for the Fighting Man, Prepared for the Fighting Man Himself, written by the Committee of the National Research Council with Collaboration of Science Service as a Contribution to the War Effort (a mouthful, I know).

 

In it, is this unequivocal statement: "Most serious of all the causes for an epidemic of dissension is the bad leader."

 

As a case in point, Glass gives us the 36th Infantry Division (all italics are mine)...

 

"Morale collapsed...as units fought below strength because of delays in dispatching replacements to the front. Until then, the 36th led the army's infantry divisions in the number of decorations it received.

 

"Major General John E. Dahlquist, the 36th Division's commander, observed...that his troops were losing both efficiency and aggressiveness. He also detected a steep decline in morale, which he measured in a manner familiar to military commanders throughout history: the percentage of men who avoided battle.

 

"Dahlquist attributed some of the desertions to the heavy loss of officers and noncoms and their replacement by those lacking both field experience and acquaintance with the men they commanded. Desertion was an indication of poor leadership.

 

"Earlier in the war, Major General J.A. Ulio, the army's advocate general, had written, 'All officers...must understand that absenteeism is a serious reflection on leadership. They must develop that spirit of comradeship and responsibility among the men which is the best deterrent to absenteeism.'"

 

In addition...

 

"General Dahlquist saw the men of the 36th Division, even when they were willing to fight, were too exhausted to do it properly. Colonel [Paul D.] Adams told Dahlquist that the men needed some time off. The 36th had no choice but to raise men's spirits. Otherwise, unnecessary deaths and desertions would doom the [coming] assault..."

 

To that end the Commander ordered the opening of a center for rest and recreation for the men of the 36th and they rotated them through it so their bodies would be refreshed and their spirits revived.

 

To sum up: a majority of desertions and absenteeism was caused by bad leadership. And that bad leadership was shown by...

 

  1. Troops fighting below strength (Not enough men for the job at hand...understaffed. Thus men had to do more than their share and put in more time than they should.)
  1. Inexperienced leaders.
  1. Leaders not taking an interest in and getting to know their men. (Knowing them, understanding them, seeing after their needs.)
  1. Camaraderie (trust, care and closeness) not developed between the men. (And so many scoff at teambuilding and relationship development. Really?)
  1. Little sense of responsibility or accountability fostered between the men. (Not wanting to let one's boss, fellow employees or colleagues down. Poor leadership foments the opposite.)
  1. Fatigue from overwork is allowed to overwhelm the men. (When fatigue comes in, morale and motivation go out.)

What causes the majority of desertions and absenteeism in war is the same that causes the majority of turnover and absenteeism in business.

 

Of course, some turnover and absenteeism is inevitable. But if yours is higher than your industry average or higher than other departments within your organization or simply unreasonably high, then you need to look in the mirror.

 

If your people don't want to work for you the problem is not them...the problem is most likely...you.

 

It's a tough pill to swallow, I know. But honest assessment is the precursor to substantive change.

 

And change you can.
I'd love to hear from you. Reply to this email and let me know your thoughts. 

 

Doug

 

Doug Cartland, President
Doug Cartland, Inc.

 

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