Lens X: A practical approach to taking care of your people

Lens X: A practical approach to taking care of your people
The Journal of Character & Leadership Development, by Daphne DePorres, Matthew Orlowsky, Matthew Horner, David Levy; 4/24
Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), as commissioned officers, are charged to “take care of their people.” While this leadership aphorism makes sense, this article describes what it means in practice. An interdisciplinary USAFA team explored the dynamics of leader development from multiple angles, resulting in a focus on two dimensions (or “lenses”) that help a leader understand what actions can be taken to help an employee achieve subjective well-being at work. The intent is to draw attention to the nature of the interaction with organizational members that foster engagement and need fulfillment. We do that by focusing a leader’s attention on needs, narratives, and micro-exchanges. Those interactions, behaviors, and micro-exchanges are the foundations of and the most tangible, changeable element of climate and culture. This practical lens equips any leader to seize every opportunity to foster fulfillment of the psychological needs for belonging, agency, and efficacy. This framework can be used by anyone but is particularly relevant to supervisors and USAFA cadets who will be entrusted to lead an all-volunteer military force.
Publisher's note: An interesting article on leadership and change management by my friend and colleague Dave Levy, PhD, Professor of Management and Leadership at the US Air Force Academy. He also co-authored three books: The 52nd floor: Thinking deeply about leadership, Attitudes aren't free: Thinking deeply about diversity in the US Armed Forces and Echoes of mind: Thinking deeply about humanship.