PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FUTURE OFFICERS' ATITUDES TOWARDS THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the prioritization of leadership competencies by male and female future officers through their assessment of the importance of behavioral standards for effective mission accomplishment and improvement of military force structure. The study was conducted within the framework of the pilot project. Fifty cadets, including 37 men and 13 women, studying at the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies in the specialty “Military Management” were selected as the respondents. The cadets were asked to fill out personality questionnaires, based on a list of behavioral standards as indicators of leadership competencies developed in accordance with the Doctrine ADP 6-22 «Army Leadership and the Profession».

The main criteria for cadets to assess the leadership effectiveness is competence, which manifests itself in the ability to persuade others to go beyond self-interest and begin to work for the common good. Gained results showed some gender-related differences. Female cadets see the capacity development of leadership in prioritizing competencies of human resource management, namely effective communication skills and the ability to enhance confidence in a group. At the same time, they consider leadership competencies a result of their ambition for self-development. Consequently, it can be argued that the emotional aspect of leadership competence is regarded by female cadets as the most important. Male cadets regard the functional aspect of leadership competencies as determinative, since they view leadership behavioral standards as practical tools for setting and achieving a goal (mission). Male cadets believe that a certain distance should be maintained between the leader and the rest of the group; the criterion of his effectiveness is not interpersonal relations with subordinate staff, but the completing the assignment. Male cadets as well as female ones adopt an integral approach to understanding of military leadership that combines the paradigms of command spirit and charismatic personality. The integration of the individual and command nature of leadership is the essence of integral approach that combines the immanent need of an individual to find his identity, and the ability to subject his/her interests to interests of the military organization (mission).

leadership competencies as a result of their ambition for self-development. Consequently, it can be argued that the emotional aspect of leadership competence is regarded by female cadets as the most important. Male cadets regard the functional aspect of leadership competencies as determinative, since they view leadership behavioral standards as practical tools for setting and achieving a goal (mission). Male cadets believe that a certain distance should be maintained between the leader and the rest of the group; the criterion of his effectiveness is not interpersonal relations with subordinate staff, but the completing the assignment. Conclusions. Male cadets as well as female ones adopt an integral approach to understanding of military leadership that combines the paradigms of command spirit and charismatic personality. The integration of the individual and command nature of leadership is the essence of integral approach that combines the immanent need of an individual to find his identity, and the ability to subject his/her interests to interests of the military organization (mission).