Developing adaptive leaders

According to a recent report from the Institute for Defense Analysis, conventional mindsets and cold- war- era tactics are no longer sufficient for dealing with "fourth-generation wars" - small wars characterized by irregular enemy forces that have varied objectives. 1 The recent Army Leadership Development and Training Panel concluded that adaptability and self- awareness are critical skills for leaders.2 In support of that finding, Army leadership standards now incorporate adaptability as a core competency.3 However, more work remains to be done in developing the adaptive capabilities of Army leaders. [...]the SF selection model has moved to a "whole man" concept that considers the full range of an individual's strengths and weaknesses when making a selection decision.4 In this model, SF candidates are evaluated on six major dimensions: intelligence, trainability, judgment, influence ability, physical fitness and motivation.