LTC Kunk Leadership Style

One of the many Army clichés LTC Kunk tries to operate by is “teach, coach, [and] mentor” (Fredrick, 2017, p 27). Teaching, coaching, and mentoring is defined as “…[instructing] by precept, example, or experience”, “one who instructs or trains, and “a trusted counselor or guide”, respectively. With this knowledge, it becomes clear if a person were to follow these three ideals they would more than likely be an engaged and effective leader. The significance of being an engaged leader is often understated in many corporations and even more so within the United States Army. This has the potential to birth and cultivate a multitude of problems. The leadership of Army units often sets the tone for the command climate and culture. Whether or not a leader, be it an officer or not, is engaging has the potential to create an environment where …show more content…
LTC Kunk’s staff officers and other subordinate officer’s not responsible for his line units, such as the intelligence and medical officers, “found him to be a praiseworthy, even inspiring leader” (Fredrick, 2017, p 36). However, some of LTC Kunk’s staff officers purposely evaded direct criticism (Fredrick, 2017, p 36). Furthermore, LTC Kunk’s line units, the units he directly influenced the morale and performance of, describe him treating “his subordinates with nastiness and impatience they had never seen before” (Fredrick, 2017, p 33). Additionally, Fredrick states LTC Kunk approached his soldiers who made an error, no matter how small, with belittlement (Fredrick, 2017, p 33). Later, LTC Kunk is described as humiliating and assailing his subordinate’s qualifications to hold command and even question the amount they cared for their men’s well being if they did not have the answer he wanted to hear immediately (Fredrick, 2017, p 34). These behaviors are significant because they do not enable LTC Kunk to be an engaged