Identifying critical skills, knowledge, and attributes of army personnel assigned to leadership positions: A case study utilizing a mixed methodology

This study examined the leadership effectiveness and performance of junior noncommissioned officers assigned to fill key organization positions from a senior leader perspective. The goal of this case study was to generate information about perceived management and leadership skills, knowledge, and attributes regarding their leadership. A total of 241 responses were received from senior leaders throughout the world to address the research question. Chi-square and descriptive statistics were used to organize, analyze, and summarize the data collected for this research. The results indicated that (81.3%) of the respondents felt they were adequately prepared to assume their current leadership position. The majority (52.1%) of the respondents had been given the opportunity for leadership training prior to their first leadership assignment in DENCOM. However, 47.9% of the respondents who answered the survey had not been given the opportunity for leadership training prior to their first leadership assignment. The study also identified some of the most important leadership skills in which leaders must demonstrate proficiency. The respondents considered people skills as the most important leader skill to have when assigned to key leadership positions. The results also showed that (14.5%) of the respondents agreed that subordinates required more human resource training to become an effective leader. This case study provided information to assist organizations when selecting and assigning personnel to key leadership positions.