The McPhee Method

In today’s workspace, leadership and management are two of the top concerns for many organizations. For the most part, organizational success and failure are primarily attributed to effective leadership and management.

Did you know that the worldwide leadership development and management sector is a $366 billion industry?

At 18 years old, when I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1994, I received some of my first leadership positions while attending Basic Combat Training (BTC).

Needless to say, I got fired. Not because I was a bad leader. I was untrained and lacked leadership experience.

Like many new company hires, all military recruits attend an introductory training course to learn the foundational norms, regulations, and policies of their branch of service.

“For me, developing my leadership and management skills began with learning how to lead and manage myself.”

Basic training tested my mental toughness, as well my interpersonal, time management, and leadership skills. It was a socially and mentally challenging time for me.

I was still trying to figure out the world and what I wanted out of life. I joined the military because I saw it as an opportunity to serve my country while seeking education and professional development.

Initially, I planned to fulfill my initial enlistment contract and then attend college. As always, depending on the environment and circumstances, plans tend to change.

During my first three years in the military, I gained a great deal of knowledge about leadership. For me, developing my leadership and management skills began with learning how to lead and manage myself.

In general, leadership and management are ambiguous concepts. There are so many variables to consider when leadership and management actions are required. Within an organization, many decisions must be made that warrant effective leadership and management skills.

Unfortunately, organizations suffer when an individual is appointed to a leadership role who lacks the necessary leadership and management acumen.

So, over the next two years, I will embark on a journey to learn more about leadership and management from an academic perspective.

I plan to conduct a research project that explores the lived experiences of IT program managers to determine how they utilize different leadership styles and management techniques to influence project outcomes.

My goal is not to develop a groundbreaking solution that guarantees project success.

Instead, I want to share my perspective and contribute to the existing body of literature on leadership and project management.

Hopefully, during this process, I can get your feedback on the concepts and ideas that I will share on this blog.

Let’s see how this pans out.

More to follow.