Stewardship and Commitment

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW REFLECTS ON THE NECESSITY OF ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING STANDARDS

In his personal blog, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Caslen reflects on the West Point honor code asserting that while the Corps of Cadets “understands the importance of character within a leader who does not lie, cheat or steal, but they struggle to understand why it is so important to not tolerate” the lapses of those who violate that code. He posits that leaders establishing and maintaining standards and “living these standards in their own personal example” leads to the “culture necessary for successful skills performance” resulting in “mission accomplishment.”

In the article, Caslen shares that he has observed instances where leaders fell short maintaining standards and holding individuals accountable and its corresponding negative impact on the unit. He concludes asserting that the “commitment to the performance standards and values of an institution is the responsibility of every leader.”

To view the full article, please visit Robert L. Caslen’s website