How Ukraine Pres. Zelenskyy's Personal Risk-Taking Reinforces His Leadership

There is a leadership doctrine called "management by walking around." The idea is that by getting out of the executive office or from behind the computer, leaders can demonstrate their personal qualities while learning more about how things are going. 

When Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the front lines around Kharkiv last week, he took that doctrine to another level, as most C-Suite executives are rarely threatened by artillery when inspecting a satellite office. But the concept is the same: he demonstrated personal commitment, reiterated the purpose of the work being done, exemplified leadership through shared sacrifice - and effectively differentiated himself from his opponent. Behaviors from which leaders in more peaceable realms could benefit. JL 

Mick Ryan reports in War In the Future:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (has) demonstrated his willingness to take personal risks to visit soldiers in the field, getting his own sense of how operations are unfolding which allows him to get a feel for morale and capability. Second, it allows him to ask questions. A third is to engage with junior soldiers, to inspire them and to reiterate the purpose of their sacrifices. Purpose is the most important thing a leader can provide. He also demonstrates he has total trust in his Army, showing he is comfortable in placing his life in their hands. In demonstrating he is not a ‘bunker leader’, Zelenskyy shows he is the leader of a nation worth supporting in the long term - (and) differentiates himself from his adversary. An important characteristic demonstrated by

@ZelenskyyUa

is his willingness to take personal risk to visit soldiers in the field, and get his own sense of how military operations are unfolding.

 

These visits serve multiple ends. First, it allows

@ZelenskyyUa

to get a feel for the morale and capability of his military in the field. You can read reports all day, but there is no substitute for walking the ground with leaders at the tip of the spear.

 

A second purpose is that it allows him to ask questions. This is an important function of a national political leader in their interaction with military commanders. It is explored by

@EliotACohen

in “Supreme Command”, and is an important aspect of healthy civ-mil relations.

 

A third reason for the field visits by

@ZelenskyyUa

is to engage with the most junior soldiers in the field, to inspire them and to reiterate the purpose of their sacrifices. Purpose is the most important thing a leader can provide. #leadership.

 

A fourth reason is for

@ZelenskyyUa

to demonstrate that he has total trust in his Army. That he shows he remains comfortable in placing his life in the hands of his military is an important and strategic trust-building exercise between politicians and military leaders. #trust.

 

Fifth, this is an important way that

@ZelenskyyUa

differentiates himself from his adversary. I am pretty sure that Putin will not be accepting invitations to visit the poorly fed and led - but well armed - Russian troops in #Ukraine at any point in the near future. Finally, it draws the attention of audiences external to #Ukraine as part of their global influence campaign. This is smart. In demonstrating that he is not a ‘bunker leader’,

@ZelenskyyUa

shows us all that he is the leader of a nation worth supporting in the long term. End.