The ALx Bulletin August 2024

Confidence: A Key Ingredient of Effective Leadership

A leader’s confidence is contagious and permeates the entire organization. Confident leaders help Soldiers control doubt and reduce anxiety in a unit. Effective leaders temper confidence with humility…

-ADP 6-22

Execute Today      [Content You Can Use Immediately]

Effective leaders know when and how to ask the right questions. Sometimes it requires the self-confidence to ask for feedback on our own leadership methods.  The level of honesty we get depends on our approach. Find out how to ask one simple, yet important question here.

Proactive and disciplined problem solvers attain the confidence of those they lead.  This insightful article gives every developing leader that wants to drive change something to think about.

Self-confidence helps leaders make better decisions, speak up, build trust & respect, and motivate others. There are ways to strengthen your own confidence.  Check out these four steps from the R2 Performance center to get started.

Prepare For Tomorrow [Content to Improve Your Organization]

**Just published!**  A must read for U.S. Army Soldiers of every rank and echelon, this document outlines the Operational Environment 2024 – 2034: Large Scale Combat Operations. Visit the TRADOC G2 website for additional information on the OE and how our adversaries fight.  

**New** FM 3-09 Fire Support and Field Artillery Operations provides principles and functions for fire support elements and field artillery units conducting operations in a multidomain environment.  Access it here.

**New** FM 4-0 Sustainment Operations provides a doctrinal approach for armies, corps, divisions, and brigades to address sustainment challenges across the range of military operations. Access it here.

What can NCOs learn from a 17th century Army manual? This article highlights the timeless principles of good leadership, self-evaluation, and personal development that were equated with victory on the battlefield even in 1629.

More than Promotion Points. How does pursuit of a college degree benefit NCOs? Read a summary of one NCO’s research on the driving forces behind decisions to pursue or forgo college education on page 17 here.

Learn Always: [Content to Help You Think]

Ask the right questions. Have confidence in your decisions. Improve unit and organizational performance. Want to know how? Check out these trainings to master the basics of gathering the right data to make better decisions.

No matter where you are within the DoD, the operational environment (OE) underpins everything you do professionally on a daily basis. Listen here as the Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence, G-2, TRADOC talks about the importance of this latest assessment and its’ applicability to everyone associated with defending our great Nation.

Podcasts can help you sharpen your analytical skills, consider other points of view, and build confidence in your leadership abilities.  The Army University Press has some great ones at the Podcast Drop Zone.

Get Involved:  [Opportunities for YOU to Drive Change]

Applications for the second group of fellows for the Harding Fellowship are being accepted until September 10th. More information about this opportunity for active-duty captains, non-commissioned officers of the rank of E8, and chief warrant officers 4 is available here.

Help Us Amplify Army Leadership on Social Media. We need your help to get professionally sourced Army leadership content and messaging out to more Army Professionals. Like and follow us on your platform of choice. Find us on Face Book, X, or Instagram with the handle @armyldrexchange

Readers Speak:  [Feedback from YOU for YOU]

This month’s suggested read is from an Armor Officer. He shared this report on preliminary lessons learned from Ukraine’s Offensive Operations.

This month ALx asked our social media followers to share their favorite podcast for Army      professional content. We had over 40 responses.

• Independent favorites included MOPs & MOEs, From the Green Notebook, and Teach Me to Fish.

• Army favorites are the Modern War Institute, Irregular Warfare, and Cohort W.