This article was originally published on October 1st, 2018 by the Field Grade Leader as a guest post for his series on digital leadership. The original publication can be found here. 

Information moves faster than ever before in today’s age. 24-hour news media and social media allows for instant publication from anyone that has access to a computer. As leaders in this digital age, it is our responsibility to understand some of the capabilities and limitations of the flow of information, understand that facts are becoming more distorted than ever, and acknowledge that newer generations that enter the military are more inherently involved in technology than we are. I also believe that leaders must, at least topically, understand some of the new ideas and technologies that are being developed. A leader’s ability to evolve with the ever-changing landscape of the digital world is essential to our success.

In Martin Dempsey and Ori Braffman’s book, “Radical Inclusion: What the Post- 9/11 World Should Have Taught Us About Leadership,” the authors describe a key concept that they call the “digital echo.” The digital echo is simple: it is the notion that information flows quickly between individuals, but is distorted along the way. In an environment where social media can reach millions of people instantly, regardless of fact checking and source verification, this can be incredibility problematic for us as leaders. False information can spread quickly and can often become wildly out of control. Often times, our reaction might be to squeeze down and attempt to control the flow of information, an action which often does not serve us favorably. A digital leader must know and accept the reality of the digital echo and use it to their advantage when they can. As described in “Radical Inclusion,” this digital echo moves us into the arena of narrative instead of the arena of fact. Leaders at all levels have the ability to influence this narrative in a positive and efficient manner. A leader has a choice when dealing with the flow of information: ride the wave, knowing that we are at its mercy but can influence when we can; or, we can attempt to control and stop the current, which will inevitably crush us under its wake. Social media is be a powerful tool that we can use in the military. We can inform more people than ever before, shape our narratives on the fly, react and counter-react to enemy narratives, connect with our families over long distances, share ideas and information, and hold each other accountable. A leader in the digital age must master this valuable resource so that they can steer their organization through today’s operational environment.

Leaders in the military must recognize that newer generations relationship with technology is very different from its previous generation. Very soon, we will have members in the military that have had technology at their fingertips since birth. Even now, there is a large technological gap between senior and junior members of the military. As leaders, we must adapt to the technological ways of the people we are trying to lead and shape into future leaders. To lead is to give meaning, and if we cannot connect with them at a foundational level, we will never be able to give them meaning. This is challenging, to say the least. We must accept newer generations relationship to technology and understand it enough to know when leadership intervention is necessary and when it is not. Is the quiet Soldier playing video games in his barracks room during his free time because that is simply who they are, or, is there some other issue? Knowing our people, their habits, their relationship to the technology around them, and accepting them are key to creating a unified force.

In a tactical and strategic environment, we must understand the basics of some of the potential high-level technology that we can be forced to interact with. ISIS has infamously been able to conduct massive and successful recruitment campaigns on the Dark Web and has been able to conduct financial transactions using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, all while hiding in near anonymity. The prevalence and ease with which our adversaries are using this technology will not allow us to continue to rely on a select few in our community to understand and attempt to counteract these threats. Digital leaders must seek to understand some of these technologies and know their capabilities and limitations. With the knowledge behind the machinations of things like the Dark Web, Bitcoin, blockchain, and other complex and new technologies, we level the playing field and are able to influence where we can. At the tactical level, cyber capabilities are becoming more prevalent and in-demand. Our information, once thought to be safe on our computers, may become exposed due to minor lapses in our cybersecurity framework. Leaders must seek and understand the advice of their technology and intelligence experts and acknowledge that the cyber domain is a domain that we all operate in. A well-crafted plan is useless if the enemy already has access to it. Digital leaders are also required at the highest levels of government. As our adversaries adopt quickly to new technology and put them to use, we are confined to the procurement processes in place. To keep up, we must be equally flexible and adaptive to the breakneck speed that is our evolving technology. Every leader, from the team leader to the President of the United States, must be a digital leader.

In short, becoming a digital leader requires an open mind, the ability to adapt to a changing landscape, have the discipline to learn some of the important pieces of technology today, and understand how the digital age has transformed the way we gain and perceive information. The challenges are present, but not insurmountable. The tenacity that has driven leaders throughout the ages will not fail us. Dedication, commitment, and acceptance of the digital world and all the positive and negative aspects it brings to our lives will allow us to be successful digital leaders.