SNCOA Block 2 Revision Guide – Complete Notes for Exam Success
Organization Health - ✔✔This is considered the single greatest advantage any company can
achieve, yet is ignored by most leaders even though it is simple, free and available for any who
want it
Organizational Culture - ✔✔A pattern of shared basic assumptions that the group learned as it
solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration; taught to new members as
the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems
The Gallup Q - ✔✔Contains the core elements needed to attract, focus, and keep the most
talented employees; a cost-effective, proven and brief metric offers a unique glimpse into
organizational culture
What leaders pay attention to, measure, and control on a regular basis - ✔✔The first
embedding mechanism, used to Assess and Benchmark Organizational Culture
Leader reactions to critical incidents and organizational crises - ✔✔The second embedding
mechanism, part of embracing feedback
Changing organizational systems and procedures - ✔✔The third embedding mechanism, part
of transforming the culture
The four steps of ensuring a feedback receptive culture is created and sustained -
✔✔Leadership buy-in to subordinates; subordinate gives permission to be taught; leader and
subordinates become vulnerable (creating the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses);
proper administration of feedback
, Leadership buy-in to subordinates - ✔✔The first step in ensuring a feedback receptive culture;
demonstrated by strategic leaders who show subordinates they have bought into their potential
for growth and development
Subordinate gives permission to be taught - ✔✔The second step in ensuring a feedback
receptive culture; once the strategic leader communicates buy-in to a subordinate, workers
within the organization will start opening up and eventually give permission to be led
Leader and subordinates become vulnerable - ✔✔The third step in ensuring a feedback
receptive culture; effective leaders create an environment allowing openness and vulnerability
because workers know their vulnerability will be handled with care and good intentions; failure
to do so will cause warfighters to withdraw and build barriers to productive feedback
Proper administration of feedback - ✔✔The final step of ensuring a feedback receptive culture;
practiced by compartmentalizing feedback into the categories of appreciation, coaching and
evaluation
Toxic Leadership - ✔✔Characterized by counterproductive behaviors such as shaming, passive
hostility, team sabotage, an apparent lack of regard and compassion for the welfare of
subordinates, an interpersonal style which has a negative impact on organizational climate, and
the perception that the superior is getting ahead at a team member expense
Toxic Leader - ✔✔Not necessarily the stereotypical screamer but more often appears to be a
pleasant and talented individual who has subtle ways of degrading and exploiting others for
personal gain and takes pleasure in doing so
$4.7 billion, or 8% of the 2016 DoD budget - ✔✔The potential monetary cost to the DoD
associated with toxicity
Toxicity - ✔✔A pattern of combined, counterproductive behaviors encompassing not only
harmful leadership but also abusive supervision, bullying, and workplace incivility
Organization Health - ✔✔This is considered the single greatest advantage any company can
achieve, yet is ignored by most leaders even though it is simple, free and available for any who
want it
Organizational Culture - ✔✔A pattern of shared basic assumptions that the group learned as it
solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration; taught to new members as
the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems
The Gallup Q - ✔✔Contains the core elements needed to attract, focus, and keep the most
talented employees; a cost-effective, proven and brief metric offers a unique glimpse into
organizational culture
What leaders pay attention to, measure, and control on a regular basis - ✔✔The first
embedding mechanism, used to Assess and Benchmark Organizational Culture
Leader reactions to critical incidents and organizational crises - ✔✔The second embedding
mechanism, part of embracing feedback
Changing organizational systems and procedures - ✔✔The third embedding mechanism, part
of transforming the culture
The four steps of ensuring a feedback receptive culture is created and sustained -
✔✔Leadership buy-in to subordinates; subordinate gives permission to be taught; leader and
subordinates become vulnerable (creating the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses);
proper administration of feedback
, Leadership buy-in to subordinates - ✔✔The first step in ensuring a feedback receptive culture;
demonstrated by strategic leaders who show subordinates they have bought into their potential
for growth and development
Subordinate gives permission to be taught - ✔✔The second step in ensuring a feedback
receptive culture; once the strategic leader communicates buy-in to a subordinate, workers
within the organization will start opening up and eventually give permission to be led
Leader and subordinates become vulnerable - ✔✔The third step in ensuring a feedback
receptive culture; effective leaders create an environment allowing openness and vulnerability
because workers know their vulnerability will be handled with care and good intentions; failure
to do so will cause warfighters to withdraw and build barriers to productive feedback
Proper administration of feedback - ✔✔The final step of ensuring a feedback receptive culture;
practiced by compartmentalizing feedback into the categories of appreciation, coaching and
evaluation
Toxic Leadership - ✔✔Characterized by counterproductive behaviors such as shaming, passive
hostility, team sabotage, an apparent lack of regard and compassion for the welfare of
subordinates, an interpersonal style which has a negative impact on organizational climate, and
the perception that the superior is getting ahead at a team member expense
Toxic Leader - ✔✔Not necessarily the stereotypical screamer but more often appears to be a
pleasant and talented individual who has subtle ways of degrading and exploiting others for
personal gain and takes pleasure in doing so
$4.7 billion, or 8% of the 2016 DoD budget - ✔✔The potential monetary cost to the DoD
associated with toxicity
Toxicity - ✔✔A pattern of combined, counterproductive behaviors encompassing not only
harmful leadership but also abusive supervision, bullying, and workplace incivility
