GROUP DISCUSSION FORUM 4 1
Group Discussion Forum 4: Dees & Satterlee
Odalys Perez
BMAL 501 – B05 – LUO
Liberty University - Fall 2020
Professor Roxanne Stevens
GROUP DISCUSSION 2
Group Discussion Forum 4: Dees & Satterlee
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate key points which U.S. Army Major General
Robert Dees, now retired explains in his book “Resilient Leaders” and discuss how these topics
relate to those in this week’s assigned reading in Satterlee’s “Organizational Management and
Leadership”. With his book, Dees shares examples from his military experience to establish the
application of these principles in action. The second section of this paper will provide three
biblical perspectives that illustrate the responsibilities of a leader.
Three Concepts
Although there are many important concepts one could take from Dee and Satterlee,
coming from an HR Liaison perceptive, the three most important concepts from the assigned
readings this week which are important to be an effective leader are character, integrity, and
selfless service. These three essential topics each are relatable to the practice of organizational
management and leadership. Leadership is a big role to take on and the way one applies these
concepts to the way they lead their team is not that important. What is important is that the
concepts are incorporated with a full heart and for the good of your team. Psalms 87:72 states
"And David shepherded them with the integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them" (NIV).
Being a successful leader requires understanding your team and being able to get everyone to
embrace your vision. If a leader uses these standards with their team and organization, they will
be effective and successful. The bible states, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and
that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (3 John 1:2, ESV). When leaders
put their faith in God, they will continuously have positive outcomes.
GROUP DISCUSSION 3
Character
The character of a leader embraces all the essential qualities a leader must have to lead
effectively. The number of leaders in private and public organizations who do not possess any
principals grows by the day (Dees, 2013, p. 60). Some individuals in general do not even think
morals or principals are important. The core values of character include selfless service, integrity,
and courage[CITATION Dee13 \p 62 \l 1033 ]. Therefore, if an organization’s values require
individuals with principals, but employs leader with who do so as well. Leaders must practice all
these values to effectively lead their team while at the same time instilling those same values into
each team member. Leaders who do this, create employees who accept accountability in the work
they do and results in high performance. Leaders must also learn the importance of following in
order to successfully lead. Leaders must have the ability to follow which allows them to
understand what it takes to be a good leader and allows leaders to think as their followers do
(Hyatt, Michael, 2016). The concept of character is important; “The reality is that while
competencies are important, character is the trump card” [CITATION Dee13 \p 61 \l 1033 ].
Integrity
Integrity is a subcategory of character. Integrity promotes trust, especially in relation to
leaders and their followers. Leaders that set a standard of integrity for themselves, are leaders
who “lead by example” and followers feel the leader could be trusted in making the best
decisions possible for the better of the team and the organization. At minimum, integrity is
viewed as a person who tells the truth and maintains a preset of values. These core values
provide leaders with a sense of credibility and allow followers to understand decisions of their
leaders [CITATION Dee13 \p 62 \l 1033 ]. “The reason why trust and leadership are so
connected is that trusting relationships between leaders and followers are defined by smooth,
GROUP DISCUSSION 4
effective exchanges, while relationships that lack trust may be defined by friction and
inefficiencies” (Moorman, Blakely, & Darnold, 2018, p. 278). The author of “The Importance of
Honesty and Integrity in the Workplace” identifies the importance of integrity as it relates to
organizational management and leadership. The authors state integrity is crucial in the workplace
based on the fostering affect it has on communication and the relationship between leaders and
their followers.
Selfless-Service
Selfless service is something that every leader should focus on. This is a characteristic
that should always be applied in leadership. Selfless service is “serving others without regard for
self” and inherently includes personal sacrifice” (Dees, 2013, p. 76). Dees explains when one is
in the military, especially a senior soldier it is extremely important to the branch. “When soldiers
go into combat, we display this characteristic by simply putting others before ourselves”
[CITATION Dee13 \p 76 \l 1033 ]. This concept goes for operations within any organization. It is
very effective, creates trust, loyalty and employees having faith in their leaders. Additionally,
being selfless is one of the main components of effective leadership. Leaders are self-absorption
or possess a sense of entitlement but instead, are always seeking ways to help others. They are in
a position to put the organization and team members before themselves (Dees, 2013, p. 63). The
organization is first, not their own personal agenda. At Disney’s Customer Experience Summit
in 2015, those of us attending saw and listened to Stephen S. Smith, Sports Caster as a “Face-
time” guest speaker as he talked about the New England Patriots organization. “Kraft has
instilled a culture in which everyone knows they are there for the entire organization, not for
their own paycheck and/or success; that is why they are successful”.
GROUP DISCUSSION 5
Scriptures
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers and example in
speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV), addresses leadership. The
verse shows that leaders are not chosen through age or experience, but more by providing
examples for followers. A leader must behave in alignment with the values outlined in Scripture
to lead in a way that brings honors to both the Lord and others, no matter the circumstances.
When leadership shows genuine care and displays integrity their employees will be motivated
and engaged to perform at a higher level.
Character and Integrity must be present in leadership as stated in Titus 1:7 which states
“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-
tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain” (ESV). Being a leader calls for guiding
one’s followers in their career path for the benefit of the employee, not the leader, even if it
means assisting the employee to leave the organization “to better pastures”. Satterlee states for
grown within the organization, there are three different paths that can be taken: linear – moving
up through the organizational hierarchy within the same department, spiral – starting in one
position and moving up into another one, and steady-state – a career choses as a lifetime
profession (Satterlee, Anita, 2018, p. 188).
Selfless leadership can strengthen the foundation for ethical leadership. A leader can be
“driven by either a sense of the common good or from a sense of selfishness, greed or blind
ambition” (Boyd, Philip, 2019, p. 83). 2 Peter 1:5-7 reads “For this very reason, make every
effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-
control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with
GROUP DISCUSSION 6
brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love (ESV). This verse explains it takes more
than just faith in Jesus to "become participants of the divine nature." We use the lessons we learn
from Scripture into our personal lives, and as leaders, into our work life perhaps more
importantly. All of us should view our Christian traits of embody goodness, knowledge, self-
control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection and love and apply them to leadership through
character, integrity and selfless service.
References
Boyd, Philip. (2019). SELFLESS LEADERSHIP: AN ETHICAL FOUNDATION FOR
LEADERSHIP. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadersh, 9(1), 76-86. Retrieved 2020
September 23 from
https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/jbpl/vol9no1/Vol9Iss1_JBPL_5_Lloyd.p
df
Dees, Robert, F. (2013). Resilient leaders. San Diego: Creative Team Publishing.
Hyatt, Michael (2016). Why the best leaders are great followers: 5 hidden attributes that
command respect. Retrieved from Michael Hyatt: https://michaelhyatt.com/why-the-best-
leaders-are-great-followers/
Importance of Honesty and Integrity in the Workplace. (2015, January 6). Retrieved 2020
September 23 from Career and Education:
https://careerandeducation.expertscolumn.com/importance-honesty-and-integrity-
workplace
Moorman, Blakely, & Darnold. (2018). Understanding how perceived leader integrity affects
follower trust: Lessons from the use of the multidemensional measures of integrity and
trust. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studeis, 25(3), 277-289. Retrieved 23
GROUP DISCUSSION 7
September 2020 from https://journals-sagepub-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/doi/full/10.1177/1548051817750544?
utm_source=summon&utm_medium=discovery-provider
Satterlee, Anita. (2018). Organizational Management and Leadership - A Christian Perspective.
Raeleigh: Synertistics International Inc.
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