Definition and Inter Corelation of Officer Like Qualities

INTRODUCTION

1.         In the SSB for the selection of a candidate who after training can become an effective and potential officer there are three techniques, which are applied simultaneously and independently.  However in all the three techniques the parameters, which have been laid down, are the same.  These parameters are job specific and assist the assessors to identify the ‘Qualities of Military Leadership’ in a candidate.  These parameters are the Officer Like Qualities (OLQs).  Hence the system of assessment of candidates, aspiring to join the Armed Forces as an officer, entails in-depth analysis of these basic qualities.

2.         Starting with a comprehensive list of 29 qualities, the OLQs have been narrowed down to 15, over a period of time, and have been grouped under four main heads they were found to be highly correlated.  These are concerned with the following aspects of indl :-

(a)       A good worker – Social factors.

(b)       A good soldier – Dynamic factors.

(c)       A speaker and organizer – Organizational factors.

(d)       A good leader – Leadership factors.

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3.         The aim of this presentation is to familiarize with the definitions of the OLQs and establish inter correlation between them.

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4.         The subject will be covered as under :-

(a)       Part I – Definition of OLQs.

(b)       Part II – Intra-factor correlations.

(c)       Part III – Inter-factor correlations.

PART I – DEFINITION OF OLQs

Factor I – Planning and Organizing

5.         Effective Intelligence.  Is the intelligence utilized in coping with practical situations of varying complexity.  It is different from basic intelligence which is the capacity to perceive relations or to do abstract thinking.  Basic intelligence is assessed by the use of intelligence tests.  Effective intelligence includes practical intelligence and resourcefulness.

(a)       Practical Intelligence.  The capacity to evolve independent solutions of practical problems and situations.

(b)       Resourcefulness.  The capacity to put to use the available means for the desired end.  It may be said to contain two factors :-

(i)        Improvisation of a solution and

(ii)       Finding a solution when in a tight corner.

6.         reasoning Ability.  The ability to grasp the essentials well and to arrive at conclusions by rational thinking. Reasoning ability includes receptivity, inquiring attitude, logical reasoning and seeing essentials of a problem.

(a)       Receptivity.  The ability to understand and absorb new impressions.  It involves interest, attention and grasping power.

(b)       Inquiring Attitude.  Healthy curiosity, resulting in an urge to increase one’s general knowledge and experience in life.

(c)       Logical Reasoning.  The ability to arrive at conclusion or judgement based  strictly on a process or rational thinking and excluding emotional factors.

(d)       Seeing Essentials of a Problem.  The ability by which the individual is not only clear in his knowledge of the situation at hand, but also is able to analyze various factors, sift them in order of importance and make best of them towards achieving a solution.

7.         Organizing Ability.  The ability to arrange the resources in a systematic way so as to produce effective results.  It can also be defined as the ability  to put to the best use the available means for the attainment of a desired objective.

8.         Power of Expression.  The ability to put across one’s ideas adequately with ease and clarity.

Factor II – Social Adjustment

9.         Social Adaptability.  The ability of an individual to adapt himself to the social environment and adjust well with persons and social groups, with special reference to superiors, equals and subordinates.  Social adaptability includes social intelligence, attitude towards others, tact, and adaptability.

(a)       Social Intelligence.  The ability to deal with individuals singly or in a group and to be able to get along with superiors, equals and subordinates.

(b)       Attitude Towards Others.  The ability to put oneself into the other man’s position so as to appreciate justifiable difficulties, to enable rendering of help in a proper way.

(c)       Tact.  Skilful management of the feelings of the persons dealt with.

(d)       Adaptability.  The ability to adjust to the environment with special reference to the social situations in that environment.  When considering service aspect it involves not only a resilient nature shown by an accommodative tendency but also keenness and interest in service life.

10.       Cooperation.  The attitude of an individual to participate willingly in harmony with others in a group, in achieving the group goal.  This implies a belief in the collective effort being more productive that the individual effort.  Cooperation includes the element of joint effort and team spirit.  Team spirit indicates loyalty to the aims and objects of the group to the extent of subordinating individual aim to the group aim.

11.       Sense of Responsibility.  It enables a person to be dependable and to willingly discharge his obligation.  It includes sense of duty but is much more comprehensive in meaning and scope.  Sense of Responsibility implies :-

(a)       Sense of Duty.  Faithfully and firmly doing what one is ordered to do.

(b)       Discipline.  A trained sense of acting strictly in accordance with rules, regulations and conventions.  This factor promotes development of self control and keeps one within bounds of social and normal standards.

(c)       Sense of Responsibility therefore means:

(i)        A thorough understanding of the values of duty, social standard and of what is required of an individual and then to give it his energy and attention of his own accord.

(ii)       Taking initiative and doing one’s best, carrying out even unspecified and probably unforeseen duties and obligations, rather than faithfully carrying out only what one is told to do.  It demonstrate moral willingness to bear the consequences.

Factor III – Social Effectiveness

12.       Initiative.  The ability to originate an action and sustain it.  It has four aspects ability to take the first step;  and to act first usually in a new or subsequently emerging situation in the right direction and maintain it.

13.       Self-confidence.  It is the faith in one’s ability to meet stressful situations particularly those that are unfamiliar.

14.       Speed of Decision.  The ability to arrive at workable decisions expeditiously.  It comprises :-

(a)       The appropriateness of the decision arrived at.

(b)       The quickness in arriving at the decision.

15.       Ability to influence the group.  The ability which enables an individual to bring about willing effort from the group for achieving the objective desired by him.  This influence is the prime cause of cooperative and willing effort of a group towards the achievement of a set objective.

16.       Liveliness.  The capacity of an individual to keep himself buoyant when meeting problems and bring about a cheerful atmosphere.

Factor IV – Dynamic

17.       Determination.  A sustained effort to achieve objective inspite of obstacles and set-backs.  It implies fixedness of purpose;  mental concentration and strength of will.  It includes :

(a)       Application to work.  The capacity of physical and mental application to work.

(b)       Drive.  The inner motive power at the disposal of an individual.  It is the capacity to force oneself along when under pressure and urgency, towards the achievement of the objective.  It may inspire energetic action in others towards the achievement of a common goal. 

18.       Courage.  The ability to appreciate and take purposive risks willingly. It includes :

(a)       Ability to meet appreciate danger.

(b)       Spirit of adventure, an enterprising spirit and a willingness or desire to dare or risk a hazard.

(c)       Capacity to keep oneself composed in adverse situations enabling one to be steady in facing and handling such situation.

19.       Stamina.  The capacity to withstand protracted physical and mental strain.  It emphasizes endurance.

FACTOR II – INTRA-FACTOR CORELATION OF QUALITIES

factor I – Planning and Organizing

20.       This factor consists of four different qualities :-

(a)       Effective Intelligence (EI).

(b)       Reasoning Ability (RA).

(c)       Organizing Ability (OA).

(d)       Power of Expression (POE).

21.       Relationship between RA and EI.  EI is the intelligence utilized in coping with practical situations of varying complexity.  To cope up with various situations of familiar and unfamiliar nature in the outdoor (PGT, HGT, CT & FGT) as well as the indoor (GD, GPE & Lecturette) tasks a candidate should be able to grasp the essentials of the problems and analyse it and make best use of various factors to arrive at a solution – which in other terms is the RA.  Hence a candidate low in RA will seldom be found to be adequate in EI.

22.       Relationship between OA and EI.  OA is defined as the ability to arrange the resources in a systematic way so as to produce effective results.  This definitely needs the capacity to identify the resources available such as the structures inside the obstacle and the helping material in PGT, HGT, CT and FGT and the Obvious and hidden resources in the GPE then improvise them in order to arrive at a solution.  Hence a candidate low in EI will seldom be found be adequate in OA.

23.       Relationship between EI, RA & POE.  If an indl has not been able to grasp and analyse the problem, and doesn’t have the intelligence to find the solution to the problems presented to him during the tasks.  His expression for the expressing his solution and the ideas is bound to be low.

RA  >  EI  >  OA  >  POE

Factor II – Social Adjustment

24.       This factor consists of three qualities :-

(a)       Social Adaptability (SA).

(b)       Cooperation (Coop).

(c)       Sense of Responsibility (SOR).

25.       Relationship between SA and Coop.  The ability of an individual to adapt himself to the social environment and adjust well with persons and social groups is based on his ability to mingle with social groups at various levels and composition.  To achieve this he needs to participate willingly, in harmony with others in the group and should be able to sacrifice his personal objectives in order to achieve a group goal.  Therefore it can be said that a cooperative person can adjust to a social group more easily.  In term of GTO task an indl has to be coop, to be able to adjust will with the other persons in the group.

26.       Relationship between SOR and Coop.  SOR includes sense of duty.  It is this sense of duty which drives a person to sacrifice his personal goals and work in harmony in a group in order to achieve a group goal.  Hence person low in SOR will seldom be found to be high in coop.

SOR  >  Coop  >  SA

Factor III – Social Effectiveness

27.       This factor consists of three different qualities :-

(a)       Initiative (Init).

(b)       Self Confidence (SC).

(c)       Speed of Decision (SOD).

(d)       Ability to Influence the Group (AIG).

(e)       Liveliness (Liv).

28.       Relationship between Init and SC.  A person in order to deal with a situation has to take the right step in the right direction.  It is this step which decides his future course of actions.  This definitely requires faith in one’s ability to meet unfamiliar situations. On the other hand a person may be confident in his abilities but still may not be able to complete the task without the initiative in the right direction.  Thus a person with low self confidence will generally not be confident in initiating an action.

29.       Relationship between SOD and SC.  In the process of dealing with a situation, an individual needs to make speedy decisions. In order to take speedy decisions one has to be confident of himself and his actions.  Thus a person cannot be low on self confidence and high on speed of decision.  It may be equal but seldom greater.

30.       Relationship between AIG and Liv.  In order to convince others for his actions a person has to influence others and bring about willing co-operation from a group.  To achieve this he needs to be optimistic and motivate the other persons in a group by keeping himself buoyant and bring about cheerful atmosphere.  Hence liveliness has a direct bearing on a person’s ability to influence a group.

31.       Thus it is seen that to be socially effective a person has to display all the five qualities which are inter-related at various stages.

SC  >  SOD  >  AIG       SC               Init

Factor IV- Dynamic

32.       This factor consists of three different qualities :-

(a)       Determination (Det).

(b)       Courage (Cou).

(c)       Stamina (Stam).

33.       Relationship between Det and Cou / Stam.  The ability to appreciate and take purposive risks willingly.  It includes ability to meet appreciated danger Spirit of adventure and capacity to keep oneself composed in adverse situation.  In order to achieve this he needs to overcome hurdles and obstacles on the way.  This drive to achieve the goal despite obstacles and setbacks has a direct relation to courage and mental and physical stamina in an individual.

(COU  >  STAM)                  DET

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INTER – FACTOR CORRELATION

Factor I – Planning and Organising Vs Factor II – Social Adjustment

34.       Factor I is also called the factor of the head. This means that it is the measure of an individual’s mental abilities.  Factor II is the factor of the heart.  These two factors though do not have a direct correlation, they are abstractly related.  The quality social adaptability consists of sub qualities such as social intelligence, attitude towards others, tact and adaptability.  A person in order to understand the feelings of others needs to put himself in the other person’s position in order to appreciate their difficulties.  A person with adequate intelligence will be able to appreciate this situation better and adjust himself to the environment easily.

ABSTRACT

Factor I – Planning and Organizing Vs Factor III – Social Effectiveness

35.       The ability of a person to take decisive step in the right direction whilst in an unfamiliar situation and sustain it definitely requires confidence in his abilities.  In order to display these abilities the individual ought to have sufficient intelligence and more so, has to have the capacity to think rationally and analyze the situation to arrive at an appropriate course of action.  A person in over-confidence may initiate an action without analyzing or understanding the situation and may therefore face a failure.

36.       For an individual to act quickly and arrive at an appropriate decision, he has to understand the situation, foresee the consequence of his actions and identify the resources available with him to tide over the situation.  A hasty decision taken without understanding or analyzing the situation may lack appropriateness.

37.       A person with effective power of expression may be able to influence a group in a more effective manner than a person with restricted power of expression.

38.       From the above it can be very well seen that for a person to have adequate Factor III, he has to be adequate in Factor I also.  Factor III always flows out of Factor I and therefore Factor III can never be more than Factor I.  It may be possible that certain qualities in Factor III may sometimes be a shade more than certain qualities in Factor I, but in no case the overall Factor III rating can be more than Factor I.

RA  >  EI  >  SC  >  SOD

Factor I – Planning and Organizing Vs Factor Iv – Dynamic

39.       The ability of a person to put in sustained effort to reach the goal despite obstacles and failures certainly needs the ability to appreciate the situation, analyze the causes of failure and overcome them by careful planning and improve.  Thus intelligence of a person will have a direct consequence on his determination.

40.       To take a purposeful risk, a person should be able to realize the pros and cons of his actions and its ultimate consequence.  This again has a relation to his ability to reason.  A person may take risk without weighing all the pros and cons of his actions.  That will be foolhardiness and though sometimes it can lead to success, but more often than not it will end up in failure.

EI  >  Det  >  RA  >  Cou

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Factor II – Social Adjustment Vs Factor III – Social Effectiveness

41.       A person who is self confident and lively is more easily accepted in a social group as compared to a person who is casual and gloomy.  Also a person’s ability to interact with his superiors, equals and subordinates reflect on his self confidence and liveliness.

42.       A person who can adapt himself effectively to different social environment and participates willingly to achieve a group goal stands a higher chance to motivate other in working towards a goal desired by him as compared to a person who himself is individualistic or selfish.

Liv   >  SA            SA  >  AIG

Factor III – Social Effectiveness Vs Factor IV – Dynamic

43.       Initiative is the ability to originate an action and sustain it and, a sustained effort to achieve objective in spite of obstacles and set-backs is determination.  This clearly implies that a person low in determination cannot be of very high initiative.  A person may be able to initiate an action but cannot sustain it without determination.

44.       A person with low self confidence can hardly think of tackling an obstacle to achieve an objective.  Hence a person with low self confidence can hardly be determined.

45.       A person to withstand mental stress needs to keep himself buoyant and maintain his composure. It is unlikely that a gloomy or pessimistic person can bear prolonged mental strain.  Also a person with low self confidence will come under stress easily.

DET  >  IN            SC  >  DET          LIV  >  STA

46.       Thus it is evident that all the qualities that are required to assess an individual’s personality have a certain degree of correlation this emphasizing the overlap in varying degrees in different combinations.  Therefore it can be rightly said that personality is the product of the integration of various qualities and not a mathematical summation of the same.