Case Study: EQ in the Navy and Marine Corps

In an 18-month project to equip leaders with new insights and tools for the people-side of change, this initiative created a 43% increase in participants’ readiness to cope with the complexities of organizational transformation.

Background:

The US military continues to undergo significant change to address the changing global context. Just as many companies face the need to become more adaptable and transformational, the armed services are engaged in similar rethinking and restructuring.  For example, for hundreds of years sailors have served on a particular ship; now sailors will move between ships as needed – creating a complex and dynamic workplace team in a high-challenge, high-risk, high-stakes context. Section IX of the National Security Strategy of the United States mandates transforming America’s military to meet the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.

The US Navy Chaplain Corps serves the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.  One of the Corps’ critical responsibilities is to advise commanders and assist them in managing the readiness and wellbeing of the warriors and sailors in these services.  In this role, the Chaplains and their enlisted aides (“RPs”) are heavily involved in the human side of the changes.

Under the direction of Rear Admiral Robert Burt, the Chief of Chaplains from 2006-2010, the Corps undertook a series of initiatives to better equip the Corps for understanding and managing the human and emotional dynamics of change.  In a letter introducing the 3-day program outlined below, Chaplain Burt explained the goals:

“As the Sea Services revolutionize to meet tomorrow’s national security challenges and the Global War on Terror, every aspect of how we employ our forces, fight wars, plan program resources, build and modernize the fleet, and manage personnel is being re-examined.  This year’s Professional Development Training Course, “Ministry Tools for Times of Change,” will equip you to leverage the ministry opportunities presented by periods of significant transformation.

Understanding change and its effect on individuals as well as the institution is critical for mission readiness and ministry effectiveness.  To do so, it is vital that we are able to recognize the mode important elements for success in a rapidly changing environment.”

Implementation:

Six Seconds was invited to deliver a two-day workshop for senior commanders on emotional intelligence and change. David Tubley, a Chaplain in the Corps, had previously attended the Six Seconds EQ Certification and Advanced Certification programs; he was assigned to serve as a partner in the customizing the course content to the needs of the military culture and worked with Six Seconds throughout the implementation.

The two-day “Inside Path to Change” workshop was delivered to a group of senior Navy and Marine Corps officers and RPs, including officers from the Navy Education Training Command.  Following this initial pilot, Six Seconds was commissioned to:

1. Develop a customized 1-day introductory version of The Inside Path to Change focusing on the theory of EQ and change.
2. Deliver a Train-the-Trainer program to 20 officers with experience in training
3. Support the officers to deliver the 1-day program to approximately 1000 Chaplains, RPs, and staff.
4. Customize a 3-day followup program called “Ministry Tools for Times of Change” focusing on tools for increasing awareness and managing human dynamics of change.
5. Deliver the Ministry Tools for Times of Change in fleet concentration areas in the US and around the world.

Program Design

The core concepts of the programs are captured in this introduction to the 1-day Inside Path to Change program:

Among the many opportunities and challenges these changes present, it is important for chaplains to become even more effective at…

• Managing their own changes so change remains an opportunity for ministry versus a “derailer” taking them away from their official role and purpose.
• Counseling individuals to cope in a rapidly changing environment.
• Advising leadership to effectively bring teams through change.
• Assisting the larger organization in a process of continuous improvement – that helps it fulfill its purpose while remaining values-based and ethical.

There are many competencies required for these activities.  Strategic thinking, analysis, relationship-building, and project management are required.  In addition, there is a fundamentally human component of change operating at an emotional level.

While essential for organizational success, change is always challenging.  Although most approaches to change recognize that these challenges are both strategic and emotional, the usual premise is that with a sound strategy people will fall into line.  This passing regard to the people who must execute the change leads most change efforts to fail.  In contrast, Six Seconds’ approach is based on understanding the human and emotional drivers of change and engaging those to assist in forming and executing effective strategy.

Emotional intelligence provides powerful insights and tools for engaging people in accomplishing critical goals.  Emotional intelligence (or “EQ”) is the capacity to effectively use emotions, and it’s a key-differentiating factor of successful leaders.

Six Seconds’ approach integrates the leading thinking on change. These theories are distilled into a practical action-learning model called the “EQ Change MAP” that helps leaders guide and sustain change.  The focus is on skillfully managing the emotions that either cause people to resist or embrace change.  The process helps managers develop a commitment to shared vision of a better organization, implement new initiatives while managing resistance, and then build clarity and alignment in a continuous improvement process.

The EQ Change MAP guides the change process through three stages:

Engage (develop clarity and buy-in). “Engage” is about getting ready – gathering ideas, resources, strategies, and emotional buy-in.

Activate (implement change strategies). “Activate” is about baby-step implementation – pilot projects and small wins.

Reflect (refine strategy and learn). “Reflect” is about refining – re-assessing and improving the plans so that the next iteration builds on the previous.

The EQ Change MAP is depicted below:

A key take-away from these programs is that emotions are a valuable part of change.  So-called “negative” emotions can give us insight and push us for change.  What are often called “positive” emotions can fuel change and sustain the change process.

The EQ Change Map is a “Ready-Fire-Aim” model focused on continuous improvement.  Like the Navy’s concept of an “80% solution,” the goal of the Change Map is to create buy in, take useful action, and then refine to build ongoing momentum for continuous improvement.

For more explanation of the Change MAP, see the book, INSIDE CHANGE (www.insidechange.net).

Implementation

Following Six Seconds’ learning design philosophy, these concepts were distilled into practical tools presented in an experiential process.  Both the 1-day and 3-day program used a blend of hands-on exercises, case studies, video-clips, and in-depth discussions to bring the concepts to life.  The 3-day program concluded with a “Capstone” exercise where small groups developed an implementation plan that was presented before a panel of subject matter experts.

The Inside Path to Change pilot and the Train-the-Trainer program utilized the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Assessment as prework to provide specific, individual feedback about emotional intelligence.

The 1-day Inside Path to Change began with an orientation to current theories of change and the issues raised by various change theories, particularly the challenge of gaining buy-in and building momentum.  The program then introduced the EQ Change Map as a practical way to address those issues.  In the Map, above, there are three red arrows shown:  These represent essential emotional transitions required to create forward-moving change.  Because transitions are fraught with emotion, an effective change leader needs to have insight and skill in this domain:  In other words, they need emotional intelligence (EQ).  The program went on to focus on how the competencies in the Six Seconds EQ Model can become assets for change leaders.

The 3-day “Ministry Tools for Times of Change” built upon the orientation program going more deeply into the concepts and providing specific tools for increasing emotional awareness and management.  Program topics included the drivers and obstacles to emotional change, building trust, supporting others in change, and clarifying purpose.  Tools from Six Seconds’ methodology included “The Reaction Roadmap” (a process for understanding the neuroscience of emotional reactions, and options for moving out of reaction); “The Six Seconds Pause” (another look at the neuroscience of reactions); “Trust Traps” (a process for understanding trust as an emotional response and the drivers of trust); “Emotional Algebra” (an approach to integrating feelings into effective decision-making); and “Finding North” (a process for linking change to purpose).

Results:

The initial pilot was met with significant acclaim.  One participant, Dr. Albert Hill, wrote:

“As I see it, training is expensive, good training is valuable and your training was priceless. I’ve attended a lot of training over the years — I’ve delivered a fair share of it myself — but your ‘Inside Path to Change’ workshop was the most productive combination of captivating content, quality materials and engaging instructors I have experienced in a long, long time. Six Seconds had the whole package wired. I wish everybody in my organization could have been there.”

One year after the conclusion of the full program, the Director of Non-Resident Training, Commander David Gibson, sent an email to all officers who were participants inviting them to complete a survey for Six Seconds about the course.  There were 49 respondents (roughly 10% of the officers who attended the program).  The survey asked them to rate the importance of the subject matter, and their self-evaluation before and after the program in three areas:

1. Awareness of the emotional dynamics of change: 39% increase.
2. Processes and tools for working through these dynamics: 43% increase.
3. Tools for teaching about emotional intelligence: 58% increase.

The survey also asked participants for narrative comments about their experience and the results of the program (and for permission to quote their responses). As a result of program, are you doing anything differently as a Chaplain? If so, what kinds of different or better results are you getting?

“Yes, I am not a naturally willing subject for change.  However, the program added a great deal to my understanding of why I oppose it so much, and how to make it easier to deal with.  That helps me deal with those who struggle with change as well.  Change has become much less stressful for me and for the people around me.  Our office went through major change in 2007 and this was really helpful for us.” – William Holiman

“I am definitely more aware of the emotions I am experiencing as well as my peers and subordinates with change. Seeing much better results in mentoring them to adjust as they process the reasons, motivation, rationale for the change by the organization.” – Craig Muehler

“I am better able to assist others by identifying what is at the root of the response, and thereby allow them to have some control over the response that is better informed by their ‘noble goal.’” – Brian Stamm

“Yes, taking more time and being more reflective when discussing a emotionally charged issue, along the lines of the 6-second pause. The emotional temperature is lowered, insight increases, and we are able to work together toward a workable solution.”  – Michael Pumphrey

When asked about the importance of becoming more effective at change, 59% of the respondents rated it between highly important and extremely important.  As individuals, change is challenging.  Multiplying that challenge by tens of thousands in a large organization, it takes strong insight and exceptional skill to make change successful.  The Six Seconds program provided a strong measure of each equipping these leaders to become more effective at this mission-critical process of transformation.  As a result, the chaplains became more effective change agents who could understand and manage the “red lines” of the Change MAP, the human dynamics that drive the success of change.

♣

Joshua Freedman, CEO of Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network (staging.6seconds.org), is one of the world’s leading experts on applying emotional intelligence to improve performance. Freedman was one of the designers and master trainers for the program, along with Chaplain David Tubley, Tom Wojick, Mimi Frenette, and Marek Helstrom.  Six Seconds is grateful to Richard “Doc” Smith and the learning and development team at General Dynamics who helped manage the contracting of the Ministry Tools for Times of Change, and to Jonathan Frusti and Dr. Cash who helped initiate the project at the Corps’ schoolhouse.

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Joshua Freedman

CEO at Six Seconds

Joshua is a cofounder and ceo of the Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network. He is a Master Certified Coach (ICF), and the second of his 5 books is the international best-seller, At the Heart of Leadership. He's passionate about the spark that ignites at intersection of compassion and purpose.

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