SOLLIMS Sampler Special Edition, May 2017 | Page 27

e. TOPIC. Leadership Challenges with Multi-Continental
Troops – UNIFIL Case (Lesson #1784)
Observation.
Leadership on UN peacekeeping missions – with troops from many different
nations and cultures – presents an array of challenges for commanders, as
experienced by a Polish officer assigned to the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL). His advice for becoming an “interculturally effective leader”:
integrate differences, bridge differences, and tolerate differences.
Discussion.
During the 9th International Lessons Learned Conference (ILLC), held in Tartu,
Estonia in June 2015, one of the presenters, a Polish officer, gave a briefing on
“Multinational Challenges for Leading Multi-Continental Troops – UNIFIL Case.”
As a former commander/leader on the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission, he outlined
the many challenges of leading and cooperating with participants from various
countries/multiple continents, which sometimes resulted in cultural “confrontations.”
The most significant challenges were: (1) command & control; (2) different
training and professional standards; (3) different Tactics, Techniques, and
procedures (TTPs); (4) national caveats; (5) attitudes toward obeying orders;
(6) attitudes toward following the battle rhythm; (7) cultural awareness;
(8) personnel/identity recognition; (9) language; (10) religion; (11) post-colonial
syndrome on the part of some members of a certain African contingent; and,
(12) climate adaptability.
The officer cited the following Lessons for overcoming the noted challenges:
(1) Acquire knowledge about your Partners; (2) Adapt your command style;
(3) Make relationship-building a top priority; (4) Understand contingents’
capabilities; (5) Realize that your way is not the only way and that different
approaches might be needed; (6) Conduct negotiation – consensus is crucial;
(7) Gain understanding of contingents’ variations in English; (8) Establish a
common sense of purpose; (9) Establish common SOPs; (10) Establish a
Common Operating Picture (COP); (11) Promote equity of risk and reward; and,
(12) Employ team-building actions and events.
His bottom line advice for future commanders was: integrate differences, bridge
differences, and tolerate differences.
Recommendations.
To integrate differences, bridge differences, and tolerate differences when
leading multi-national troops, the briefer offered the following recommendations:
Table of Contents | Quick Look | Contact PKSOI
Page 26 of 36