‘My Way or Highway’: Top Army officer's controversial review of women colonels
These observations have sparked debates within military circles and among defence analysts about the Army's efforts to integrate women into leadership roles
PTC Web Desk: In a recent review by Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri, the outgoing Corps Commander of the 17 Corps, significant concerns have been raised regarding the performance and leadership styles of women Commanding Officers (COs) in the Indian Army. The letter, dated October 1, 2024, was sent to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command and details challenges observed in units led by women officers over the past year. These observations have sparked debates within military circles and among defence analysts about the Army's efforts to integrate women into leadership roles.
The letter highlights a range of interpersonal and leadership issues, including "ego problems," "frequent complaints," and a "lack of empathy" in decision-making. These concerns come amidst the Army’s ongoing initiative to integrate women into key positions of leadership, which began after the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in 2020, allowing permanent commission for women officers. Following this, in 2023, 108 women officers were promoted to Commanding Officer roles, marking a significant shift in military gender roles. However, Lt Gen Puri’s review specifically mentions seven women COs within the 17 Corps, raising questions about whether these findings are representative of the larger force, which includes over 100 women COs across various formations.
Key observations in the report
Interpersonal challenges
Lt Gen Puri’s review identifies a growing problem with officer management in units led by women COs, including a lack of tact and sensitivity towards the personal needs of both officers and subordinates. The report notes a preference for authoritative conflict resolution over mutual respect-based solutions, which has led to high levels of stress in the units.
Frequent Complaints
According to the letter, an "exaggerated tendency to complain" was observed among women COs. Minor grievances, instead of being resolved internally, were often escalated to senior commanders, which led to issues with human resource management and contributed to mistrust within the ranks.
Centralied Leadership Style
A top-down, centralised decision-making approach adopted by some women COs reportedly left junior officers and company commanders feeling excluded. The report mentions that this "my way or highway" style of leadership eroded trust and cooperation within teams.
Ego Issues and Entitlement
The letter also discusses instances where women COs exhibited a sense of entitlement, demanding personal privileges and prioritising their comfort over the needs of their units. Although this behaviour was rarely seen among male COs, it was flagged as disproportionately occurring under women officers.
Lack of Empathy
Lt Gen Puri observed that some women COs exhibited harsh decision-making and a lack of empathy, especially in relation to compassionate requests from troops. He suggested that the desire to overcome gender stereotypes may have led to this rigidity in leadership.
Overcompensation in Leadership
The report suggests that some women COs, in an effort to prove themselves in a traditionally male-dominated environment, adopted overly rigid leadership styles, possibly as a means of compensating for perceived gender biases.
Over-Celebration of Minor Achievements
Lt Gen Puri pointed out that there was a tendency among some women COs to over-celebrate small accomplishments, which could disrupt leadership dynamics and create a constant need for validation.
Recommendations for Improvement
In light of these observations, Lt Gen Puri has recommended a shift towards gender-neutral policies for postings and selections to ensure that leadership roles are assigned based on merit rather than gender. He also suggested enhanced training for officers to ensure unbiased assessments, particularly focusing on the need for women officers to gain experience in junior leadership roles before being promoted to command positions. Other suggestions include revisiting spouse coordination policies to align with compassionate grounds and curtailing the symbolic showcasing of women officers in empowerment roles to avoid tokenism.
Lt Gen Puri’s review, while critical, is viewed by some defence sources as part of an ongoing process to improve training standards and leadership development within the Army. The sources emphasized that these challenges are part of the initial phase of integrating women officers into the military’s leadership structures. The Army remains committed to improving its systems to better integrate women into command roles, ensuring they are equipped with the leadership qualities necessary to succeed in these demanding positions.s, Lack of Empathy Highlighted