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It is generally agreed that hard skills, such as practical skills and theoretical knowledge, are extremely important for the execution of professional tasks. However, soft skills make a difference between the simple "job well done" and the ability to obtain superior performance in teams and the integration in each organization and society in general. In recent years higher education institutions throughout the world have started offering training programs for developing soft skills. However, the most effective ways to improve such skills are yet to be identified. Examination of training programs of development of soft skills in Higher Education institutions demonstrates that such skills are very diverse. Therefore, in order to establish a framework of soft skills and a way to improve them, this study aims to verify if the practice of riding in educational establishments is a useful educational tool for developing soft skills. To achieve the objectives of the study, the research uses a quantitative method through the application of a questionnaire with 23 soft skills (Rouco, 2012). A sample of 180 individuals (90 riding students and 90 non-riders) from three Portuguese Institutions (Military Academy, Évora University and Military College) was used in the research. The analysis concludes that there are differences in average values of the level of proficiency of soft skills between riding students and non-riders in the Military Academy, Évora University and Military College. Riding students show a higher level of proficiency in soft skills under study, demonstrated in the following: participative leadership, leadership by delegation, consideration, self-control and promoting development. The study concludes that the riding students develop soft skills proficiency levels significantly different from non-riders in all skills under study, except the self-confidence and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally agreed that hard skills, such as practical skills and theoretical knowledge, are extremely important for the execution of professional tasks. However, soft skills make a difference between the simple "job well done" and the ability to obtain superior performance in teams and the integration in each organization and society in general. In recent years higher education institutions throughout the world have started offering training programs for developing soft skills. However, the most effective ways to improve such skills are yet to be identified. Examination of training programs of development of soft skills in Higher Education institutions demonstrates that such skills are very diverse. Therefore, in order to establish a framework of soft skills and a way to improve them, this study aims to verify if the practice of riding in educational establishments is a useful educational tool for developing soft skills. To achieve the objectives of the study, the research uses a quantitative method through the application of a questionnaire with 23 soft skills (Rouco, 2012). A sample of 180 individuals (90 riding students and 90 non-riders) from three Portuguese Institutions (Military Academy, 'vora University and Military College) was used in the research. The analysis concludes that there are differences in average values of the level of proficiency of soft skills between riding students and non-riders in the Military Academy, 'vora University and Military College. Riding students show a higher level of proficiency in soft skills under study, demonstrated in the following: participative leadership, leadership by delegation, consideration, self-control and promoting development. The study concludes that the riding students develop soft skills proficiency levels significantly different from non-riders in all skills under study, except the self-confidence and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present Applied Research Essay we will survey the values that characterize Artillery officers on active duty, reserve duty and retirement, and also measure how the conscious development of their values toward the exercise of command is ordered. The objective of this study is to do an integrated approach to the values of the Military in general, and of Artillery officers in particular, so that we can answer the question "Which are the values that Artillery officers consider the most important for the exercise of command" through the identification of the values perceived in the past, present and future and their classification by frequency and importance. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used on both parts of the thesis. On the first part, most of the data were collected using documental analysis to form the literature review, where theoretical questions related to the context and evolution of the concept of value, the importance of values in the Military and their identification were discussed. On the second part, the inductive method was applied to identify the values that characterize Artillery officers. The data was obtained from exploratory interviews with active duty Artillery officers, and from an online survey directed at active duty, reserve duty and retired Artillery officers. The data collected from twelve interviews and from one hundred and twenty six valid answers to the online survey was then analyzed and discussed. The results allowed us to conclude that the values that characterize an Artillery officer are Loyalty, Integrity, Sense of Duty, Discipline, (Leadership by) Example, Honesty, Rigor (Accuracy), Perfectionism and Minutia. These values, while in line with the past, are adapted to modernity and to current technological environment. We expect that an analogous process will occur in order to adapt these values to the Artillery officers of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to analyze and relate the leadership behaviors and communication styles required by Infantry junior officers in their daily command tasks, in order to influence their subordinates to achieve extraordinary effort, group effectiveness and satisfaction. For this study, the quantitative method used for obtain information was a survey. This was created comprising three questionnaires: one focused on leadership competences, another on communication styles, and the last one about three criterion factors (extraordinary effort, group effectiveness and satisfaction). The survey was conducted using a sample of 804 soldiers (30 Junior Officers, 81 Sergeants and 693 privates). The analysis of the data revealed that subordinates perceive that their commanders (junior officers) practice task oriented leadership behaviors, particularly on "mission orientation" and "decision making". The behaviors exhibited by the officers strongly and positively relate with the assertive communication. Moreover, all leadership behaviors practiced by the officers are strongly associated to the criteria factors, with the exception of the leadership dimension "vision", which presents weaker correlations. The leader dimensions that junior officers can conduct, to promote satisfaction, are interpersonal "conflict management" and "participative leadership". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to contribute to our understanding of the role of military leaders in the management of emotions of their subordinates in their attempt to promote extraordinary effort, satisfaction and group effectiveness in military operations in built-up areas (military urban operations). Military urban operations in built-up areas are characterized by highly complex and stressful environments, from a physical and psychological point of view, where often the group operates mostly in small teams independently. In this quantitative study a survey was applied with eleven dimensions associated with emotions, three factors criteria (extraordinary effort, satisfaction and group effectiveness) associated with performance and three leadership styles (directive, participative and by delegation) associated with influence. The survey was applied to a sample of 149 military personnel, which were divided into three categories: 23 officers, 17 sergeants and 109 privates. According to the results of the study, during military urban operations the emotions that influence positively extraordinary effort, satisfaction and effectiveness are as follows: confidence, enthusiasm, flexibility, teamwork, motivation, concentration, vividness and self-control. The emotions that negatively correspond to the criterion factors are the following: stress, anxiety and patience. The paper concludes that the delegation style promotes higher levels of performance, satisfaction and effectiveness of a military group. The directive style should be adopted to the situations of high complexity, uncertainty and risk, when the subordinates need strong "voices of command" to keep the initiative of operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper focuses on improving an existing diagnostic tool to identify emerging leaders in military contexts (military protocols, setting, tools and observers, although most of the sample participants were civilian). The main purposes are to identify and characterize emerging leader factors and to describe potential enhancements to the formal diagnostic tool currently used by the Portuguese Military Academy when assessing emergent patterns in leaders in small and informal groups. The diagnostic tool in use by the Military Academy is based on a questionnaire comprising 21 leadership behaviour items, a tool which was used for assessment in 100 group situation tests over the last decade. Upon analysis of data collected with this tool, we have assessed its efficiency and delivered an optimised tool featuring 11 leadership behaviour items. This revised tool was then used to assess 47 new group situation tests, generating therefore new data. One major outcome from the analysis of the new data is that the optimised tool provided a lower gap between the qualitative and the quantitative assessments (decreasing from 23% to 11%), suggesting an improvement of its accuracy. This observation suggests that a reduced set of leadership behaviour items to watch will enhance the assessment of group situation test, and will contribute to decrease potential observation errors and biases. Another major outcome from the statistical analysis of the data suggests that three leadership behaviours stood out as predictors for emergent leadership: planning and control, ascendancy, and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper focuses on how nonverbal communication elements are correlated with leadership behaviours of military junior leaders and how these constructs affect the superior performance of their followers. Our data show that the facial expression (smile) and the eye behaviour are the ones that have a positive and most pronounced correlation with the subordinate's perception of self-confidence, self-control, courage, empathy, and influence / reference of their commanders. The factors "extraordinary effort" and "satisfaction" are also positively related. On the contrary, gestures such as "crossed arms" and "point one's finger" have a negative correlation with the subordinate's perception of "selfconfidence", "self-control", "courage", "empathy", and "influence / reference" of their commanders. In this case, the factors "extraordinary effort" and "satisfaction" are also negatively related. We conclude that the use of certain gestures may contribute to a positive or negative perception of a commander by his followers thereby influencing their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse the exercise of the leadership function, from team level to strategic level, a direct influence is noticed on its members, as well as an indirect effect on behaviours and performances derived from the internal and external environment of the organisation. On this perspective, leaders affect all functioning aspects of an organisation. To identify the behaviours associated to leadership that lead to superior performances at the different hierarchic levels through the individuals that have "command" functions, a profile of behaviours may be found which may serve as a structural pillar to serve as reference for the standards required in the Portuguese Army. Leadership for the Officers of the Portuguese Army is characterized by guidance for the missions, ethics, example, decision making, planning, vision, cohesion, team work, conflict management and participative leadership and commitment, in order to achieve superior performances. Decision making and assertive communication are the competences that require highest levels of proficiency for higher organizational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]