Despite the fact that so many of them make it look easy, the daily lives of senior U.S. military leaders can be incredibly demanding. Laura Weimer examined how senior leaders manage their well-being (or, at times, struggle to do so) amidst these demanding careers, and she’s in the studio with host JP Clark to share her discoveries. Drawing from her research, Weimer highlighted the unique pressures of senior roles, including frequent relocations, intense scrutiny, and the weight of consequential decisions. She also discussed the inevitable challenges of mid-life, such as caring for aging parents and navigating evolving family dynamics, which compound work-related stress. Weimer’s key takeaway? Developing a strong sense of identity, meaning, and purpose is essential for fostering resilience and sustaining leadership effectiveness.
I don't know if necessarily it's the Army's job to help us figure out our identity. I do think it would be valuable for the Army to acknowledge the value of those conversations and maybe even prompt those conversations.
Links to resources referenced by Laura in the episode:
Joe Byerly, “Learning to Live a Halfway Interesting Life,” From the Green Notebook (March 19, 2025) https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2025/03/19/learning-to-live-a-halfway-interesting-life/
Briana Barker Caza, Lakshmi Ramarajan, Erin Reid, and Stephanie Creary. "How to Make Room in Your Work Life for the Rest of Your Self." Harvard Business Review (May 30, 2018), https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-to-make-room-in-your-work-life-for-the-rest-of-your-self
Cal Newport, “The Most Important Piece of Career Advice You Probably Never Heard,” Cal Newport, May 21, 2008, https://calnewport.com/the-most-important-piece-of-career-advice-you-probably-never-heard/
Nick Craig and Scott A. Snook. 2014. “From Purpose to Impact.” Harvard Business Review, May. https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact.
Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life (Penguin, 2022).
Simon Sinek, "The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy," A Bit of Optimism Podcast, 7 January 2025. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wnHgVpkuX0i4CdCEHSFkg?si=c58cf2607d274eb7
This is restricted access (academic):
Herminia Ibarra, “Provisional Selves: Experimenting with Image and Identity in Professional Adaptation.” Administrative Science Quarterly 44 (4) (1999): 764–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055.
Laura Weimer is an Active Duty Army lieutenant colonel (Military Police) and a graduate of the AY25 Resident course at the U.S. Army War College. She most recently commanded the Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, TX, and will be returning to Texas in June to serve in U.S. Army Futures Command (soon to be Transformation and Training Command). She taught Military Leadership and Intro to Sociology at West Point from 2013-2016 and holds a Ph.D. In Management from Harvard University, an M.A. in Sociology from Duke University, and a B.S. In Chemistry/Life Sciences from West Point. Her research and writing is focused on leader identity, development, and personal well-being.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: Then Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dan Caine, USAF, when he appeared before the 1 April, 2025 Senate Confirmation Committee. Caine was nominated and later confirmed as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces and the principal military advisor to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense.
Photo Credit: Screen capture from CSPAN video of 1 April, 2025 Senate Confirmation Hearing.