RE: DISCUSSION WITH NEW SIS OFFICERS 19 DECEMBER 1988 9:30 DCI CONFERENCE ROOM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 12, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
STAT
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
DCI - Proposed Talking Points for Discussion With New SIS Officers
19 December 1988
FROM. ,/y,
EXTENSION
NO.
William M. Baker V?Y %
PAO 88-0410
Director, Public Affairs
DATE
12 December 1988
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1.
ER
1 3 D
EC 198
8
2.
3..
DCI
)`f'
12, 51
4.
AO
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
DCI
EXEC
REG
15.
FORM 61 0 USE PREVIOUS
1_79 EDITIONS
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
5 ECRE T
RE: Discussion With New SIS Officers
19 December 1988 3r1fl 'p=m- ?;3a
DCI Conference Room
You are scheduled to meet withu new members of the Senior Intelligence
Service to present your ideas about leadership and to discuss what you expect
from Agency executives.
About half of the SIS you address will have just completed the
week-long training seminar to examine the concept of executive
leadership. The other hal o e group attended the October, 1988 running of
the training seminar. In addition to their meetings with senior Agency
management, participants in both seminars heard guest speakers from academia
and the private sector.
The new SIS officers represent all the Directorates. The average age of
these officers is 48, and they have spent an average of 20 years with the
Agency.
I suggest you cover three areas: the importance of leadership; what the
Agency has accomplished over the last 18 months through the combined efforts
of strong leaders; and leadership challenges in the near future.
In preparing these talking points, we have drawn from your concluding
remarks at the Off-Site Managers' Conference 30 October-1 November 1988. The
proposed talking points are attached (see opposite for cards), as well as the
December training seminar agenda.
Attachments:
As stated
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
PROPOSED TALKING POINTS
BY
WILLIAM H. WEBSTER
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
BEFORE THE
NEW SENIOR EXECUTIVES
DECEMBER 19, 1988
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
INTRODUCTION
? I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE RECENTLY DISCUSSED
LEADERSHIP AT THE EXECUTIVE SEMINAR. THIS AFTERNOON I WANT
TO MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
LEADERSHIP, WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AT CIA THROUGH THE
COMBINED EFFORTS OF OUR STRONG LEADERS, AND WHAT CHALLENGES
LIE BEFORE US IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP
? THE SUCCESS OF ANY ORGANIZATION DEPENDS ON STRONG
LEADERSHIP. STRONG LEADERS POSSESS SEVERAL TRAITS:
-- THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND KEEP TOP PEOPLE.
-- THE ABILITY TO MOTIVATE THOSE PEOPLE TO EXCEL.
-- THE ABILITY TO SET GOALS AND COMMUNICATE THOSE GOALS
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
THE NATURE OF OUR MISSION AT CIA REQUIRES OUR LEADERS TO
POSSESS TWO OTHER TRAITS:
-- INTEGRITY -- A COMMITMENT TO BE ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL TO
THE LAW AND ABSOLUTELY TRUTHFUL TO THOSE IN GOVERNMENT
WITH WHOM WE WORK.
-- EXTREMELY GOOD JUDGMENT -- TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES,
OUR SYSTEMS, AND OUR SOURCES FROM DISCLOSURE OR HARM.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
? YOU RECALL THE SITUATION TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WERE
.CONFRONTING THE IRAN-CONTRA INVESTIGATIONS.
-- TWO YEARS LATER, WE SEE FEWER NEGATIVE ARTICLES IN THE
NEWSPAPERS, AND WE ARE NOT BEING CHALLENGED AS WE WERE.
-- WE HAVE TOGETHER TAKEN THE AGENCY THROUGH ONE OF THE
MOST CHALLENGING ERAS IN OUR HISTORY.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
? WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN
OUR ORGANIZATION AND IMPROVE OUR EFFECTIVENESS.
-- ESTABLISHED POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT OUR NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE
ASSESSMENTS REMAIN OBJECTIVE. WE ARE NO LONGER
ACCUSED OF "COOKING THE BOOKS."
-- MADE INTELLIGENCE A VITAL COMPONENT IN NATIONAL
SECURITY PLANNING GROUP DELIBERATIONS ON KEY FOREIGN
POLICY ISSUES SUCH AS THE PERSIAN GULF, PANAMA, AND
ARMS CONTROL.
-- STRENGTHENED INTERNAL REVIEW OF COVERT ACTION.
-- DEVELOPED GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH CONGRESS.
-- AVOIDED FURTHER EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE CONSTRAINTS
ON INTELLIGENCE, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED 48-HOUR
NOTIFICATION AND GAO AUDITS.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
-- STRENGTHENED THE MANDATE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
-- ESTABLISHED THE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CENTER AND MADE
OTHER EFFORTS WITHIN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO
DEAL WITH THE HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE THREAT.
LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES
? WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST
YEAR. BUT THERE IS MORE THAT WE, AS EXECUTIVES, CAN DO TO
BRING OUT THE VERY BEST IN AGENCY OFFICERS. WHEN I MET
WITH SENIOR MANAGERS AT THE OFF-SITE CONFERENCE IN LATE
OCTOBER, WE DISCUSSED SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
? I AM INTERESTED IN PROMOTING'GROWTH AND ENCOURAGING A WIDE
RANGE OF EXPERIENCE FOR OUR OFFICERS.
-- THE RELUCTANCE OF DIRECTORATES TO "SHARE THEIR STARS"
HINDERS THIS GOAL.
-- THE NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITIES AND
FEMALES TO ADVANCE WITHIN THE AGENCY IS NECESSARILY A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-007778000302550001-9
PART OF THIS GOAL. WE MUST MAKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION A
FOCUS OF OUR EFFORTS, MOVING IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE SEE
SOMEONE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER RESPONSIBILITY.
? WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE CROSS-FERTILIZATION THROUGH. ROTATIONAL
ASSIGNMENTS. FOR THESE ASSIGNMENTS TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR
THE OFFICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL, WE MUST PUT A PREMIUM ON
FAIRNESS AND CANDOR.
? WE MUST PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND SEPARATE TRACKS FOR
EXPERTS AND MANAGERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MECHANISMS,
INCLUDING EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIPS, ROTATIONALS ON THE IG
STAFF, AND SIS-GRADE POSITIONS FOR EXPERTS.
? WE ALL, AS SENIOR MANAGERS, HAVE A DUTY TO ENSURE A SMOOTH
TRANSITION TO OUR EVENTUAL SUCCESSORS.
CONCLUSION
? I AM GLAD YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE
CONCEPT OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
 4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9
THE SUCCESS OF OUR ORGANIZATION DEPENDS ON STRONG
LEADERSHIP. AND I AM COUNTING ON YOU, AS MANAGERS, TO HELP
PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP SO VITAL TO THE
CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THIS AGENCY.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/29: CIA-RDP99-00777R000302550001-9