"you've got 15 minutes (or five or ten, depending on time constraints) to bitch, moan and complain or to suggest an alternative solution, but then you need to move out and execute your mission." i liked that policy and adopted it for my own when dealing with subordinates.
some of my biggest gripes here are the numbers of awards being given out, the criteria for giving them out and the quick promotion process here. it's upset me so much that i actually went and requested that i not be submitted for an award at all, because i didn't want to weaken the meaning of the awards. i came over here as a communications sergeant but have really done less communications and more operations, personnel and supply stuff. the comms were up and working, or were easy to get up and working and people needed help in those other areas. i really just feel that 95% of us are just doing our jobs here and don't deserve special recognition for that. they don't give out awards just for showing up to work on time at wal-mart (or didn't when i worked there). i was over-ridden though and given a fairly high award. now i can't lie, after reading the justification for the award that was submitted, i was honored to see that my bosses felt that highly about me, but i would've gone home happy just having served.
this morning a lot of our very young, very inexperienced guys got promoted to sergeant. this is a big step in the army. it's their official step into leadership roles. granted, some of them might've had some big responsibilities before this, but this is really the point where they start influencing new soldiers and molding them into tomorrow's leaders. and the fact that these guys haven't had the experience or the training necessary for this promotion really didn't sit well with me. to the point where as soon as the ceremony was over, i left without congratulating any of them or shaking their hands, because i didn't want to "endorse" the promotions myself.
at some point today though, my own words rang through my head. "you've got 15 minutes to bitch, moan and complain or suggest an different solution, but then you need to move out and draw fire." and i realized that i'd already been bitching about this all year. i'd suggested alternatives, but nobody listened to me. so the time has come to man up, accept it and make the best out of it. what's this mean? it means i need to change my leadership style. step it up a notch if you will. i need to kick their asses a little more while they're in the lower ranks. make sure they understand the importance of standards, and realize what those standards are, then make sure the meet those standards. when they get promoted to sergeant, i need to hold them to task when their subordinates aren't being trained right, mentored right or are failing on the job. i've identified the problem, now it's my responsibility to do everything i can to minimize the effects of it.
stuff like this just keeps life interesting.
4 comments:
really great attitude. I know what you mean. I kind of did the same today with my garden today...just sucked it up and did it.
Great post. It's almost like little tyke soccer (or whatever sport) where everybody gets a trophy, win or lose, just for participating nowadays. You've learned how to get the best from people within that system. Very insightful. Congrats on the award, it sounds to me like you deserved it.
Once again Sean you are right on!!
I think you may have started a movement here..
By the way.. I have been meaning to tell you I finished KEEPER. Loved it..looking forward to the next one..thanks for turning me on to Rucka.
You must be counting the days till you go home...I think we're all counting along with you.
:-)
~leelee~
doc-t... that policy has served me well. plenty of times i hear the little voice in my head tell me my 15 minutes are up and to get on with it, and i've found that it makes things easier with subordinates if i let them gripe about what every crummy task i've just assigned them for a few minutes. i've got a couple more months before i get my first look at promotion to the next rank. i'm not holding my breath on it. i've chosen alot of fun jobs over the years, not necessarily career enhancing positions. so people who've really been watching their careers and padded their jackets with the right jobs and made the right corrections might get it before me. that's okay though.
trouble... the first big work on the garden of the spring, or? how's the little one doing?
robin... i never thought about it like that before, but i'm stealing that analogy from you. that's EXACTLY what it's like. "hey, thanks for showing up, we're giving you a pretty ribbon" without any regard to little things like job performance. so when you have someone who really is deserving, it doesn't mean as much because everyone to their right and their left got the sae thing.
leelee... great! i read his other non-atticus kodiak novel and wasn't sucked in as much. not a bad book, but the characters just didn't sing to me anywhere near as much.
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