Integrate: Part II

10. HUMILITY: The 3rd man 3rd row principle.

I first heard the phrase “3rd man 3rd row” during my first year in the military. My Drill Sergeant described what it takes to be successful in the military. He discussed the importance of humility. He advised us to never make yourself any more, or any less than the next soldier. He emphasized the importance of doing our job without needing formal recognition from higher authority, peers, or subordinates. The 3rd man 3rd row principle continues to guide my expectations and interactions. Sometimes putting your head down and continuing the task is the best way to make an impact.

11. GRIT: It’s not a buzzword, it’s a way of life.

GRIT is not something you can solely read in a book and encourage others to develop as an ideal. GRIT is forged in difficult and unpleasant situations. I am grateful that through my years in the Army, I have been placed in austere environments that have contributed to my development of GRIT. However, I find it interesting that I have never had a block of instruction called GRIT in the military, it’s just called Tuesday.

12. SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Crawl. Walk. Run.

My time in the military has taught me the importance of following a set process to develop skills. Before I learned how to be a marksman, I had to learn the basics of breathing while distressed. Before I learned how to ruck march long distances, I had to relearn how to put on my socks. Skill development is a process. This is no different in business or psychology. Learning how to do the small tasks well, sets individuals, teams, and organizations up for success when more responsibility is required.

13. PERSEVERANCE: Be a good starter and a good finisher.

In my opinion, ruck marches are one of the most beneficial physical training events that we conduct in the military. Learning how to push yourself over a long period of time is a mental challenge. This skill is transferable as an entrepreneur and small business owner. Every tedious registration, blog post, or company policy that I write is about perseverance and remembering that the way we end is just as important as how we started.

14. MULTICULTURAL COMPETENCE: More than a lecture topic. 

As a Consulting Psychologist I educate teams and organizations on the importance of Multicultural Competence. As a soldier, I have first-hand experience of how Multicultural Competence can literally save your life. Being in environments that require you to be a consistent learner of cultural norms and perspectives has given me a different outlook on the importance of this topic. Learning how to build rapport, establish trust, and complete shared task has a different level of urgency when your life and the life of others is a realistic dependent variable.

15. FORMAL EDUCATION IS JUST ONE VARIABLE: The best and brightest.

During my time in higher education I have had the opportunity to learn from some brilliant minds and interact with sharp peers. However, the brightest people that I have met during my short 36-years of life, have been in the military. Specifically, in the Infantry. That’s right; the grunts, ground pounders, mud rollers or whatever name others may call soldiers on the front line. I have learned that educational pedigree is not the most reliable rubric to determine who is the best and brightest. This is important in the civilian sector as well. As leaders, it is our responsibility to always be on the lookout for unassuming talent. This requires humility and broadening our perspective on where to search for talent. 

16. SYSTEMS ARE NOT ADVERSARIAL TO CREATIVITY: Know the book before throwing it out.

There is an Army doctrine for everything. Survival, maps, leaderships, sanitation, and much more. Each regulation or principle was intentionally written to provide a clear protocol or set of standards of how to complete the task. What I have learned over the years is that doctrine does not stifle creativity but helps facilitate innovation when the operational environment changes. The current Coronavirus pandemic has required scientist, physicians, and researchers to become highly innovative. Each step of innovation deviates from a set of doctrinal standards which needs to be mastered prior to the deviation.

17. FOLLOWERSHIP: Somebody has to do it.  

Being a good follower is just as important as being a good leader. During Ranger School one the most critical jobs you have is being a good follower when someone is in a graded leadership position. The way you behave in that role will directly affect a peers outcome of passing or failing the course. Learning how to take orders and execute the mission is critical, but must not be confused with blind submission. As a teammate (you, me, we) have a responsibility to show up for our leaders and provide honest feedback that ensures tasks are completed even if we would complete the task in a different manner if we were in charge.

18. LEADERSHIP: When in charge, be in charge.

During my time in company command, I was given some advice from my Battalion Commander. He simply said never apologize for being in charge. When you are in charge, be in charge. As a millennial I have been put in many leadership positions in the military and civilian sector of being in charge of others that are older and have much more experience. In these situations, I keep two principles in mind:

1). I’m here for my expertise not solely my experience.

2.) This is not about me or them. This is about completing a task(s).

When your number is called to be in a leadership position; lead with humility, listen intently, and be committed to your role as the leader.

To learn more about my work at Legacy Consulting & Research Group, visit our website at www.legacycrg.com.