It's not about you

When I was a lieutenant in the Army, I was walking with my platoon sergeant towards the front gate of our kaserne to check on our soldiers. As we reached the bottom of the hill, in the opposite direction, a couple soldiers approached and then walked by us without saluting. In the military, soldiers salute all officers of higher rank mainly when outdoors and the officers return the salute. I certainly noticed that they did not salute me, primarily because I was preparing myself to return the salute. However, when no salute was rendered, my reaction was to let it go and keep on walking…in my mind, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, that perhaps they were pre-occupied and did not see my rank. In any case, I always tried to have humility in regards to my military rank even in this case.

However, a little surprising to me at the time, my platoon sergeant (PSG), a non-commissioned officer (NCO), immediately came to a halt, turned and began to reprimand the soldiers for the failure to salute an officer. You can imagine, it was a one-way conversation.

The soldiers appeared authentically apologetic, quickly corrected their error and saluted me. I returned their salute. I honestly felt, inside, a little uncomfortable during the event as not being saluted especially when it was probably by accident did not offend me. In some ways, at the time, I think I felt highlighting the mistake, made it look like I wanted to be saluted which conflicted with my own personal orientation and leadership training towards servant leadership.

The interaction was over in seconds even though it seemed like longer. We all continued on our way. My platoon sergeant and I did not talk further about the incident as we reached our soldiers at the front gate.

(Image: US Navy Flickr.com 9-12-2012 Capt. Daniel Dusek, commanding officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, salutes newly pinned Chief Petty Officer.)

On another occasion, I was walking with my command sergeant major (CSM) who was the senior non-commissioned officer in the unit. Similarly, a few soldiers walking together failed to render a salute as they walked past us. We both noticed this, but again, it seemed like they were not paying attention or we may have had our backs turned away from them. Regardless, my normally soft spoken CSM interrupted our discussion, stopped them in mid-step and a similar scene played out as had occurred with my platoon sergeant. 

In both instances, had my CSM and PSG not acted, the failures to render a salute would have passed by without consequence. 

As the two incidents made me feel a little uncomfortable at the time, I reflected after both occasions. At the time, I thought about how I should have corrected the soldiers as they were supposed to salute me by the regulations. However, it was not until many years later, that I unpacked a distinction, from these two experiences - an even deeper perspective of leadership humility, important for our effectiveness and commitment, not only as military leaders, but as business leaders, community leaders, government leaders, family leaders, project leaders and even momentarily leaders. Even now, as I think about leadership, including these stories, I understand something new especially about the meaning of humility.

In June, I wrote an article related to the Oath of Commisioned Officers which was inspired by my own ever evolving appreciation for the honor I had to lead soldiers and the recent incidents in our nation’s capital during which we asked our soldiers to act against our citizens and other civilians.

(Image: Chairman of the Joint Chief's of Staff Flickr.com 5-1-2010 Newly commissioned officers take the oath of office at Florida A&M commencement ceremonies.)

As military leaders and similarly government leaders, we have taken a formal oath of office. This includes mayors, governors and even the President. Although the oaths may vary slightly, what is critically common in many of the oaths is the word “Office”. 

Here are some examples, that thousands of individuals have sworn out loud, witnessed by others, as they take on leadership roles:

Commissioned Officers…”.and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

Elected officials…”that I will faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office of _________ according to the law……”

Senators…”that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter….”

(Image: US Department of State Flickr.com 5-13-2014 Suzi LeVine swears in as the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.)

Even the person who is elected President of the United States…”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States…”

Are these oaths just ‘words’, mechanistically recited as part of a ritual and customs passed down from generation to generation…having once been recited with a powerful perspective and purpose, long forgotten, perhaps never known by some, and now are just artifacts? Words that we are more concerned about people saying correctly and in the right order vs really saying them with a commitment to what they are swearing an oath too?

(Image: Flickr.com - 5-15-2015 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey administers the oath of office to Army and Air Force cadets during commissioning ceremony at Kansas State University.)

Let me go back to the story with my NCOs. At the time, in my mind, I thought they had taken offense and reprimanded a soldier for not saluting me, a senior ranking officer…that they were correcting a violation of a regulation. I thought my own reaction or lack there of was consistent with my humility as a leader. However, on much deeper reflection, I have realized that what my NCOs did was far more significant and important than correcting a wrong and further embedded my understanding of leadership humility and the oath I took.

My NCOs were acting from a much higher perspective. They were not insomuch defending me, the individual officer, who was physically standing there or even a regulation or custom,

...they were protecting the office which I held as an officer.

They did not simply see soldiers failing to salute ‘me’; they were seeing and immediately correcting a deviation from the integrity of the military structure of which my office and respect for that office were key aspects. The structure critical to the success of the military organization and ultimately every soldier and, most importantly, what we were sworn to support and defend.

(Image: US Navy Flickr.com 9-18-2012 Chief Fire Controlman Marlon Glass salutes the sideboys after being presented his anchors and cover during the chief petty officer pinning ceremony.)

From these events, I have realized I was not the office or officer, but just Chris Oh fulfilling the office to which I had been appointed and that I had sworn the oath that…” I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter….” I…We are not, as individuals, the office but the caretakers or occupiers of the office who are honored with the opportunity to “faithfully discharge the duties of the office.” Leadership humility to me up to that point was basically…don’t get a big ego. The actions of my NCOs deepened my understanding of ‘leadership humility.’

Many years later, this perspective deepened further. I attended a fantastic coaching training course (Co-Active Training Institute) which added to my perspectives and repertoire on leadership and coaching. Of the many gems, the one that resonated with me and helped me be a better coach, person, parent and leader was a phrase one of our instructors used. Perhaps, for most of the students, it was a fleeting comment, but it stuck with me and weaved it all together…becoming a mantra for me…four words

”It’s not about you.”

Most leaders, especially those appointed or elected into office swear an oath, overtly or perhaps intrinsically and silently, that includes something like” the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.” What this means is we are not the Lieutenant, Captain, Manager, Senator, Governor, Mayor, Director, President…we are simply the person in the office. Just like the reasons my platoon sergeant and sergeant major reprimanded those soldiers who failed to salute me, the Secret Service when they walk with the President who is in the highest Office of our nation, similarly, are not protecting the individual elected to the Office per se, but they are protecting the Office itself.

(Image: USCapitol Flickr.com Architect of the Capitol. George Washington was sworn in as the nation's first president on April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York.)

My NCO’s taught me that the responsibility of a leader is not only to lead well and humbly through my actions, but just as importantly, to humbly remember, I am not the office, and to uphold and protect the integrity “of the office on which I am about to enter.” They are both important to those we lead.

For those lucky enough to have the opportunity, have chosen or have been called to lead, I hope this distinction resonates with you. We are all just moments in time while the Office we are appointed to is perpetual.

It’s not about me…it’s not about you…it is about them…those we lead.

To all the NCOs who taught us well, thank you for your leadership and reminding us what humility means. To those who have followed us, thank you for trusting us to lead and for making us better leaders. I hope we always serve you well.

Leadership is an honor. Leaders wanted.

(Image: Marines Flickr.com 6-9-2011 Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos hands the sword of office to Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett.)

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