Leadership by Walking Around

I learned to walk around in the Army.

As a young military officer, I was well aware that I didn’t know squat. My dad had instilled in me the idea of “keep your mouth shut, watch and learn.” I was 22 and I was “in charge” of a 40-man unit, but all that really meant was that I had to take responsibility for anything that went wrong.?

The only thing I knew, besides taking responsibility for anything that went wrong, was that the best thing for me to do was to be visible and curious.?

My main job as a young lieutenant was to be in the motor pool where all my soldiers and vehicles were. I was stationed at Fort Stewart, GA, which is outside of Savannah. It is very hot and there is no shade in the motor pool, which is just a giant parking lot with extremely expensive vehicles that can destroy lots of stuff.?

Soldiers know that young officers are a dime a dozen. If they didn’t like you, you would be gone soon enough anyway. The sergeants knew the same, but wouldn’t hesitate to put you in your place, for your own good. Their job was to prevent you from having to take responsibility for anything but the good stuff.?

Hopefully this is setting the scene, but to recap…

I knew nothing.

The soldiers didn’t really care about me.

The sergeants could (and would) make or break you.?

Therefore, the best I could do in my job was to be present and visible. All I truly needed to do in order to do my job well on a daily basis, was to walk around and ask curious questions. And with the heat in Savannah, being present also meant baking alongside the soldiers in that giant parking lot.?

If the soldiers respected you because you respected them, here’s how a conversation might go:

“Hey, Private Shakespeare. Can you help me understand why you’re replacing that metal thing?” (I really did have a soldier named Shakespeare. Why would I make that up?).

“Well, sir, the bearings are shot and the brakes aren’t working very well.”

“Oh, cool. Thanks!”

If the soldiers did not respect you, here’s how a conversation might go:

“Hey, Private Fish. Can you help me understand why you’re replacing that metal thing?” (I also had a soldier named Fish.).

“Well, sir, you see, the Flux Capacitor has been acting up and it’s messing with the cooling shield. If that goes, then the left phalange will fail, then the johnson rod and then it won’t pass the tappet clearance.”

“Oh, cool. Thanks.”

“Yeah, and then we’ll have to replace the freeze plugs and the stroke shaft. And we don’t have the budget for that. An ounce of prevention, am I right sir?

“You bet!”?

All I really had to do to avoid the latter conversation was to walk around and be curious. And bake in the sun with the soldiers.?

I’m not gonna lie - I had to walk around A LOT. If I showed up on a semi-daily basis, and asked questions about the job my soldiers were doing, they felt dignity and meaning in their work. They could see that they mattered and that they were an essential part of the mission.?

If I showed up once a week for an hour (in the at least bearable morning heat), the soldiers would have me chasing Flux Capacitors all over Georgia.?

As leaders, we often don’t know all about the technical aspects of what we are leading. In my opinion, that’s not necessarily our job. Rather than knowing everything there is to know about something, we depend on those who are doing the work to be the experts. Our job is to make sure they have what they need to do their job and that they know they are valued and that they matter. That they SINCERELY matter. (All of this has to be sincere. People can spot disingenuousness a mile away.)

You do that by walking around.?

I encourage you, dear reader, to get out into the heart of your organization and be visible and curious. People will appreciate it and they will support you as their leader.?

Otherwise, the hunt for spare Flux Capacitors can be long and arduous.?

Be well!

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Let's keep it light! Here are two quick shares to help you through your day!

Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - https://amzn.to/3ODpguY

This is the most important book that I’ve read when it comes to money mindset. Hill outlines the 13 steps each person needs to take in order to build wealth.?

Be warned, it is an old book, which means there are “old” mindsets, particularly regarding race and gender. You have to read it from the “new historicist” perspective. I’m happy to talk you through that if you’re so inclined…

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” — Henry David Thoreau

#lifecoach #workplacewellness #leadbyexample #leadership