What do YOU Think?

“What do YOU think?” Asked sincerely, with the right motive behind it, this is one of the most powerful questions a leader asks. Think about the importance of being valued and valuable, two things that are critical for your followers to feel. Asking the question, “What do YOU think?” implies that you value the person’s opinion, hence, you value the person.

If you’re in a leadership position and don’t ask that question, your chances of failing are huge. Who know what’s going on in the organization? The leader? Sure…! THE FOLLOWERS! The workers who are on the floor, in the mud, know a lot more than you do! It might behoove you to seek their opinion once in a while, or, better yet, as often as you can.

I was with the United States Air Forces in Europe Band at Ramstein Air Base Germany. We were scheduled to host and perform at a tattoo that would be attended by the most senior dignitaries of each NATO country. A tattoo is an outdoor evening event where marching units showcase their talents. Every NATO country was planning to have their premier marching unit perform. It was scheduled for September, around the Air Force’s birthday. September is usually a wet month in Germany. This September was looking to be no different. We did an incredible amount of work preparing for the event. We had to coordinate with every NATO country’s representatives as to how we would do what, when, and where. We were a week out and sitting in a meeting chaired by the Vice Commander of USAFE, Lieutenant General Begert, when we received a report that there was a 100% chance of rain the day of the event.??Oh, CRAP! Failure was not an option! We’d have to do it inside, was the consensus. That made sense. However, comma (BTW nothing positive ever follows “however, comma” in the military. I mean, we don’t say “however, comma, you just got promoted.” It’s more like “however, comma, the First Sergeant wants to see you and it ain’t good!”), the Operations Group Commander reports that the only hangar big enough to do the show in will not be available on said date. There’s a cargo airplane in it in pieces, being fixed. Oh, CRAP! Now what? After a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth and blaming everyone else, the general tells us to go to lunch and return in an hour to continue deliberating.

I had nothing else to do so I went over to the hangar. As I walked in, all I saw was a huge wooden crate sitting in the middle of the floor. No plane. The Master Sergeant in charge of the hangar greeted me and asked me if he could help me. I told him what was going on and the dilemma we, the entire command, was in. “What do YOU think?” I asked him. “Correct me if I’ve missed anything, Chief, but you really need this hangar empty and at your disposal as soon as possible so that you can host this tattoo you just described, am I correct?” “Exactly!” I replied. “Well, (expletive)!” he said, “I can have this whole place empty for you by this afternoon!” I went back to the meeting and reported to the general what I’d found out. He, as the rest of the team, was elated! We did the show, and it went perfectly! We done good, as we used to say.

People support what they create. No involvement, no commitment. If you aspire to be a good, or even great, leader, you have to include your followers in your decisions as much and as often as you can. You’re still accountable for the final decision, but when you ask your teammates for their opinion the final decision will be partly theirs. That’s the essence of teamwork. Working together toward a common unified goal.

I’m pretty confident that what I’ve just shared with you is true. What do YOU think?!

Until next time,?

Be GREAT! You ARE!

?HEIRPOWER!

?Chief bob vásquez!