Read on Twitter
As requested #miltwitter here’s my LL’s as a staff officer.
1. Probably most important; you’re still a leader. Doesn’t really matter what the current OJAR direction is. There’s always someone who will look up to you. So turn up on time, ironed, shaven, etc. Stay fit and robust!
1. Probably most important; you’re still a leader. Doesn’t really matter what the current OJAR direction is. There’s always someone who will look up to you. So turn up on time, ironed, shaven, etc. Stay fit and robust!
2. Read! Just read all the time. That’s basically your job; read and understand stuff. I’ve met a lot of people who claim they don’t need to print stuff off. I used to be one of those people, until I started printing stuff...! Either way, find an efficient way to absorb info!
3. Be flexible and prepared to step up. I had to spend a lot of a so-called buckshee overseas post as A/SO1 with an undermanned section in a foreign military. You never really know what’s going to happen.
4. Remember, there is a soldier at the end of everything that you’re doing, and if you genuinely believe that there isn’t, question the point of why you’re doing it and question it loudly. Also remember, there is almost always a family behind that soldier.
5. Keep a blue sky mentality and don’t fall in to the trap of “it’s always been done this way.” Question everything and protect the new (ideas & people). Orgs are naturally inclined to repeat successful processes but that can lead to complacency and square peg, round hole-isms
6. Don’t fear failure. It’s not a natural mentality in the military, which might be why we can be so slow to learn. If you’re pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone it’s unlikely you will not experience failure. You will fail, but seek to fail fast and move on.
7. You still need to protect your people. Don’t hide behind JSPs. Push the system to be as flexible as possible in supporting their needs and, when required, do what needs to be done now and ask for forgiveness later. This will help earn trust and demonstrate your worth as a boss
8. Lose the ego. Guess what! No-one cares that you’ve just been an OC or came top 1/3 of ICSC. In the staff world SO2 roughly translates as LCpl! This should however give you freedom to speak truth to power. If you talk sense, great. If not, you’re stupidity is quickly forgotten.
9. Default setting; the guys below you are needy and the guys above you don’t get it. Find a way round that mentality. Go to mess functions at the regiments that you support, invite them up to your place. Either way, develop relationships and see things from their perspectives.
10. Keep it in context. There shouldn’t be much that keeps you away from family time. When you have to work late, fair enough. But that shouldn’t have to happen often - if it is, ask why. Is it needless crap? Is it inefficiency? Or are you just genuinely snowed under?
11. Create a culture of trust and push your people out the door to go home to their loved ones if there’s not much going on. Lots of people (almost everyone) say “it’s big boys rules here” but I have very seldom seen it practiced. You set the example if you make that statement!
12. Be succinct, accurate & confident. Grown ups don’t have time to read. They like pictures & pretty things, supported by a confident demeanour. They see through bullshit so if you don’t have an answer be honest.
13. Don’t judge a book by its cover. There is something to be gained from everyone. Draw from the experience of the Captain that’s been there 12 years and use the enthusiasm of the freshly promoted DE SO3. Never dismiss anyone; they all have something to bring.
There you go. That’s it really. Nothing particularly groundbreaking I don’t think. Might be useful to someone though. Anything to add @JoeTTTM @GunnyHighway6 @TheImber @Jamie_Harle_ @OfficerEstate @ex_owls @ex_major @SO2_Optimism @Steve_Parker88 @thepagey @wavellroom @icsc_l
CAN I PLEASE TALK ABOUT AIRSHIPS NOW?!
