Read on Twitter
* THREAD *
The poll below was sparked by a few things. One - an ember of a thought to perhaps again put e-pen to paper on my own leadership journey (in the downhill stretch of Company command). https://twitter.com/Viking_Dave85/status/1355530554444292099
The poll below was sparked by a few things. One - an ember of a thought to perhaps again put e-pen to paper on my own leadership journey (in the downhill stretch of Company command). https://twitter.com/Viking_Dave85/status/1355530554444292099
Two – the rough ride I felt a recent article got, for no other reason than the author bothered to commit e-pen to paper as he concludes SUC. Whilst not on the article itself, my Twitter feed definitely picked up a few nay-sayers on the general topic. https://thearmyleader.co.uk/sub-unit-command-reflections/
Rather than reply in haste (never Tweet in anger!), I mulled the issue over whilst the poll was running. Interesting that 35% of responses felt the use of the #MilTwitter and #PME tags were “egotistical grandstanding”. Do these #’s not exist to enable a conversation?
Twitter is often accused of being an echo chamber (it can be), but it can also prompt debate and allow for unexpected connections – one of the very reasons I thought I’d give the platform a try in 2018. And I’ve found it hugely useful on both counts.
Fascinated by the topics of leadership & culture (having seen good & bad examples on the job), I decided Twitter could helpfully be another tool in the toolbox of thinking about this stuff. I didn’t seem alone either @ArmchairMajor @NIMuirsy @B4ck1n @SO2_Optimism to name a few
I won’t lie, putting e-pen to paper for the first time was slightly nerve-wracking (ridiculous for an Army Officer, right?!). Peer review, and the comments that may or may not follow once published, can be a little daunting...
@FTGNotebook @thearmyleader
@FTGNotebook @thearmyleader
But, like any challenge, it was worth the jump. Writing is a key element of the think – read – write – reflect circle, that makes us all better. It probably started in earnest at Staff College (cheers @icsc_l), and @evernoteUK helped me order my thoughts.
Like many others, I found many of the online #PME sites useful to frame, supplement & CHALLENGE my own thinking about l&c BEFORE I assumed command. The SUC series, the Junior NCO series, and everything in between genuinely helped me prepare to lead soldiers and junior officers.
If I found this stuff useful, there's a chance the other 6k people who subscribe to https://thearmyleader.co.uk/ do too? So why the view that such writing is “egotistical grandstanding”? To misquote: if we haven’t read/thought widely surely we risk being functionally illiterate?
So, what next? Well, I have no choice really, do I? With 6 months left commanding a Company of Her Majesty’s Vikings, I probably need to reflect & write. Others did and they helped me. Hopefully I can add to the useful #PME and #MilTwitter conversation, even just a little.
