Avoiding The Ego Land Mine

2015-07-14T14:54:28-04:00

I’d like to tell you that I was one of those superstar officers who did everything right and everyone should strive to be like me. But that’s not the case. My career was pretty average, I suppose. It had its good points, its great points, and a few low points. So, as I write this, I do so in a very humble manner. My goal is not to shine light on the path to success. You have much better mentors who will do a much better job at that than I can. No, quite the opposite, my objective is to show you where danger exists and hopefully you can avoid it.

The good news is that there is not one path to success but many, maybe more than we can count. The bad news is that danger lurks on each of those paths. In my mind, I see these dangers as land mines that can disrupt and even derail a leader’s progress along his path. In my progress along my path, I became somewhat of a sapper. I discovered many of the landmines, most by accident, disrupting my progress, sometimes exploding and sending me off in odd directions. More good news is that the paths switch back and cross again. It is more like a trail network that a straight path.

I’ll start with a very common type of self-initiated mine: the ego mine. This is one I tripped very early. Beware of your own ego. It is not about you. It never has been and it never will be. It is about the mission. My first few years, my ego was too involved in my profession. It caused me to say and do stupid things. It diminished the respect my peers and soldiers had for me. It added an unnecessary layer of difficulty to leading and, therefore, accomplishing the MISSION. I was offered help and advice and often refused to accept it or even consider it because I was too proud to accept it.

Example: I had a great Company Commander when I was a platoon leader. He worked hard to mentor his LTs. It was his second command and he knew how to run a company. Best of all, he and I bonded well. One day, I was planning and preparing my platoon for the first live fire exercise.I was in my zone, I had it all figured out, this was exactly what I was trained to do. I was proud and all set to show everyone I was stud. My CO paid a visit during my planning process and asked me to brief him on my plan. I was proud to do it. I don’t remember exactly what set me off, other than the fact that he started inserting himself into MY planning process, changing MY plan, about MY mission. Simply put, I wasn’t thinking. Fresh out of Ranger School, where platoons appear to operate “independently”, I was trying to do it alone. Well, we had some words and I was out of line. Later, reality sunk in but not before my ego exacted additional costs. The bottom line was, my Commander wanted me to do well in front of the Battalion Commander. He cared enough about me to want me to be successful.

Two Company Commands and a Battalion Command later, I can tell you no Commander needs an argumentative subordinate. What he wants is one to can accomplish the mission assigned and make his job easier.

Advice from a good superior is like money in the bank. Squirrel it away until you need it.
Your troops can sense when it’s all about you. Make it about accomplishing the mission and keeping them safe. You will be a better leader and they will be better followers.

Our army operates as a team of teams. No Soldier, no unit should stand alone. We support one another. That’s what makes us strong. If you need help, get help. If you are offered help, accept help. If you see another who needs help, offer help. We all want to hump our own ruck and drink from our on canteen but each of us has a bad day.

Good luck with the mission (note I did not say “your”). If it goes well then most likely, so will your career.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 2:58 PM

2015-07-14T14:58:30-04:00

Excellent advice Sir! Subordinates recognize great leadership, and will strive to excel just based on that. When great leadership is recognized, it's also emulated.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 14 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-07-14T15:05:22-04:00

LTC Barry Hull Great posting! We stand in the boots of a long line of soldiers past and present. May we always strive to do the right behavior for the right reason and seek the best outcome to the mission in support of our brotherhood of arms.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 14 at 2015 3:06 PM

2015-07-14T15:06:25-04:00

I've learned long ago that people tended to know their job better than I did. So I'd ask the questions that would validate they had their act together and turn them loose. Sometimes I could do the job better, but that would do little to help the subordinate grow. The farther you move up, the more you have to let go. If you want to fight off ego, embrace humble.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jul 14 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-07-14T15:30:15-04:00

Sir - Sounded very humble to me and great advice! Thank you for being a GREAT leader to the great men and women in our service!

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 14 at 2015 4:34 PM

2015-07-14T16:34:49-04:00

LTC Barry Hull Great advice for all those young new future leaders. We have all had our good, bad, and ugly, but that's how we learned as leaders coming through the ranks. Thanks for sharing with the RP Nation. I look forward to more great stuff from you in the future discussions.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 7:15 PM

2015-07-14T19:15:18-04:00

That is amazing story sir. I have found no matter how humble someone is there are times where they begin to read their own press. Some are able to snap back in really quickly but others have to be snapped back in. I had an amazing mentor that told me that in order to grow sometimes you need a little poop sprinkled on you. Trust me when I tell you I have had a lot of that sprinkled on me, and almost always because of me being too big for my britches. Thank you for sharing sir.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 12:27 AM

2015-07-15T00:27:17-04:00

This is great advice. Can't wait to read the next entry.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 15 at 2015 7:08 AM

2015-07-15T07:08:22-04:00

Excellent advice Sir. Thanks for sharing and hopefully our future leaders will take your message to heart.

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 15 at 2015 8:38 AM

2015-07-15T08:38:15-04:00

I can't agree more when you said "Your troops can sense when it’s all about you." Too many so called leaders think Soldiers are stupid, but they see and hear more than one thinks. It's obvious when the leader is only concerned about their NCOER/OER. I always kept in mind one inescapable fact: I needed my Soldiers to do my job, they did not need me to do theirs.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jul 15 at 2015 1:47 PM

2015-07-15T13:47:39-04:00

I no longer am in, but it is post like this that I can still take away from in and apply in the corporate grind. Thank you!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-11-27T15:01:28-05:00

Great read thank you .

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 8 at 2019 12:17 AM

2019-04-08T00:17:39-04:00

Thanks For The Share,,,