Posted on Aug 12, 2018
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
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In my leadership roles, I chose to be surrounded by people who had skills, talents, and experiences of their own. I welcomed team insight, suggestions, and even corrections.
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SSgt Unit Deployment Manager
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I'd assume they would want to be surrounded by subject-matter experts in each field they are responsible for.

"Now, will you kindly tell me, WHY I should clutter up my mind with general knowledge, for the purpose of being able to answer questions, when I have men around me who can supply any knowledge I require?" - Henry Ford
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
>1 y
Exactly, SSgt (Join to see), I surround myself around smart people who know their stuff ( subject matter experts).
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Col Dona  Marie Iversen
Col Dona Marie Iversen
>1 y
First & foremost >trustworthy individuals!
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Nicci Eisenhauer
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I seek the same as SSgt (Join to see) Surround myself with Advisors for AIMS with expertise quantum leaps beyond my own knowledge. Then I can rest assured knowing I'm backed by the best who will guide me and I don't need to question whether the advice is valid, just do my job to follow their guidance combined with the knowledge of my own role. I'm blessed to have a cadre of brilliant people in my world. Blessed and inordinately humbled.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
>1 y
Nicci Eisenhauer when you speak about being blessed I feel I can say this. Back in the early 1990s and the 2000s , I belonged to a church, whose Pastor, is now deceased, taught so much about common sense coupled with life practices with Biblical principles guiding it all. He emphazied surrounding oneself with smart people who are expert in matters that one is not, in order, to get the full measure of brilliance and success. I salute the essence of who you are.
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Nicci Eisenhauer
Nicci Eisenhauer
>1 y
And, I salute your essence, as well, Phyllis! Thank you for the time you took to write me such a beautiful reply. I can imagine your wonderful pastor in my mind. I'm sorry for your loss of him, clearly his words live on in you! Is there a greater legacy? By the way, I'd love to connect here as contacts, but RP doesn't allow military family (civilians) to initiate a connect. May you continue to be blessed!
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CAPT Kevin B.
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Experts? It goes much deeper and shallower. I've had experts that I wouldn't want around me because they couldn't mesh. For me, I always wanted people who were competent in taking care of their swim lane, collaborate well with the other swim lane leaders, and know that it was important not to bog me down so I could intercept the crapola coming downhill. They knew that they were responsible beyond their rank in that I'd support their desired outcome, e.g. getting rid of a dirtbag. The "kick it upstairs because that's what they're getting paid for" mentality doesn't work long term.

I wasn't being lazy. I was preparing them for future command wherein decisions have larger consequences. I was fine with recoverable mistakes if they grew from them. I was more than satisfied that some of my "kids" made Flag and did well there. Even then, they'd take notice if I gave them that certain look, usually about some dirt I'm thinking about that would be the worse time to share. Good folk will remember how they grew up and who were the foundations at the right points of their lives.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
>1 y
CAPT Kevin B. I was ushered through open doors of opportunity not because I always met the formal discipline preferences for certain positions but I demonstrated ingenuity, versatility, integrity, and any other qualities that were being sought after. So on my journey of being project lead, manager, etc., I chose persons to collaborate with who "fit" the bill. So yeah, fresh thinkers who were young, energetic, inquisitive, educated, arrogant, etc. whatever quality "fit" the bill we're on my team
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