Questioning authority

Im not a big "why" person! It can get my short temper going if done the wrong way, place or time.  However, there is a time and place where i have no problem with it! During the planning phase of a task or mission, if one of the individuals has suggestions, concerns, questions or need to understand, i want to hear what they are thinking. that way i have the "time" to evaluate and answer their ideals or concerns. and in some cases they may have a better ideal that i will ask them questions i may have. if it still accomplishes the task or mission in the same or less amout of time, goals and standards are met, i may let them go with their ideal to accomplish the goal, because then they have a vested interest in making sure it is accomplished to standards. They also gain leadership and knowledge....However, that is during the planning phase or a Q&A session. In 9/10 instances after that, weather it be garrison or war zone, im not very receptive to why questions, they have been looked at or this task/mission will go as planned. now if they are just asking why to general orders, i take that as disrespect and questioning authority. Bottom line, there is a time and place to voice your concerns. and if there is not that opportunity, strap up and move on with your orders.

Let me start off by saying that judging by the amount of responses to this issue, I think it's pretty much been beat to death. However, I do see a lot of responses about always explaining the purpose of why an SM is being told to do something and this is where our opinions divide. I tend to agree more with some of the retirees and older NCO's that talk about "the old ways". I was brought up this way also and it is how I lead. It's not just because I swore an oath to do as I was told by "the officers appointed over me" but, it is also how I was raised as a child. My grandfather taught me at a young age saying "They used to have a sign over the door to the head that read (I know it sounds stupid, but do it anyways)". This is simply how I was brought up to respect my elders and later in life to perform as a soldier. There are different leadership styles and I guess you could say I use an autocratic or authoritarian style. I'll explain tasks that may need extra information for clarity purposes, but I will not explain to soldiers "why" just because they don't like the task they have received. 

Honestly the way I look at it is FIRST execute the order (as long as it is not illegal, etc, etc.) and then ask why.  I have never had a problem explaining to a Soldier why and sometimes it is just as simple as because the post CSM is walking through and we want him to believe that this is how we always "live".  Ask me after or even while we are executing the order and I will share the why but individual discipline requires you to first execute.  Explaining the how and often times the why is how we build the next generation of leaders but before we can build leaders we must first build discipline.  "To Lead, One Must Follow." — Lao Tzu, 604-531 B. C.

Sometimes, though, you have "leaders" who are not good or effective leaders. "Leaders" who got their rank simply because they passed a test. "Leaders" who abuse that power to direct a subordinate to do something that makes NO SENSE, or is degrading. Yes, these kinds of "leaders" are few and far between, but I think an effective leader should be able to answer the question of WHY even if it's a time sensitive task and you aren't able to answer right then. Your junior servicemembers will follow your lead, and in turn they will learn how to become an effective leader, when it's their turn, if you took the time to train and teach them, rather than throwing around rank as a way to get what you want. "Respect the rank, not the person" is a fact. I may respect your rank because I'm required to, but if you're a crappy leader who doesn't bother train or teach me and simply orders me around because your rank says you can, we've got bigger issues that me asking the question WHY.

I've come to realize that its ok to ask questions when unsure, but I also believe theres a time and a place for everything. Many leaders are saying its ok to ask their leader Why. I believe if we allow it one time than we are opening up the flood gates for much more questions. I was always told by my leaders just move out and execute. You don't question your parents when they tell you to do something so why question your military family authority, that are just as important as your immediate family.