What's the Best Leadership Advice You've Received?

Do not try to be every ones friend. You are in charge. The ball stops at you and lead by example. Set the example. Dress and act the part

My first Postmaster told me to stay 5 steps ahead of my enemies. My 1st wing commander told me to never let no one knows what i was thinking. I told him that DON CORLEONE. HE told me watch the Godfather. It was educational.

First in line for shots, last in line for chow. Very similar to Steve Jobs' philosophy of taking care of employees so employees take care of the business. Lead from the front and care for their needs to get the support of those we are leading.

step back and watch

“Your active duty. You’ll move a lot. Make friends, but don’t get in trouble because of them. CYA. Give trust to those who deserve it. Stay back from those who don’t. When you get out lean on those who you trusted because you may need them…and they may need you also. Never lose contact with the ones you care about as even a text can keep you together, and have fun even in the shittiest of times.”

NEVER DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL, IMMORAL OR UNETHICAL.

As a new 2nd Lt, I was assigned as a field maintenance officer for an aircraft maintenance squadron in 1967. I was responsible for about a dozen shops and 80 enlisted personnel and really had no clue how to "manage" this group of specialists that knew so much more than I did. Somehow, I found myself visiting each of the shops once or twice a day just to meet the specialists and see what was happening. I later coined this management process as MBWA - Management By Walking Around.

Best advice I've received is do not blow your deployment money on things such as a new car, but instead save it, and use on long term investments such as a house.

Mission first, people always.

Mission first, people always.