What words set you off?

COL Lee Flemming — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:50:53 -0400

Knowing yourself and how you will react in any given situation is absolutely crucial for a leader! I have a few triggers that I have developed pre-planned coping mechanisms for: shut up and why didn't you...

Response by SFC Stephen King made Sep 9 at 2016 5:01 AM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 05:01:39 -0400

COL Lee Flemming great question. This varies with the individual I am talking to and the relationship between us. I have become my aware of this to assist in my personal and professional connections.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Sep 9 at 2016 5:11 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 05:11:35 -0400

I don't think a particular "word" ever set me off. The one thing that would get under my skin is people who wouldn't own up to failures. If they coupled that with shifting the blame to peers or even worse subordinates I'd get peeved,
Ive had people fail frequently. Thats life. Failure of a tasking can be remedied much easier than a lack of responsiblity and personal accountability.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Sep 9 at 2016 5:51 AM

Maj William W. 'Bill' Price — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 05:51:17 -0400

My compliments on the graphic and post, COL Lee Flemming. You definitely gave me something to ponder this morning. When angered, my coping mechanism is to ask myself "What do I need to change here?" (I believe anger, like fear, is a gift best used to effect change). This helps me to get my mind back in gear (vs my mouth), and to let the situation dictate my range of options. You made me realize I'm not self-aware enough yet to identify trigger words. I've got to work on that.

Response by 1SG Patrick Burke made Sep 9 at 2016 6:01 AM

1SG Patrick Burke — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:01:42 -0400

For me, when I went to check on a range/training and it is dicked up and I get with an NCO to correct it, the response 'I got it' made me a little upset for if you 'had it', we wouldn't be having this discussion..

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 9 at 2016 6:20 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:20:34 -0400

When someone starts talking about being in the military, and they never were in, just being idiots. Have to walk away before the hammer gets to drop.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 6:38 AM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:38:36 -0400

Action emotions, often have us searching for what buttons to press. It's a good idea to practice how to channel them. Otherwise we look like that kid that doesn't know how to fight going up against the martial arts instructor. Good idea Col. I know my own personality could use an overhaul, because I feel I absorbed the quick temper of the army since I joined. That coupled with the unwillingness to apologize, like the army, means that many of the people in my wake end up feeling hurt or aghast if they press those buttons. Training the mind of a soldier should be as important as training the muscles and the reticular activating system. A plan for the emotion circuit to go to ground would be an invaluable step towards improving the professionalism of our forces.
There's my 2 cents, but one thing I know for sure after working with foreign military folks is that we do have the most professional military even when it seems jacked up, except perhaps the Israelis. The only close runner up is the Russian army.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 9 at 2016 6:44 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 06:44:22 -0400

When I hear some ask a question entering our area and the tech states I don't know it's not my job.

Response by PO2 Marty Sharpe made Sep 9 at 2016 7:31 AM

PO2 Marty Sharpe — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 07:31:33 -0400

This is a problem I have had all my life. Here at 73 years of age I am finally getting a handle on it. Better late than never I reckon.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 9 at 2016 8:03 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:03:53 -0400

Being called Sergeant lol.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 8:25 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:25:32 -0400

COL Lee Flemming Cursing really gets under my skin. I don't believe it's necessary to curse to get your point across whether it's in conversation or anger. It's unprofessional.

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Sep 9 at 2016 8:34 AM

Col Rebecca Lorraine — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:34:02 -0400

Anger was never something I was allowed to show. I always considered it a weakness. This may be a gender difference, but things that insult me because I'm a girl and weaker. Anything that downplays the experiences of women in the military or any employment can cause me to react. When I see a woman using her body and not her brain takes me back to past events that were negative. Most of the time I'm too dumbfounded to react at the time, so I stew about it so that is equally unhealthy. Women are hyper aware of the "bitch" label so either their gamed to be passive aggressive or they are honest and direct. Great post. So many things to think about in a split second!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 8:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:35:05 -0400

to me, every time someone starts a sentence with " WHY " towards me as in they assume I did something wrong, ( my wife lol ) . That grinds my gears.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 8:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 08:52:41 -0400

Being disrespected is easily my number one trigger and I still have trouble reacting to it without flying off the handle. I work hard to make sure I treat everyone around me with respect. It really get's me when it is not returned.

My other short-fuse is being talked down to by a higher rank. I understand the rank structure and I give all the courtesies and the respect a rank deserves but I am by no means stupid. I'm actually extremely intelligent. There is no need to talk to me as if I am a preschooler learning my ABC's just because you outrank me.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 9 at 2016 9:11 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 09:11:25 -0400

COL Lee Flemming The saying, "To Easy" always pissed me off because the ones that seemed to use it, to me, were the ones that made shit not easy.

Response by CPL(P) Kevin Koch made Sep 9 at 2016 10:33 AM

CPL(P) Kevin Koch — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 10:33:47 -0400

Well, the trigger that set me off while I was in, "Welcome to the Army." After many years of service and deployment to be told that by my section sergeant... yea.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 10:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 10:58:12 -0400

I Can't.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Sep 9 at 2016 1:28 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:28:48 -0400

Doesn't really set me off, but does result in a serious eye roll..."We've always done it that way." - More often than not it's been the wrong way.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 9 at 2016 4:01 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:01:52 -0400

That's about it...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 5:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:17:55 -0400

Used too. I've learned (the hard way) to use my head and think before I open my mouth. Life's easier now!

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Sep 9 at 2016 6:40 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 18:40:52 -0400

I fully believe in the old adage about sticks and stones, so I rarely get "set off" by words. That said I really hate it when someone either lies to me or ignores known "facts" because they don't fit into their social or political world view.

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 11 at 2016 8:06 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 20:06:06 -0400

Organic
Carbon Foot Print
Gluten Free
Kale
Broccoli
Okra
Assault Weapon
Surgical Strike
Pet Parent
Micro-agression

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2016 12:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 12:39:37 -0400

A certain word that starts with P and ends with Y, five letters. Deployment whore. "Back in my day...." talk.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2018 5:17 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 May 2018 05:17:53 -0400

Sir, I don’t get triggered by singular words as much as phrases. When a subordinates says any of the following phrases, I will usually go into lecture or teaching mode; “Like I told you Sir!”, “I would have gone Officer but I’m not political”, or my favorite “Sir I need you to sign this”. Each phrase tends to trigger me due to their lack of thoughtfulness or ignorance.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2019 9:34 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 09:34:33 -0400

Lies.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Sep 17 at 2019 2:38 PM

Capt Dwayne Conyers — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:38:17 -0400

When the waiter says, “Sorry, we’re all out…”