Posted on Feb 1, 2015
SCPO Leading Chief Petty Officer (Lcpo)
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I've been absent for a while, but I have been having troubles that keep me up at night. I always tell my Sailors that leadership is inspiration, you can only inspire others if something inspires you. However now a days, I am having trouble being inspired. Friends being forced out or opting for early retirement. Lackluster leadership that hide in offices awaiting the next promotion instead of grooming and guiding their juniors. The new "business" of the military. I suppose it's a lifestyle that may have always been, however I was too junior to notice. I notice a lack of commitment to country, and more of a surplus of commitment to personal gain. I ask my juniors to give me 80% percent and I will make up for the other 20, but I believe the environment of entitlement has sunk its claws into the majority. I am trying to learn where and to whom to focus. Trying to find my place while helping my juniors to seek their own. It seems many leaders would rather showcase what they know, rather than pass on what they have learned. The void that was once filled with Navy pride has grown, and the space between is labeled a generational gap. Young leaders, how are you coping with the changes? Have you found a way to merge the divide? Or has hiding away until retirement become the answer?
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1SG Eoc Ops Coordinator / Ga Certified Emergency Manager
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SCPO (Join to see) As a Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant, I used to preach to my NCOs and Soldiers and Platoon Leaders. Stop focusing and worrying about what is going on the A, B, and C Company or in other platoons. Your responsibility is to stay focused on the :piece of the pie that you are responsible for and have direct impact on. If you spend more time focused and concerned what's going on outside your "span of control", then you are not giving 100 to those you are responsible for and too.

Yes, at times that can be easier said than done when as mentioned when you issues or events outside your span of control involve those you know and some who may be friends. That's when you must double down on your focus, dedication, and determination to do whats right and ensure those subordinate to you do the same.

Since you're willing to give 120% toward your subordinates, then don't let them only give 80. It's your responsibility to get 100% out of them. If you're giving 120, don't settle for less than 100 from them. It does get hard at times for all of us, and at times we wonder...is it worth it, or why in the hell am I killing myself!

The answer is because, it's YOUR responsibility to do so! When you decide to give up and quit, you're not only quitting on yourself, you're quitting on all those you're responsible for and too as well as your entire organization. You can't slow down because others around you are!

Continue to push yourself and your subordinates. Hopefully the slackers may catch "the fever" and get off their ass. Your professionalism and dedication to duty can be contagious just as the fever the slackers have seems to make you feel.

Don't let them bring you down. When you go down...you're taking other with you! Winners never quit. GOOD LUCK!
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MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP;  MA, Ph.D.
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Sir, I believe the answer and solution is within your posting! I would personally give 120%, and ask the rest to do the same! Please read: 'The story of my life," By: Moshe Dyan -- IDF officers lead from the front, and have suffered tremendous casualties -- yet they win - and decisively.
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