Through a recent FourBlock session at Blackstone, I was able to finally make the mental connection and put into words something I have been practicing for years. It is an issue that many veterans have when they transition into the civilian world: leading up the chain of command.
Veterans are extremely good at leading down since there is a rank system ingrained within them, but they are not used to questioning superiors as it is against what they've been taught and practiced for years. Losing my rank in the military was embarrassing but it came with a major benefit: I learned how to "lead up" the chain.
Although I was the lowest ranking person for a major project that I was assigned, I worked directly for my Sergeant Major (the military equivalent of a CEO) and had to supervise multiple supervisors who outranked me by far. I learned how to get the job done without pulling rank, because frankly, I had nothing to pull. I had to learn how to communicate in a respectful way with NCOs, officers, and civilian employees, or else I'd get stonewalled. I learned that people have lives outside of their everyday job, they have families, medical issues, and mental health problems underneath the surface, so I treated everyone with respect, regardless of rank or status.
It reminded me of a quote: "If you have to remind others that you are in charge, then you're not really in charge."
#leadershipdevelopment #veteran #change
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