Leadership Date Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 04:01 AM PST Topic Rant A few weeks ago, I was made to read an essay about leadership that won some contest eons ago. I could forgive the sexist tone, as it was written during a time when women were barely candy stripers in the military. I was still disgusted with its generally warmongering, ethnocentric tone, though. There were a few gems to be found; some of which my boss could stand to take notes on, but that’s another bit of shmeng in my life for another time. Apparently, this essay contest is an annual thing. The Captain recently sent an email that was simple enough: “Any takers?” with the details of the contest attached. I’ve been thinking extensively on what I have learned about leadership since I’ve joined the Navy, and I’ve discovered that what I have to say on the subject is definitely not what the judges will be looking for… As far as I can tell, there are two simple ways to categorize leadership: (1) theory; that which is taught in classrooms and seminars, and (2) practice; that which actually happens in the real world. Before joining the Navy, I had never had any sort of leadership class, nor had I very much experience as an actual leader. I told my recruiter I wasn’t really into the “leadership thing,” to which she replied, “That’s OK. They teach you that stuff.” To date, I have not learned anything in a classroom that wasn’t common sense or something that I didn’t already know; take care of your people, micromanagement is a four-letter word, trust until given a reason not to, praise in public and scorn in private, don’t enforce rules you’re not willing to follow yourself, etc. You mean people need to be told this stuff?!? OK, fine. I can understand how some of these things may not come naturally to everyone… I guess. At Officer Candidate School (boot camp for officers), we learned all these things and then some. That “some” was my first glance at what leadership in practice would soon mean to me as an officer. One of the things every Officer Candidate participates in is a formal dinner called a Dining Out. It was much more uptight and boring than the every day meals had in the fleet, but it wasn’t far off on the pomposity level. Years of Naval tradition, brought forward from a time when officers were considered somehow better than the crew (sad to say, but I still see that attitude today in many young officers) has left us with things like the wardroom. The wardroom is both a compartment on the ship and a term for the ship’s company of officers. It stands to reason that the company is what makes the room… both “wardrooms” can be quite ridiculous and incredibly stuffy. In fact, they usually are. The Wardroom is a place where officers eat—away from the crew. There’s a lounge area with couch, chair, and TV, though to be caught actually lounging there is almost a mortal sin. “Don’t you have some work to do or qualifications to be working on?” While the crew eats cafeteria style, officers’ places are set with china, glass, and linen napkins. They must ask permission to sit down at and get up from the table. They are served by crewmembers. Hats may not be brought anywhere in the vicinity of the tables while eating (an etiquette rule I learned by first breaking it). Religion, politics, and work are not proper conversation at the wardroom table, though work sometimes manages to escape the rule. What’s left but sports, kids, and which sports everyone’s kids are playing? Music, art, or literature rarely makes it to the table—a sad thing, indeed. What does this tea party have to do with leadership? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. It is simply “tradition” that officers act this way. We are indoctrinated with the Navy’s principles of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. We are taught the high ideals of leadership in classroom settings. But our day-to-day lives play out in the form of tea parties, backstabbing, finger pointing, and ass kissing. Goddamnit, I refuse to play! I am here to do a job. I was appointed to my position to make hard decisions for which I will ultimately be held responsible. I have made the mistake of caring for the welfare of my ship's crew; and I will continue to make it again and again. I would rather go home in a rage every day over the latest redundant, stupid, or cruel policy than to be another of the Captain’s toy dolls sipping on an empty cup This article comes from Shmeng http://www.shmeng.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.shmeng.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=643