A Question of Leadership

The young lieutenant walked through Squadron Headquarters doors and into the adjutant’s office ready to report for duty.  The lieutenant was ordered to report to the Squadron Commander, knocked on the door, entered the office and rendered a fine salute and announced himself reporting for duty.  The Commander looked him over told him to relax and asked the lieutenant to go for a walk.  As they strolled along an open area of the Cavalry Squadron and discussed the leadership training the lieutenant had gone through they stopped by a large boulder that had graffiti from the Cavalry Soldiers units.  The Commander advised the lieutenant that he was tired of looking at the rock and listening to all the commotion caused by troopers constantly painting over the Cavalry graffiti.  “Lieutenant”, your first mission is to remove this rock, got it.  Once you do that, come see me for your assignment. “Yes Sir”; and snapped a sharp salute, the Commander returned the salute and walked away, as the young lieutenant stared at the rock.

After a while, the Commander noticed the lieutenant measuring the rock’s girth and height and wondered what the young man was doing.  Several hours passed and the lieutenant returned with a five ton truck, block and tackle, rope and pry bars. The young lieutenant was soon rigging the rock with rope and wedging and prying to get the rope slings in place.  He used the bed of the truck to assemble a tripod with pulleys and tested the tackle and draw and tension of the ropes.  All the work the lieutenant was doing had caught the attention of the Squadron Sergeant Major and he walked over to the lieutenant, rendered a salute and asked the lieutenant; what are you doing sir?  The lieutenant advised the Sergeant Major; he was on a mission from the Squadron Commander and wanted to get the mission done before the end of the day so he would get his assignment and he didn’t have time to chat with him.  Yes Sir, snapped a salute, turned and walked back to Squadron Headquarters and joined the Squadron Commander as they watched the lieutenant hoisted the rock onto the back of the truck, secure it into position, and then drive away.  Several hours later after returning all the equipment, washing the truck and brushing the dust and dirt from his uniform, the lieutenant walked into the adjutant’s office and was again ordered to report to the Squadron Commander.  The lieutenant marched in, reported and stated, “Mission Accomplished, Sir”.  The Commander returned the salute and advised the lieutenant; he would not work out in the Cavalry and he should return to Administration and have his orders changed.  The lieutenant was crushed and asked the Squadron Commander; Why Sir, I accomplished the mission, I did what you ordered, I don’t understand?  The Commander reminded the lieutenant of the conversation about leadership they had earlier in the day and the lieutenant asked; what does that have to do with moving the rock… What was I supposed to do?

The Squadron Commander shook his head stared into the lieutenant’s eyes and said; you were suppose to walk back into Squadron, pick up the phone and call the Engineer Battalion, have them come get the rock.

Moral of this story; when you’re in charge, take charge. When you have facilities and personnel available and you have to do the work yourself, you’re not in charge.

Leadership is the ability to influence others to accomplish a task, giving them guidance and supervision.