Friday, January 13, 2012

COMMENTARY >> Ready, Fire…Aim?

By Lt. Col Mike Nelson
62nd Airlift Squadron commander


The military has a tendency to attract “Type A” personalities. We are bold, goal-oriented and determined to succeed no matter the obstacle. We like to believe we can shape most aspects of our life and the world around us – and in most cases we are correct. Type A personalities prove to be a valuable commodity in a profession where initiative and decisiveness are markers of excellence; the ability to operate autonomously in uncertain circumstances might well be the difference between life and death. While Type A personality traits generally promote military success, they also present challenges.

One downside to this gung-ho mentality is portrayed through our desire to control. We want everything to work perfectly. But let’s face it: things rarely do come off without a hitch. And when they don’t, we go into crisis action mode. Whether it’s an aircraft accident or the latest challenges at the mortuary in Dover, we pride ourselves on detecting a problem, identifying its root cause and resolving it quickly.
Most times, the root causes are obvious and we can get back on track almost immediately. Some problems, however, do not lend themselves to the “quick fix,” so getting us back on the right track may take time…and that will cause friction with our Type A impulse to resolve the issue without delay.
This leads me to a quote my father, a 26-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, recites to this day: “All hands not doing so, do so immediately!” The sarcasm of the quote highlights the irrationality of acting quickly when the way ahead is not clear. To avoid falling prey to this mentality when an issue arises, first understand the situation then make a timely decision.

“Timely” does not mean “quick” or “immediate”; rather, it’s better defined as “appropriately-timed.” The difference is subtle, but important. Just as some decisions are best made with little delay, others require time to simmer and evolve. We should let each situation define our way ahead.

Appropriately-timed (and presumably correct) decisions promote confidence in the abilities of superiors, subordinates and peers; they also confirm our status as fervent and reputable stewards of our country’s trust.

So this holiday season, sit back and relax. Take a break – you deserve it! Make a promise to your family, your service and your country to work even harder for the betterment of all next year. But also make a promise to yourself to trust your instincts and your fellow Airmen. Understand that we cannot plan everything out – bad things will happen to good people, no matter how hard we try to prevent them. We can shape outcomes, but we can’t permit our Type A personalities to lead us astray. Let’s focus on making decisions in a timely manner: in the end, take the time to make the right decision the first time when the situation inevitably eludes your control.

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