COMMENTARY>>“Choose wisely”

By Chief Master Sgt. Chris Herreid
19th Operations Group superintendent

If there were one person in history I could go back in time and meet, it would be Alexander the Great. Having never lost a single battle, Alexander is widely regarded as perhaps the greatest commander and military genius of all time. What he accomplished in his short 33 years on earth is so amazing it nears the realm of unbelievable. As a leader, Alexander treated his men well, and in everything he did, he led by example. His men, in turn, were inspired by this and followed him to what was then the end of the known earth. Like all successful leaders throughout history, he had a mentor. In fact, his mentor, Aristotle, is perhaps the most famous mentor and teacher of all time.

It’s interesting to note that Mentor is an actual person from Greek mythology. King Odysseus is said to have placed his most trusted advisor, Mentor, in charge of his son and palace when he left to fight the Trojan War. During ancient times, the student/mentor relationship lasted for most of the student’s life. It’s well documented that Alexander consulted with Aristotle throughout the entire course of his life, just as Aristotle did with his mentor, Socrates, and he with Plato. It has been argued by many historians that Alexander would not have been nearly as successful as he was if not for the mentorship and tutelage of Aristotle.

In the Air Force, a mentor is defined as an entrusted advisor, guide or counselor. We often times approach mentoring from a situational perspective or as an individual project or as circumstances dictate. We additionally tend to put the responsibility of establishing a mentoring relationship upon the senior and more experienced member. Keep yourself open to the possibility of initiating a mentoring relationship as a junior member. In doing so, take the time to choose your mentors well. For me personally, it has always been the people that see the world differently than I do whom I have learned from the most. Regardless of who initiates the relationship, the experience pays huge dividends for all involved.

Mentorship is not unique to military life. In today’s corporate world, approximately 70% of the Fortune 500 Companies have some form of a formal mentoring program. In the majority of these, it’s the subordinate or junior member who initiates the mentoring relationship. If accepted, the “protégé” and mentor enter into a professional relationship, often contractually defined, that can last for years. As is true with us in the military, both parties become the wiser and reap the benefits of this interaction.

As leaders, our strength comes in knowing how to make the best use of ours and our Airmen’s experiences, good judgment, and understanding. It is through the mentoring process we gain understanding, the benefit and insight of other’s experiences, and ultimately, wisdom. Wisdom serves us best when we repeatedly take time to develop it, and in turn, share it with our Airmen. The tendency for most of us is we get so busy in the “hustle and bustle” of our daily lives, that we don’t take the time for this discussion and introspection. Dr. Stephen Covey, one of the world’s foremost leadership authorities, refers to this process as, “sharpening the saw”. It’s a critical piece of our development, and this reflection also ensures that our “lessons learned” won’t become merely “lessons observed”.

It is also very important that we choose our friends and associates well. They often have as big of an impact upon us as do our mentors. Surely this is the case with our younger Airmen. There’s a term in sociology known as “Social Proof”. It states that when people are uncertain about what to do, they look to those around them, and to their friends, to decide what they will do next. The theory assumes this takes place both on a conscious and subconscious level. It is basically like a large flock of birds migrating in the fall. Taking their cues from each other, they all seamlessly work and move in unison. So too are we with our friends and the influences they have upon us. The old adage, “guilt by association” certainly stems from this phenomenon.

So in short, choose your friends and mentors well, for as they are, you shall become. Clearly, both have a direct and lasting impact upon the level of our success and the manner in which we live our lives. Alexander the Great was fond of saying, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”. Live well. After all, we only get one shot at it.

“Choose your friends and mentors well, for as they are, you shall become….”