Musings, leadership tidbits and quotes posted by a retired Navy Captain (really just a high performing 2nd Class Petty Officer) who hung up his uniform a bit too early. He still wears his Navy service on his sleeve. He needs to get over that. "ADVANCE WARNING - NO ORIGINAL THOUGHT!" A "self-appointed" lead EVANGELIST for the "cryptologic community". Keeping CRYPTOLOGY alive-one day and Sailor at a time. 2015 is 80th Anniversary of the Naval Security Group.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Word to the wise
It is dangerous to be right in matters where well-established senior Naval officers are wrong.
They mostly lost outside of the Revolutionary War didn't they? Perhaps this philosophy contributed to that streak of disasters that went unabated for 200 years in both the French navy and the French Army.
I believe that our IW Flag Deck expects us to let them know when we believe they might not have it right. As a CO, I know that there are few things I respect more than when I subordinate cares enough to let me know when I might be a little off. We need to ensure Collective Ownership and Cooperative Leadership are more than just words. ENS Voltaire may be right for his time, but if we are living by those words today, WE are failing...
What is really dangerous is for one to be wrong when that well-established senior Naval Officer is right and the junior insists on having his say. There have been a few times that this Sailor has heard a Commanding Officer say “If I am wrong, please correct me”. When one takes it upon himself to add a correction to what the Commanding Officer had to say, he had better be right. That type thing never happened very much in my career. Senior Officers it seems become senior because of their wisdom, experience and doing the right thing.
I spent 24 + years in the Navy and never heard or witnessed any event as you described in your post. Could you please refer to the individuals, the Command and the approximate date of this occurrence.
And even more dangerous to be wrong when the Chief is right.
ReplyDeleteSo live dangerously!!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice Al !! I like it.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time we were all told (discretely) to switch our uniform ribbons to the right pocket because the admiral had put his on incorrectly
ReplyDeleteFrench Navy of an era?
ReplyDeleteThey mostly lost outside of the Revolutionary War didn't they? Perhaps this philosophy contributed to that streak of disasters that went unabated for 200 years in both the French navy and the French Army.
I believe that our IW Flag Deck expects us to let them know when we believe they might not have it right. As a CO, I know that there are few things I respect more than when I subordinate cares enough to let me know when I might be a little off. We need to ensure Collective Ownership and Cooperative Leadership are more than just words. ENS Voltaire may be right for his time, but if we are living by those words today, WE are failing...
ReplyDeleteCaptain Lambert,
ReplyDeleteWhat is really dangerous is for one to be wrong when that well-established senior Naval Officer is right and the junior insists on having his say. There have been a few times that this Sailor has heard a Commanding Officer say “If I am wrong, please correct me”. When one takes it upon himself to add a correction to what the Commanding Officer had to say, he had better be right. That type thing never happened very much in my career. Senior Officers it seems become senior because of their wisdom, experience and doing the right thing.
Very Respectfully,
Navyman834
Anonymous, Jan 26, 2012 1:42 PM
ReplyDeleteI spent 24 + years in the Navy and never heard or witnessed any event as you described in your post. Could you please refer to the individuals, the Command and the approximate date of this occurrence.
Navyman834
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