What are some of the best and worst practices that you have seen from a new S3/XO?

Sir,

My last 2 assignments have been at the company level Operations and Training rooms so dealing with BN S3/XO has come with the territory. I have a few suggestions that I think will help out.

First don't come in and change everything under the sun to the way you use to do it at your last place. You may have great ideas but please take a minute and evaluate what is already going on. You don't want to replace a great system with just a good one because you are familiar with it. Take the time and slowly make changes within the organization.

Second trust the Soldiers in lower levels than you. Don't micromanage. Let the training NCOICs, Ops NCOs and Company XOs do their jobs. That is what they are there for. If you let them do what they are supposed to do that opens up your day for much more important things.

Lastly I don't think enough people ask those to the left and right or above them why do we do it this way. To many things are a complete waste of time, money and resources. When you really look at it the reason for that thing is because it has always been that way. How can we make things work smarter, faster and in our favor.

Sir, I've seen some really good XO/S3s as well as some horrible ones. One of the better S3s was during my last deployment. He cared for everyone in his shop as well as the entire staff.

The worst one was an XO who berated me in front of others for filing an EO complaint. He was the epitome of unprofessional. I believe in caring and listening to the Soldiers instead of talking down to them. Trust your staff personnel, if they are fairly decent. The enlisted soldiers understand there is a rank structure and an XO/S3 serves a specific purpose but there's no excuse for one to act high and mighty. Just my honest 3.57 cents worth from a former S4 NCOIC.