Posted on Feb 25, 2014
SSG Training Room Ncoic
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This is in relation to soldiers performance on a daily basis. Do we as leaders sometime expect to much or not enough?
Posted in these groups: Job performance logo Performance
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Responses: 7
LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
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It depends, I do believe that the proverb "Perfect is the enemy of the good" is true, where if you are a perfectionist and only looking for perfection, many times nothing gets done.

 

I believe that we should expect quality, effectiveness, and efficiency in getting the job done, yet understand that with the limited time, resources, and mission set, we need to move forward. I think instead of expecting perfection, we expect the soldier to meet their potential and surpass it. This way we are demanding in making them improve. that is more important than accomplishing some tasks perfectly.

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MAJ Battalion Executive Officer
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Not enough in my opinion. Soldiers will always rise to thier leaders expectations, not the other way around. Being nice and giving your Soldiers a break will cost you in the end. I learned this as a young Sergeant when I be-friended a PFC who was close to me in age. It caused problems later when we worked together. He thought my orders were suggestions. I had to correct him and break off the friendship. 
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SSG Training Room Ncoic
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Well CPT Weber the only reason I really brought this up is do to my current 1SG where in this is his most common saying. I do believe we should expect a compliance with standards within in the Army. However I do not believe you should hold our soldier to our own personal standard or treat them with a certain amount of disdain. This sometimes hard for me and I've hard to adjust my personal mentality on this subject because I am a bit of a perfectionist .
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MAJ Battalion Executive Officer
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I agree SGT McMullan, never treat anyone with distain. Yet setting standards is leader business and if we don't set a standard then how will our Soldiers improve? Let me give you an example, performing staff work at the BN level can be difficult, but now let's look at staff work at the pentagon. The OPTEMPO there is ridiculous, yet Officers and NCOs seem to rise to the occasion then when they PCS back to a regular unit they have dramatically improved thier skills. Now I'm not saying we should be a zero defect Military and we have to manage expectations, but if you don't set tough and challenging standards how do you know what your Soldiers are capable of? Just food for thought. 
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SSG Training Room Ncoic
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Agreed CPT Weber unfortunately typing is not my strong suit but I'm working on it. I personally believe in challenging the soldier to learn and adapt to become more proficient in various skill sets and situations. 
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SGT First Officer
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You should strive for it knowing you will rarely achieve it. Depends on your field-aircraft mechanics we have to be damn near perfect because something out of tolerance can mean life or death.
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