Did your view of a supervisor change when you assumed that rank/position?

MSgt Matthew Meindl — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 18:28:27 -0400

Often we have an opinion of a supervisors performance based on our own limited experience and no knowledge of performing in that rank/position. I have seen several that my opinion remained the same and many more that I gained much more respect for when my eyes were opened to that perspective/requirements.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 25 at 2015 7:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:24:02 -0400

I felt what's the big deal, I am not anymore of a person with more rank.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 7:30 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:30:41 -0400

Well I don't know about that, but if I am ever in charge of this planet, I am going to rename it after myself. Planet Skip. lol

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 7:38 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:38:27 -0400

I am also going to put rings around it. Like Saturn!!!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 10:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 22:33:49 -0400

I have a more sympathetic outlook, for sure. It bothered me as a PFC how little time my team leader spent with the team. Putting a SPC in charge of a detail and disappearing. I now know he wasn't just screwing around in the locker room, he was planning training, or writing counselings, or any of a myriad of other tasks, because I do many of the same things.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 26 at 2015 1:22 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 01:22:28 -0400

Yes, of course... You always look at your bosses and think (A) they do nothing, and (B) just annoy you endlessly... It looks easy, until you are in that seat. As a private, I was my LT did nothing, and my Company Commander was a goofus.... Those jobs seemed different when I had them. As a Company Commander, I thought the Battalion S-3 and XO were idiots and clueless... and again did nothing but annoy me... When I was in those jobs, I was never busier.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jul 26 at 2015 10:35 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 10:35:40 -0400

Absolutely. It proves the old adage that "what you see depends on where you sit." First it was those bastards/morons up at Company. Then it was those blank at BN. Then it was BDE...

If I had been told as a PL what was ACTUALLY involved in commanding a BN, I know I wouldn't have had the context to understand it.

I had the exact same revelations over and over in my civilian career as well. My current job was always clearly relevant and essential to the bottom line, while that of those above me was mainly involved in goldbricking, politicking, and making work for me to make them look good. Right until I had to do that job....

It wasn't until I had been a field grade and a fairly senior civilian manager for a while, and had really "gotten" systems thinking that I got rid of that bias.

(Mind you, that doesn't mean that there aren't superiors and peers that AREN'T just using their positions to get over. I can name several of both in both my civilian and military career. But they are much fewer than people often presume. The incompetent are somewhat greater in number, due to the Peter Principle.)

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 26 at 2015 10:37 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 10:37:10 -0400

Yes, I realized it was more difficult than most people assumed.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 12:21 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:21:12 -0400

Of course it did. You finally start to realize why your squad leader, Platoon SGT or 1SG did the things they did. Your scope of responsibility expands and you have to think for your team and for yourself. In the Army when you transition from SPC to SGT and obtain your first responsiblities as a Squad Leader, you will learn a lot about yourself quickly.