The first person I’d like to talk about is the OIC of the Direct Commission School I attended. I had just received my commission and was going through two weeks of “Knife & Fork”, you know, marching, wearing the uniform, how to give orders, learning about “admin”, the usual “officer” stuff. At the graduation ceremony the Commander of the school walked up to the podium, didn’t say a word and held up a sign that read, “ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!” Some of you may have heard me say this in response to, “How are you today Sir?” My reply, “ I am ABSOLUTELY, SUPERB! How are you?” Most people I say this to stare at me and wonder what planet I’m from; however, that day back in 1994 has always stayed with me because it gave me the best example of attitude I’ve ever had. He held the sign up there for a while, then proceeded to say that a large part of being a leader is ATTITUDE. If you begin with attitude and radiate it from the very moment you meet people, your example will resonate with them forever. And to this day, I still remember that cheesy sign: ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!
The next person I’d like to talk about is my sister, Christine. She’s a self-made business leader. Here’s why I treasure her as the best role model I have: she’s got arthritis very badly and has risen above all her personal challenges. Here’s what she’s achieved in her lifetime: has owned her business for over 20 years and has adapted to each new situation that has come her way; has had the rare and unique skill to develop teams and key positions in her business as the times change; has her own home and lives on her own; has a car, a dog, a cat, two artificial hips; has been in the hospital and had more procedures done than I can remember; and has traveled all over the world by herself. However, the biggest lesson for me is that despite all the things that have been put in her life to bring her down, she continually meets the challenge and far exceeds anything that comes her way displaying courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, even to the point of comforting me in tough times in my life, and even from her hospital bed. Of all the “little things” that are in my life, hers are much more complicated by arthritis and the challenge of dealing with it and the situations surrounding it. (When I wrote this part of the article, I had no idea that she yet again needs to have work done on her left hip. She says, “The day after you left, my left hip decided it needed to be done NOW… God said he will provide and I am counting on that.”) She’s got a positive attitude, a strong Christian faith, and deep courage. And in all of this, she still “Cares and Feeds” me by talking with me and making sure she helps me with what I am dealing with; she has chosen not to let any of this get her down. What a remarkable role model.
And finally, two people you’ve heard me talk about in previous articles: Chief Petty Officer Kutzleb and LCDR Gladieux. You’ve heard me talk about them and the various things they’ve done in previous articles; they both have such a positive attitude and perseverence in everything they do that they set the tone for the environment in which we work. YNC Kutzleb is the definition of “ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!” She carries her positive attitude with her in EVERYTHING she does, almost as if it had been issued to her. She always asks how I am and always says “thank-you” if I ever do anything for her. She is respectful and direct, and I always know where I stand with her. I see her actively moving around in all she does; she never carries herself in anything less than a positive role model for all the Khakis around her with a presence and a posture that says nothing less than “I can do anything I put my mind to”. And she works hard! What a hard worker she is; she carries a second job even after eight hours of working for the Navy! Now, LCDR Gladieux is cut very much from the same mold. She always asks me how I am doing, no matter what is going on in her life, like Chief Kutzleb says “please” and “thank-you”, is very honest and direct, a hard worker, always provides a positive attitude, and also, very much “in charge”. The thing I like about LCDR Gladieux is this fine balance between professionalism and her “Care & Feeding” of the troops that work with her, and especially her perception of and response to failure; LCDR Gladieux sees errors as part of her job to learn from them, teach others, and then move on. I am not saying she is one that makes errors; she deals with a lot of different units and personnel, she encounters quite a bit of change. Bottom line, her perspective is one of perseverance and learning. She and Chief Kutzleb are an awesome, awesome team.
These are the role models I feel you need to know about. I could obviously talk much more about this topic, and about different people; however, the point I’d like to make is that Role Models & Attitude speak to the uniqueness of how we connect with people in our leadership roles. Each person we come in contact with in our lives can teach us things we like, and things we don’t. These ideas, behaviors, role-modeling are really not “things” you can learn from a book, or even, from any of these articles I’ve written. Each person, in their leadership role and stewardships—you all—will be drawn to behaviors, choices, role models and attitude that you find are very much in your own Leadership Toolbox. The important thing to remember is to aspire to be like those who you know, in your heart of hearts, are good leaders, and learn from those who you feel are not so good. But even in those you do not aspire to be like, you can still find good elements of leadership. I would even encourage you to find all those you come in contact with as role models and look into their “leadership soul” to find the good in what they do and how they do it, learn from them, apply the Essential Elements learned and then demonstrate them. Show all around you what can be done. Now, a final thought about Attitude and Role Models.
A friend of mine, Major Ted Daley, recently offered me some advice. He said, “Grant, leadership is an art, and a science. It is tangible and unique. You coach and mentor, you hug and listen. The job is variable and complex: you need to care for people; you need to focus on the individual to know, think, do, feel, be; you need to surround yourself with good thoughts, and good leaders. But the biggest thing to remember”, he said, “…is to live each day as if it were your last day”. He went on, “In all that you do as a leader, carry yourself, your presence, with a positive attitude and treat each other with respect, with the way you’d want to be treated.” Absolutely, Major Daley, ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!
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