Building the Bench

Author Jim Collins (Built to Last, Good to Great) spoke of the importance of building the bench, ensuring that the depth of the team can sustain its performance over time. Teams that are truly built to last have depth at the top, in the middle, and at the bottom. This truly is a leadership imperative -- to ensure that members of any team have the skills and tools to enable success, now and in the future.

For my team, this means focusing on our new hires. Yes, I am in the enviable position, like many federal agencies, of bringing in new talent. This year, we have added nearly 40 recent college graduates to the team. What better time to build our depth than when we have so much work to do and so many exciting projects on which these new, very talented people, can learn their craft.

I have tried to stay very involved with this great crop of interns. I spoke to them recently about my expectations. I have been personally engaged in the recruitment and the placement of each of them in the organization. I have tried to meet with all of them, learn their story, understand their goals in joining our team. Finally, I took them on a "road trip" across the organization, showing them who we are, what we do, and what they could expect in a career with us. I wanted them to connect with our mission and with each other. (The picture above was of the group at one of our projects)

Mission accomplished! The trip was hugely successful. I told these young people many times that I wanted them to stay with us...for the rest of their lives! This trip will be a memory that they will reference for the rest of their careers as they advance from the bottom...to the middle...to the top of our organization! They left the trip tired, inspired, and...glad they were hired. And many of them just may stay...for the rest of their lives!

Now, I understand that many are not in the position to add to their team. But the requirement to build the bench, to invest in newcomers, to ensure the viability of the team and its mission, is important to every leader. What are you doing to add to the skills and tools of your new employees? How are you helping them want to stay with you? How are you ensuring that the newest members of the team feel connected and know that they are still being developed? How are you building your bench?

You see, when the economy picks up, people are going to start moving again. Unless you have taken measures to retain them now. Some call it "building the bench." I call it...Leader Business!

Rangers Lead The Way III

I have been using these pages to remember the impacts of my "crucible" event, my training at the US Army Ranger School. (If you are not familiar with it, this video series is a pretty good summary.) Two months of no food and little sleep changed me in profound ways. Externally, I lost about 50 pounds and probably aged ten years. But internally, I left with a confidence that I could handle any challenge, with a belief that it is possible to create a team where "buddies" would do anything for each other to be successful, and with small unit leadership lessons that serve me to this day, now 20 years later.

One of the requirements of the training was to memorize the Ranger Creed. Now on the surface this was just more stress, adding another demand on an already overextended and fatigued body and mind. But it caused us to understand the culture of the Rangers and to become part of something that was bigger than ourselves. This "creed," or set of beliefs, has elements that go beyond the Rangers and have application to what leadership, teamwork, and mission-focus are really all about:

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other soldier.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some.
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor.

They were just words, a burden for a Ranger candidate to memorize and recite on order. They were random thoughts bouncing around in a brain consumed with thoughts of food and home. NEVER fail your comrades. Complete the mission...NO MATTER WHAT...though we may be the lone survivor. Just words...until I started to believe it. And when I saw the power of a team and its leaders who had internalized these words, who lived them out in their personal and professional lives, I knew what it meant not only to be a Ranger, but to be a leader.

You can appreciate the power of a unit that embraces these principles. They are unstoppable. They believe in themselves and their teammates. They prepare themselves mentally and physically for every task. They are confident and professional. They will never fail.

I will admit that I have since forgotten the exact words to this creed. But I still embrace the concepts it embodies and the purpose behind forcing us to memorize it. The Ranger Creed really is the essence of leadership, at any level. Build a team of highly trained, inspired, confident professionals. Instill in them a culture of TEAM over self. Lead from the front and accomplish the mission, without excuses, without fail. These elements are not reserved for elite Special Forces. They should be what we seek in any team we lead or to which we belong. That makes it...Leader Business.

Rangers Lead The Way II

Previously, I shared with you the impact that my attendance at US Army Ranger School made on my personal and professional development. Two months of no food and no sleep (check out this video series if you are interested in learning more) left me skinny, tired, and confident that I could handle anything!

One of the more important elements of the training was the assignment of a "Ranger Buddy." This was a peer who would become my shadow for the subsequent 61 days. We kept each other awake, helped with weak areas, and encouraged one another when times got difficult. If we went for water or to the latrine (the training broke down a LOT of barriers!), it was with my buddy.

I think this is still an important concept. No one can go through life -- or leadership -- alone. Everyone needs a Ranger Buddy to provide counsel, to be a listener, or to challenge us to push farther than we otherwise could do alone. Whether a spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or a colleague at work, we all need the encouragement and accountability that comes from a "Buddy."

So, what about you? Who is your Ranger Buddy? Who pushes you to accomplish more than you would on your own? Who do you feel comfortable enough with to be yourself, to let down your guard, to expose your weaknesses? Who holds you accountable? This is a difficult concept in a society that seems to interact less, where relationships are based on status, and where leaders are more comfortable seeking counsel in a book than in a real person! But I am convinced that we must connect with at least one person who cares less about status and appearance (two months in the field -- with very few showers -- tends to make status pretty meaningless) and more about helping one another be their best.

That's what Ranger Buddies do. And that's Leader Business.

Rangers Lead The Way

Many years (and several knee surgeries) ago, I completed Army Ranger training and received the coveted "Ranger Tab." Two months in swamps, mountains, and sandy deserts without food and sleep helped me understand what it took to be able to serve among the military's elite troopers. I learned about survival in difficult conditions and the fundamentals of small unit leadership. We jumped out of perfectly good airplanes (with parachutes), rappelled off mountain cliffs, and made our way through impossible swamps. For two months of misery, I received a 20 cent piece of cloth that I could wear on my uniform -- forever!

Ranger School was a life-changing moment -- not for what I learned about Ranger tactics, but what I learned about...myself. I learned how far I could push myself, how to subordinate personal comfort to mission accomplishment, and the importance of being a good follower. I learned to rely on my fellow Ranger buddies and to similarly be an encouragement to them. I learned the importance of time management, communication, planning, and leadership in crisis. Yep, two months without food and sleep will bring out the best in a man! Ha!

Many leadership studies highlight the importance of an event such as Ranger training to strengthen the resolve of teams and the belief of leaders in themselves and each other. Short of managing actual crisis situations, this sort of training is invaluable for developing the sort of leaders that are capable of addressing difficult situations with a suite of already-tested skills and tools. Ranger training was the sort of "crucible" for me that still gives me confidence in my ability to handle any problem.

So, what are you doing to provide this sort of life-changing event for your "troopers?" Whether through training, leader development programs, or even the pursuit of high risk / high reward opportunities together, it is important to create these "crucibles" for your team. Teammates need to be able to reflect on previous successes ("If we could do that....we can do this") and leverage them against new challenges. The confidence that results is critical. The leadership and the belief in each other is priceless.

The motto of these elite troopers is "Rangers Lead The Way!" I certainly felt that way when I finished my training and put on the tab of the Ranger. (That...and I was really, really hungry!) It was a crucible moment for me. What about you and your troops? That's Leader Business.

If you are interested in more about Ranger School, check out this series of videos. Hooah!

Read Rangers Lead the Way II.

Read Rangers Lead the Way III.

Military Humor

Here's a few of my favorite leadership "pearls of wisdom" with a military twist. Enjoy!

"If the enemy is in range, so are you." > Infantry Journal

"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." > > U.S. Air Force Manual

"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons." > > - General MacArthur

"You, you, and you ... Panic. > > The rest of you, come with me." > > - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt.

"Tracers work both ways." > > - U.S. Army Ordnance

"Five second fuses only last three seconds." > > - Infantry Journal

"Any ship can be a minesweeper....Once."

"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do." > > - Unknown Marine Recruit

Clean it, if it's Dirty. > > Oil it, if it Squeaks. > > But: Don't Mess with it, if it Works! > > USAF Electronic Technician

"If you see a bomb technician running, > > keep up with him." > > USAF - Ammo Troop

Hooah! That's Leader Business!

Celebrate Success!!

Well, it is that time of year again. We finished up our fiscal year with a bang on September 30th, meeting or exceeding all of our milestones. It really is fun to be a part of team that sets the bar high and then does whatever it takes to get over it! We finished the year with total revenue around $1B and countless projects completed for a very satisfied customer base. Wow!

And as we have done in years past, we celebrated! We had a "New Year's Celebration" on October 1st. It was a great chance to review our accomplishments and to recognize some great people who had made success possible. This year, despite being spread over 3 states in dozens of project offices, I think we were able to leverage technology to connect most of the staff. We presented awards to a couple dozen people who worked hard to meet our end of year goals. We had cake and confetti and party favors and music. It was fun. And then I sent people home early. Yea!

The point is, we do need to take time to celebrate. We need to recognize our heroes. We have to reflect on our accomplishments and the great people who make success possible. It meant a lot to our staff and...it meant a lot to me!

Now, the year is not complete. We still need to complete our After Action Reviews (AARs) and document our lessons learned. We are planning on taking key leaders away for strategic discussions in a few weeks and this learning must be factored into our future plans. Regardless of how good we think we are, we can always improve!

So are you celebrating victories with your team? Do you let loose every once in a while to ensure that your teammates know how much you value what they do? Are you having fun? I hope so. That's Leader Business!

Please take some time to visit this month's Leadership Carnival, hosted by Mountain State University. They have gathered together a number of great posts on leadership and I was happy to see them include my discussion on "INTERNS" as part of their collection. Please check them out!