Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was one of the mundane lessons Ricky taught?
What was one of the mundane lessons Ricky taught?
Which characteristic did sailors prioritize in their officers?
Which characteristic did sailors prioritize in their officers?
What impact did shared hardships during training have on officers and enlisted men?
What impact did shared hardships during training have on officers and enlisted men?
Which of the following did every sailor seem to have?
Which of the following did every sailor seem to have?
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What does the phrase ‘A shepherd should smell like his sheep’ signify in leadership?
What does the phrase ‘A shepherd should smell like his sheep’ signify in leadership?
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Why did the sailors defend their ship's reputation despite complaints?
Why did the sailors defend their ship's reputation despite complaints?
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What was identified as a significant mistake for leaders?
What was identified as a significant mistake for leaders?
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What was the author's role during the summer cruise in 1974?
What was the author's role during the summer cruise in 1974?
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What did the author experience as he entered the crew's berthing area?
What did the author experience as he entered the crew's berthing area?
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What was the immediate reaction of the sailor after the author stepped on his face?
What was the immediate reaction of the sailor after the author stepped on his face?
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What does the phrase 'pipe down' suggest about the situation in the berthing area?
What does the phrase 'pipe down' suggest about the situation in the berthing area?
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Which of the following best describes the author's first impression of the sailors?
Which of the following best describes the author's first impression of the sailors?
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In which location did the author have to climb into his rack?
In which location did the author have to climb into his rack?
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What lesson did the author indicate was learned from his experience aboard the USS Ouellet?
What lesson did the author indicate was learned from his experience aboard the USS Ouellet?
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What significant event does the quote at the beginning of the passage reflect on?
What significant event does the quote at the beginning of the passage reflect on?
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Study Notes
Leadership Lessons from a Navy Mid-shipman
- Author recounts summer cruise as midshipman, learning from enlisted sailors.
- Experienced significant cultural immersion and learned valuable leadership lessons.
- Initial interaction demonstrated the author's inexperience but emphasized importance of humility and respect among crew members.
- The Samoan sailor, Ricky, offered valuable insights into sailor culture and attitudes.
Keys to effective leadership
- Sharing hardships builds trust and understanding.
- Active engagement and genuine connection with subordinates is crucial for effective leadership.
- Importance of listening and valuing the insights and stories of those you lead.
- Recognizing and appreciating the stories of each sailor, their motivations, experiences, and perspectives, fosters deeper understanding.
- Leadership exemplified by engaging with troops at all levels in all types of activity, allowing shared experiences and respect to develop.
Importance of immersion
- Essential to understand and relate to sailors' experiences and perspectives; their work, difficulties, needs and their stories.
- Leadership needs to "smell like their sheep"; understand issues, challenges from the boots on the ground.
- This is not only for better decision making, but also for building respect from the team.
- Officers who are present in all aspects of the ships' work are respected and trusted by the personnel.
- Proximity with enlisted personnel is key to understanding their needs, motivations, and perspectives.
Traits of respected officers
- Officers respected by the crew were present and active in working situations, participating in the work-life cycle
- Leaders who shared experiences and hardships with their subordinates.
- Leaders who understood and valued their perspectives.
- Leaders who respected their sailors professionally, demonstrating a willingness to be engaged at every level of the operation.
Leadership in challenging environments
- Shared training experiences like BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) fostered equal respect between officers and enlisted.
- Author's experiences in war zones underscores the importance of direct interaction with troops.
- Leadership in military and business settings emphasized the importance of leadership engagement through shared experiences.
- Effective, empathetic leaders were those who were present physically amongst personnel on all levels, from the general down to the junior personnel.
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Description
Explore the valuable leadership lessons learned by a Navy midshipman during a cultural immersion experience with enlisted sailors. This quiz highlights the significance of humility, respect, and genuine connections in effective leadership. Join us to understand how sharing hardships and listening to subordinates can foster trust and understanding.
