Life Coach - Step 58 of 100: Part I - How to make people obey your command without commanding

During our annual vehicle inspection - a big to do item on our yearly agenda I learnt something which I have seen being repeated by a number of good leaders. The EME officer heading the inspection team would spot a deviation. Say the battery on the PMP vehicle was not tightly held in place. Typically most other officers would point it to the PMP JCO who would shout orders and then the PMP NCO would come running with the tools, scold the driver for not listening to him and the driver would take the tools and tighten the bolts and nuts.

This officer did things differently. He would ask for the tool and tighten it himself and explain to the MTO, the JCO, NCO and the driver how the battery if tight would help preserve the life of the cells inside. He spotted a Jonga radiator cap on the 1 Ton vehicle. He removed it himself and ask for a correct radiator cap and explained that the release pressure for both the caps were different. If he found a grease point, ungreased he would take the grease gun and do it himself.

I think that what he taught me and the rest of my staff I still remember 15 years later. He communicated the message himself.

My mother when she was the Dean of a college was hosting a show for a visiting dignitary. There was lot of scrap of the decoration on the stage. She pointed that to the decoration team. They said that the safaiwala was on his way. She picked up the broom and started sweeping the floor. The students soon followed.

My last client manager Freyae Jones age 58 years came into the office on a snow day. Snow had accumulated on the steps and if left untouched would freeze and cause slipping. She picked up the shovel from the reception and started shovelling. The team to clean up the snow by sprinkling salt would take time to come and she did not want to wait. And as she said that there wasnt anything more important at that time pending. So she could do it.

Consider you as the CO on your rounds find a piece of paper lying on the road. You go and pick it up and put it in the trash bin. Your actions speak so loud and clear. Or in morning physical PT period you join a squad and do push ups with them. Sure you cannot match them, but at least you could do a few and send the message to the troops.

A good manager is also a good teacher.

As always the sky is your limit and discretion your wisdom, when to do what.