Real Leaders Eat Last

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Silverback
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Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Silverback »

Karl Monger's Note:

Real Leaders Eat Last

Yesterday at 3:04pm

Golden parachutes, obscenely large salaries, bonuses and perk for executives that have risen disproportionately to the pay of the rank and file, labor disputes, companies run into the ground while the leadership exits set for life. Seems to me there is a very simple solution to a very complicated problem – real leaders eat last.

I was a soldier once, and young. The first time I went to the field on tactical exercises involved staying in the woods for several days. When the supply sergeant set up the chow line – thermal insulated containers containing mashed potatoes, sliced ham, green beans and a large container of iced tea – the soldiers lined up to get their food. As I walked up, my company commander motioned me over. He said simply “leaders eat last”.

The captain went on to explain that out of a show of respect for the soldiers who carry the heaviest loads, who put themselves in the greatest harms way that leaders eat last. He pointed out to me how the corporals in charge of four soldiers let their four go first. The sergeants in charge of the corporals waited until their two corporals and their soldiers went through the line, then the sergeants went through. This went on through the ranks until all the enlisted soldiers received their food, then the captain motioned for me to go before him.

This accomplished several things. It ensured the quality of food remained high until all hundred plus soldiers had eaten, and the captain at the end knew that everyone before him had received enough, and that the quality was at least as good as he received, if not better. It demonstrated to the lowest ranking soldiers that their leaders care about them.

Leaders in the army have many responsibilities and demands on their time. The decisions they make determine who lives and who dies. They certainly could pull rank, eat first and get on to their important tasks – but they realize the most important thing they can do is to earn the respect of those they lead by putting those they lead first.

When a corporate executive receives a multi-million dollar bonus yet raises the deductable on his employee’s health care, when she flies first class to a meeting yet lays off employees to save money, they do not put those they lead first. Rather, they ensure they eat first and let the scraps fall to the rest. No wonder there is a perception that corporate CEOs are evil and greedy – and it would do well for them to consider how they could implement a “real leaders eat last” philosophy in their business.

I am fortunate to work for a company that embodies the philosophy of leaders putting their people first. I suggest that many of our corporate issues in America could be quickly resolved if executives and boards of directors followed the simple philosophy that Real Leaders Eat Last.
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Rangertab1
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Rangertab1 »

Amen Silverback. I have never lost site of this leadership fact. Not only should they eat last, they should go without if there is no food left.
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Nomad
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Nomad »

I had a TL a while back who could not comprehend the look I gave him, every time he would stand somewhere in front of the guys. One day he asked me why I stood in the back. The response was the same as the above, but I guess in the Navy things are different. Actually completely the other way around. Top eats first, lowest last. The thought process being that those who hold the most important positions need to grab chow, eat it and go back to their stations. Doesn't make an ounce of sense, but that's their idea. Seems very much in line with the corporate culture in the US.
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Jim
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Jim »

To me, it is simply a matter of privilege and responsibility. It is my privilege to lead American Soldiers in harms way, and it is my responsibility to ensure that they are properly fed and cared for.
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cedog75
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by cedog75 »

Agree with you Jim, I always looked at it as taking care of the people. Many a times out in the field as a SL or PSG I can remember mermites coming out and getting a heaping pile of green beans because everything else was gone, I looked at it as at least I got something and was grateful. My SL's always thought I was joking, kinda was, but I would tell them, "You are the ones that make me look good".
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Ranger Bill »

With few exceptions, I find very little leadership in the civilian world. But there are lots of managers with lots of privelages.
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PocketKings
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by PocketKings »

Funny. I just had this conversation with a retired LTC friend of mine.
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Jim
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Jim »

Ranger Bill wrote:With few exceptions, I find very little leadership in the civilian world. But there are lots of managers with lots of privelages.
My concern is how little responsibility they accept for their actions (or inactions).
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Ranger Ron
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Ranger Ron »

Jim, you got that right! I could barely stand to watch Congress grilling the bank ceo's and auto industry ceo's and telling them what a lousy job they had done when Congress is worse. The "Banking Queen" is so proud that they are going to give billions more to Freddie and Fannie. That should be criminal!!!

Sorry for hijacking the thread. :oops:
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Bravo57
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Re: Real Leaders Eat Last

Post by Bravo57 »

Ranger Bill wrote:With few exceptions, I find very little leadership in the civilian world. But there are lots of managers with lots of privelages.
Very true and in perfect timing for me. My Company is feeling the crunch now with the market. My Business Unit (New Business Department) is taking the worst hit. We are currently "redeploying" some of our people to help out in other areas of the company. The problem is, the only changes are where the rubber meet the road. My people. No one above a certain paygrade is affected at all. It fucking blows, AND, they just made 2 more new V.P.s :roll:
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