Yes, there wasn’t a wisdom post last Friday as many one loyal reader noticed. Instead of writing, I was enjoying a morning in the ER with my brother (see last Sunday’s post for details). Here is the wisdom I had intended to impart. This is one that I often use during leadership training:
One day the Colonel was informed that one of his best company commanders had received a promotion and was due to be transferred out which would leave the Regiment short one Captain. The Colonel decided to promote one of the platoon lieutenant’s to company commander and devised a little test. He selected three lieutenants to test.
The Colonel called for Lt. Jones to meet him at a small hill that was made of solid granite. There he had a flagpole and a flag. The Colonel said, “Lieutenant, your test is to put that flagpole on top of that rock and then haul up the flag. Ask for anything you’ll need to do the job.”
Lt. Jones looked at the rock and replied, “Sorry sir, can’t be done. That’s solid granite you can’t put anything it to that. There’s no way I could do that.”
The Colonel dismissed Jones and ordered Lt. Smith to report. After receiving the same instructions Lt. Smith took out a pencil, notepad and a calculator. The Lieutenant starting writing madly and walking all over the granite.
Soon Lt. Smith turned to the Colonel and said, “I’ll need a rock drill, 200 pounds of concrete, 100 feet of rope, block and tackle and it will take me four days to get the flag flying.”
The Colonel dismissed Smith and ordered Lt. Johnson to the rocks and said to Johnson, “Lieutenant, your test is to put that flagpole on top of that rock and haul up the flag. Ask for anything you’ll need to do the job.”
Johnson looked quickly at the rocks and said, “Colonel, I’ll need a sergeant.”
“Very well,” said the Colonel and a sergeant was called.
When the sergeant arrived, the Lieutenant said to the sergeant, “Sergeant, get a detail of six men and put that flag pole on that rock. Then haul up the colors with all due honors.”
Turning to the Colonel, Lt. Johnson said, “Will there be anything else sir?”
The Colonel replied, “Captain, take command of Alpha company immediately.”
Andrew's View of the Week 
Awesome!
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🙂
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I need a Sgt. in my life!
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me too!
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Smart man..:)
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🙂
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Haha! And I’m so proud to be that one loyal reader! What’s wrong with the rest of these people?
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Everybody needs a loyal reader!
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And you’re mine, so there we go!
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Very nice application for leadership training! I’ll remember this!
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It’s a great one for a leadership class – great discussion starter: are your the Col, Lt. or Stg?
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Nice! Where there’s a will there’s a way!
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There’s always a way.
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So true, Andrew. A good lesson for all of us.
Ω
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It’s a lesson I like to share from time to time.
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Great way to find someone who knew how to lead, how to delegate, and how to rally his men. 🙂
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I’ve always found this story a great conversation started for a leadership class.
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A great story…Thanks for sharing it!
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I’ve always liked telling this one.
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As the mother of a newly-minted Sgt., I found that particularly funny.
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Sergeants actually run the Army (as the Chiefs do in the Navy). They just let the officers think they’re in charge.
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Interesting, I would have done as the second lieutenant had done, I am not management material. I hate asking for help lol
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Yes, I can be like that too at times.
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It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this 😀
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LOL
My rank was sergeant!!!
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If it weren’t for sergeants, nothing would ever get done in the Army.
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It also has a direct translation in any corporate setting.
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It has an application in many places.
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Very definite military procedure.
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It is.
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