Veteran Lesson VII: Leaders Create Solutions (Ten Veteran Lessons for Every Day)

Topic: Leadership

            It takes very little talent or creativity to complain about problems.  After all, the people directly impacted by a problem, and eventually those indirectly impacted by the problem, feel the weight and consequences stemming from it.  When I speak in front of an audience, I need not complain at length about the violations of liberty underway in America, because the people know the personal toll exacted by those who corrupt the foundation of self-government.  The audiences come to hear solutions and to commit to action.

            Every junior officer learns this valuable lesson someday when he oversees presenting information to the unit commander in lieu of his supervisor or company commander.  A wise senior officer wastes no time in correcting a complaining lieutenant who does nothing more than state the obvious.  A wise commander generally tells this young officer, “never bring a complaint to your commander without a solution in mind.”