This essay hasn't gotten nearly enough love. This is stuff I live by, but I don't really have a choice. It feels like it is intertwined with innate personality. I hate the idea of putting effort into something that isn't effective, let alone something that ultimately ends up making things worse. Its painful to see the culture continuously reward people for counterproductive efforts, but not nearly as painful as the whiplash effects we're drowning in as a result of a pervasive bias towards action.
Thanks so much for the comment, Grant! It’s crazy how often people disagree with me on the concepts laid out in this essay. In Laziness Part 2 I respond to criticism and talk a little bit about the trouble with “Bias for action.”
Just finished p2. It seems your results speak for themselves. Any of these naysayers perform better in garrison during their company commands? Doubtful. Here's to you replicating your success as a BN CDR in the near future!
Brilliant. A related topic is Wu Wei which includes the idea of intentional non action. A ranger school story for me, that avoided the whiplash, was my 'Five Minute Rule.' If the orders didn't change within 5 minutes, then I'd start moving. That mostly applied in the prep portion of the missions.
One time an RI came by my squad and commented that we hadn't seemed to be too busy that morning. I told him my rule and he laughed and said "brilliant." we were ready but not wasting time and patience. When the orders finally settled we were the first ones ready to move out.
PT Effect - I choked on my coffee...that was so well done.
Spot on. It is incredibly difficult to make clear, consistent expectations known, and then stay out of the way. Even harder to know those key moments to step back in. The height of difficulty to apply just enough correction in those key moments and not one bit more. The insight is knowing that the executors need the commander's continued confidence/support vice his continued direction. I thought I was okay at this; wished I had been better. Sometimes the MORP (Marine Officer Rest Period) is as much for the sanity of the command as it was for the MO.
This essay hasn't gotten nearly enough love. This is stuff I live by, but I don't really have a choice. It feels like it is intertwined with innate personality. I hate the idea of putting effort into something that isn't effective, let alone something that ultimately ends up making things worse. Its painful to see the culture continuously reward people for counterproductive efforts, but not nearly as painful as the whiplash effects we're drowning in as a result of a pervasive bias towards action.
Thanks so much for the comment, Grant! It’s crazy how often people disagree with me on the concepts laid out in this essay. In Laziness Part 2 I respond to criticism and talk a little bit about the trouble with “Bias for action.”
Just finished p2. It seems your results speak for themselves. Any of these naysayers perform better in garrison during their company commands? Doubtful. Here's to you replicating your success as a BN CDR in the near future!
I had a commander talk about waiting to make a decision until the “last responsible moment”. Sometimes initiative is over rated.
This was one of the best leadership essays I’ve ever read. Thanks.
-Retired CW3
Brilliant. A related topic is Wu Wei which includes the idea of intentional non action. A ranger school story for me, that avoided the whiplash, was my 'Five Minute Rule.' If the orders didn't change within 5 minutes, then I'd start moving. That mostly applied in the prep portion of the missions.
One time an RI came by my squad and commented that we hadn't seemed to be too busy that morning. I told him my rule and he laughed and said "brilliant." we were ready but not wasting time and patience. When the orders finally settled we were the first ones ready to move out.
Great writing. Keep it up.
Mark Spitznagel writes about Wu Wei in the Dao of Capital. If you’ve not read it it’s right up your alley
Nice. I'll look him up. Here's my contribution and it's all good Army stories :)
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/slow-is-smooth-and-smooth-is-fast
PT Effect - I choked on my coffee...that was so well done.
Spot on. It is incredibly difficult to make clear, consistent expectations known, and then stay out of the way. Even harder to know those key moments to step back in. The height of difficulty to apply just enough correction in those key moments and not one bit more. The insight is knowing that the executors need the commander's continued confidence/support vice his continued direction. I thought I was okay at this; wished I had been better. Sometimes the MORP (Marine Officer Rest Period) is as much for the sanity of the command as it was for the MO.
Haha! I *know* you’ve seen an email like that!! All good points you make, glad you enjoyed it!
This is brilliant. Doing more means more has to be done. Great job on this piece.
Thanks, Matt! Definitely check out the "Development" Part 1 and 2 essays.
This is well written.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Whatcha gonna do PL?
Yes.
The Prussians declared that work could found for the lazy but that the greatest danger came from the energetic stupid individuals
At first glance I thought Apple doubled down on their advertising disaster and started crushing real humans
This reminds me of Cipolla’s stupidity matrix and his 5 laws of stupidity: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_M._Cipolla