Signing Out for Now

It seems impossible that I am back in Wisconsin after such an amazing journey. But it's definitely time. My ATM card stopped working, my daughter is a week away from delivering her baby and I waited until Europe to catch the norovirus. Sometimes I'm not too bright but when all the signs are indicating a clear message, I try to PAY ATTENTION! Ironic that I was quite well all throughout India and Africa and never had a delayed flight until Friday night's cancelled one from Chicago to Milwaukee! So I'm home a few days early and the monumental task of sorting through all the valuable data I collected awaits. I'm both excited and terrified by the work ahead. Wish me luck and I welcome any insights you might have to share as you read my blogs and related them to your own life experience. Thank you for your many comments along the way and hopefully your continued interest in understanding and practicing servant leadership!

These kids and those like them all over the world deserve better than what we are currently giving them. The motivation for service is in their eyes, and as I work to interpret and translate this journey into some useful contribution to the work of servant leaders, they are the ones who will keep me honest!

Service to Country

My last set of interviews were as eye opening and surprising as any, five US military offices posted in Heidelberg, Germany. I met with two Lt. Colonels, a Major, a Colonel and a Sargent First Class-two woman and three men. Major John Nguyen was my first, and a real surprise when I found out that he and his family had immigrated from Vietnam at the end of the war. Long story short, he enlisted in the US Army to pay back the gift he felt the US had given his family and him--nothing less than freedom.

My final interview was with a very talented leader named Lt. Colonel Jennifer Humphries who is in charge of the Behavioral Health Unit at the US Military Medical Center in Heidelberg and a social worker by training. Service for both of these individuals meant devotion to country, preservation of our freedom and more immediately the folks they served every day as leaders.

Across the five interviews, I picked up very consistent messaging about servant leadership in the military: 1. Dignity and Respect: Every one deserves it and leaders must model it 2. Investment in leadership development from the beginning: You never know when the formal leader will be missing in action, so everyone must be trained and feel prepared to step in and lead 3. Letting go of ego: The minute it's about you, is the instant you put someone else in harms way 4. Two way trust: Trust is only as strong as the line up and down-hesitation due to lack of trust is not sustainable 5. Providing "top cover": If you want people to take risks, they must know that they are in a safe environment to due so and that their leader has their back. 6. Clear goals, defined boundaries and freedom to move within creates an environment for innovation 7. Continuous feedback and learning: It doesn't matter what your rank, mistakes are learning opportunities immediately and onward. I'm so very grateful for the generosity of time and talent provided and have gained a deepened respect for our Armed Forces and the quality of people leading our national defense and security.