The Right Tools in your Toolbox
During 26 years in the Navy and a total of 9 ships and staffs, I experienced a broad scope of leadership styles and collected a series of ideas that served me well in motivating and recognizing sailors and helping them achieve their goals. Another former commanding officer told me with great astuteness that it is just as important to “Catch ’em doing something right”—and tell them so. My time at sea having recently drawn to a close, this is a good moment to share some of these tools with a younger generation of leaders. Readers may already have encountered most, but perhaps a few are new and can make a difference.
Ensign 101: For 15 years I handed copies of this wonderful list to each new officer checking in to the ship. It is the product of retired Captain James P. Ransom, from the leadership forum of the February 1995 issue of Proceedings. It contains such wisdom as “Don’t eat every meal offered in the wardroom—you will double your weight in a six-month deployment” and “Know your people: their capabilities, goals, and problems . . . . Be genuinely interested, and show it.” This short but excellent article is a classic.
Spot Navy Achievement Medal (this was the brainstorm of Commander Kirk Lippold, the former commanding officer of the USS Cole [DDG-67]; henceforth the names of those who fostered the ideas will simply appear in parentheses): Navy Achievement Medals are often given as mid- or end-of-tour awards, but occasionally a single act rises to such a level of recognition. In my experience, a watchstander averting a casualty is the most frequent candidate for a spot NAM. COs can give unlimited NAMs during their tours, so there is no cost. And it gives a good sailor two advancement points. Just have a NAM ready in your drawer. This is most effective for junior personnel and makes a great impression on everyone. The ship’s office can always catch up on the paperwork the next day.
Future Chief Petty Officer Association (Fire Controlman First Class Ladera): Rename the First Class Petty Officer Association and it changes everything. The FCPOA focuses on development of leaders and boosts morale by coordinating events and raffles from which the crew can benefit. It holds fundraisers for those in need of financial support during emergency situations, natural disasters, and for children’s Halloween and Christmas parties. A similar group sponsored by the Second Class Petty Officers can promote a sense of ownership and be a force multiplier as well.
Sailor of the Day (Damage Controlman Second Class Crusoe): Each day, ask the ship’s leaders to email the name of one junior sailor who did something special. This could be anything from a particularly clean passageway to a superb preventive maintenance-system spot-check. At 1930, call that sailor to the bridge, hand him a command coin, and—this is the fun part—tell him to “make a wish” out loud. It is amazing what people wish for, most of it well within your power as commanding officer. I have heard requests for a rigid-hull inflatable boat ride, a night in the unit commander cabin, a duty day off . . . all free and easy to grant. This one gets the most uniformly positive feedback. But be careful: Sailors are nothing if not creative.
Birthday Meal (Lieutenant Tara Smith): Once a month, invite every sailor whose birthday falls during that time to a special meal in the wardroom. The supply officer has extra money for such occasions—don’t let him tell you differently—and the sailors appreciate it. Let the officers eat early or on the mess line, then serve the meal. Being served in the wardroom by the officers and chiefs is a special treat. Try asking each person to tell a favorite birthday story, always good for a laugh or two. This one has gotten great reviews as well.
Duty Section Turnover Offset (Command Master Chief Petty Officer Darryl Marshall): In overseas ports, the CPO mess suggested we delay the time-of-duty section turnover to 1130 each day, instead of 0730. This allowed those who had paid for a hotel to sleep in and have breakfast, while those who had stayed out howling at the moon until 0200 could sleep in on the ship and start the duty day rested and ready to go. It also minimized the chance of personnel arriving late or unfit for duty after a liberty day, and it doubled the opportunity for overnight chits for the crew. All other duty functions remained the same, and everyone had 24 hours of duty, just offset by 4 hours. Sounds a little crazy, but it worked great.
Crazy Hat Day (Captain Matt Sharpe): Deployments are plenty long and getting longer; anything to break the monotony can be a morale booster. For many years, the USS San Jacinto (CG-56) carried on a tradition of allowing the crew to wear a hat of their choice on Sundays, with the underway uniform. Most sailors gravitated to a favorite ball team, but once in a while imagination took hold and something truly original was sighted. It allowed just a bit of individuality to creep into the daily routine.
Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist “Speed Dating” (Chief Fire Controlman Dwight Carr): It can be a challenge to give all candidates a chance to make it through the bottleneck of the boarding process. To alleviate this, we used the “ESWS Speed Dating Concept.” It comprises nine sections. Each section has 15 minutes to board an ESWS candidate, then each rotates. Nine candidates get essentially a one-on-one board with each section, the intimidation factor of sitting in front of an entire room of board members is eliminated, and the latter can better assess the candidates’ knowledge.
Career Development Boards (Navy Counselor First Class Cully McGloire): They may be required, but I have seen them fall by the wayside or be paid only lip service. If you sit sailors down with a group of experienced chief petty officers (I also invited division officers, who can learn, too) and a career counselor, this will help in a very personal way to keep personnel informed, dispel rumors and misconceptions, and let deckplate leaders know about concerns that may go beyond only one sailor.
The United States Military Apprenticeship Program (Sonar Technician First Class Gerisher): This is a great program to invigorate sailors. Later, should they choose to leave military service, they have journeyman certification that is recognized by corporations and universities nationwide. Thus, the program transfers a military background into civilian experience. Currently, among the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines, it has 30,000 members enrolled.
Intra-ship Challenges (Lieutenant Adam Campbell): A little competition can breed a lot of camaraderie among sailors. On board the San Jacinto, we hosted Ship-Wide Olympics, Damage-Control Olympics, an Iron-Man Competition, Pirate History Day, Worst-to-Best Space, and talent shows. All had benefits and perks. Different groups—the wardroom, CPO mess, or petty officer associations—can take the lead. Each event was based on teams competing in a fun atmosphere. An excellent stress reliever.
Coalition of Sailors against Destructive Decisions (Operations Specialist Second Class Thompson/Fire Controlman Second Class Vendetti): This peer-influencing social group is designed for the Navy’s leaders aged 18 to 25, at pay grades E-5 and below. The program provides great potential for social interaction as well as enhancing and developing leadership skills among the most junior sailors. The CSADD reinforces a culture of shipmates helping one another and contributes to command unity and mission readiness.
Cash Awards Program (Fire Controlman Second Class Mays): This rewards sailors for good ideas, if the armed forces adopt them to save time or money or improve effectiveness. Awards range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the impact and scope of the change. Sailors who submit these are very proud when they make a difference. NAVSEAINST 5305.4A has all the details and forms for submission and payment.
Birthday and Childbirth Letters (Captain Rich Nolan): A simple note on your personal stationery saying “Happy Birthday” or “Congratulations” goes a long way with sailors. Include a “coupon” for a day off on the actual birthday, or, as the case may be, to spend a day taking care of the new baby and give the spouse a break. This will repay dividends many times over in loyalty and quality of work.
Whether you are a commanding officer, division officer, or chief, some of these ideas may spark others or new ways to motivate your sailors. Have fun!