رهبري د ژوند وخت نیسي – نو یو کومان شئ، نه خر. In Pashtu
رهبري د ژوند وخت نیسي – نو یو کومان شئ، نه خر. In Pashtu,
رهبری یک عمر طول می کشد – پس یک لاک پشت باشید نه خرگوش. In Dari/Persian.
Leadership takes a life time – so be a tortoise, not a hare. (Poole,p.182) [1]
As some of you may have noted, my subject titles are not in English. The languages I choose are from the people I work with. This week Mustafa (not his name) is working with me in the job training class I teach at Lutheran Family Services (Rocky Mountains). He has his Masters, was a Battalion Commander in the Afghanistan Army and led about 1,000 people. Olexsi (not his name) from Ukraine, commanded 300 people, and me, a meager 200 in the U.S. Army while stationed in the Western Corridor across from North Korea.
I imagine my Leadership Training was a bit different from the rest of the Cohort. My leadership was shaped by the U.S. Army for 23 years, 6 months and 11 days (but who is counting).
With that being said I enjoyed reading Poole’s book. I made a summary of her thoughts (so I could keep track).
There were so many elements and I confess I was a bit lost. The lists sort of reminded me TV show where sewing competitors ran into a shop, where for a tense 30 minutes, scrambled around to find the fabrics and doodads to make their tailored pieces. So many things to choose from. The tailor had to have a vision/purpose and picked those things that “worked” for them.
But the word picture ends there. I thought Poole found some fabrics that actually WORKED in looking at Leadership.
Because my wife is binging on the Great British Baking Show every night. I have CAKE on the brain, so…My leadersmithing cake is three layers.
Level 1 – (an earthy and fragrant carrot cake – representing the first 15 years or so, two shooting wars and one support war role). I share this list because, like Poole, I am rather fond of lists.
U.S. Army – Direct leadership of men. For an officer it usually means a platoon with about 16-20 men. In my case a platoon of 4 squads of 3 men each, 4 20 mm Vulcan Air Defense Artillery weapons systems (think LARGE gaggling gun) pointed towards the Czech border during the Cold War (circa 1981).
Leadership training has emerged over time and the latest (1990 version) we find….” Army leaders must learn to fulfill expectations of all soldiers including other leaders. FM 22-100 addresses fundamental expectations:[2] Some highpoints.
Demonstrate tactical and technical competence. Know your business. To be confident a leader must first be competent. [3]
Teach subordinates. In training.. Our leaders must take the time to share with subordinates the benefit of experience and expertise. [4]
Be a good listener. We must listen with equal attention to our superiors and our subordinates…We won’t know about it if we don’t listen. [5]
Treat soldiers with dignity and respect. Leaders must show genuine concern and compassion for the soldiers they lead. [6]
Stress basics. Leaders must demonstrate mastery of fundamental soldiering skills such as marksmanship, first aid, and navigation, as well as the requisite skills for their particular specialty, and be able to teach them to their soldiers. [7]
Set the example. Leaders… are aware that they are always on parade—24 hours a day, seven days a week—and that all their actions set personal and professional examples for subordinates to emulate. [8]
Set and enforce standards. A leader must know, and always enforce, established Army standards. Perhaps the most fundamental standard which must be maintained is discipline. [9]
Level 2 –The second layer of the cake – (A light coconut cream filled chocolate layer) – Operation/Strategic tasks, representing the next 7 years).
As one ages in the military, you move away from soldiers to those desk jobs. It is here, that men like me begin to work with large organizations and in my case, I worked in three Embassies and observed US State Department leadership of Ambassadors and Defense Attachés’ (Slovakia, Turkey, Iraq).
A different sort of people politics. I wish I had read Poole’s book before that period. Like the British who drive on the wrong side of the road. I felt that I was the American traveling in a different (although correct) lane. We all were getting there heading in one direction, but clearly we saw the world differently.
Why chocolate? After carrot cake, chocolate is my next favorite – coconut because I am from Hawaii.
Level 3 – Missionary Work – (A heavenly meringue based – angel food cake) Post Army, being reshaped by God.
Post Army, God called me to a different kind of leadership. My task was to build a team based on personal Christian relationships. Originally founded by the Canadian Navigators in Bratislava, Slovakia GoodSports International has been in Slovakia for 26 years and in Hungary for 22 years.
Ultimately, all missionaries work themselves out of a job. Our time in Hungary was sharing the gospel, but we all were “Mining for Gold.” [10] The nuggets of goaled we mined for were called “GoodSports Juniors” who would one day take over the missions to orphanages (6) and other underprivileged children. Primarily the Roma or Gypsy. In 2022, the staff pivoted to working with 204 Ukrainian refugees (103 are children).
The Southern Baptist are fond of saying that a missions outreach must be, at the end, self-sustaining, self-propagating, and self-governing. [11] To that end the GoodSports Hungary team is all of those things. I worked myself out of a job.
Conclusion/Critical Incidents
I was pleasantly surprised by Poole’s book. I am fond of saying that I “move men and material in a direction out of habit.” Hmmm… but perhaps I am stuck in a style/method/process that was ingrained to me so many years ago. Poole’s Critical Incident #, Flexing style – Got me laughing. On page 23 she recounts Abraham Maslow. “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.” She continues, “Wean yourself off of any style habits you may have developed. Over reliance on them is restricting your ability to get the best out of those around you.” [12]
Sadly, I do use a hammer a lot. Time for a wrench?
[1] Eve Poole, Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership (London ; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2017).
[2] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership,” n.d.
[3] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[4] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[5] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[6] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[7] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[8] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[9] “FM 22-100 Military Leadership.”
[10] Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold (Inter-Varsity Press, 2019).
[11] jhawley, “Sending Church Expectations,” Send Network, accessed February 7, 2023, https://www.namb.net/send-network/resource/sending-church-expectations-1/.
[12] Poole, Leadersmithing.
About the Author
Russell Chun
interlinkt.org is now ready for your Refugee Resettlement needs. 15 tasks, languages ESL plans coming13 responses to “رهبري د ژوند وخت نیسي – نو یو کومان شئ، نه خر. In Pashtu”
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Russel, I had a big “a ha” in reading your blog in that your “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.”
I work in a field that is heavy with conceptual tools. And, those of us in that world are often lulled into thinking their tool is the “be all, end all.” The tools are great, but it is really poor form to try a one-size- fits-all approach. The call to be agile, and open to learning new approaches is resonating with me.
Curious: what does your “hammer” translate to in the real world? Mine would probably fall into facilitation tools or perhaps a favorite change methodology.
Hi Jennifer, the “hammer” is not a new in the real world. Sometimes the hammer is wielded by democratic nations that are held in by “checks and balances” but that is the exception rather than the rule. Putin (Russia) uses a hammer, so does Erdoğan (Turkey), and Xi Jinping (China) to name a few. They all live by the hammer (and sometimes the sickle). It is rather a U.S. and Western European desire to “listen/give feed/encourage etc…”
Working in Hungary for 21 years I have observed the country move from Communism, to democracy, back to Oligarchy. Last year, on the night of Prime Minister Orban’s reelection, Putin called him to congratulate him (sigh). Power is the hammer of our times (once again).
It is interesting to note that these nations share imperial nostalgia. Sadly, these are the conflicts my children will have to deal with (son in the Army, and daughter in the Air Force). Thanks for your comments…Shalom…Russ
Hi Russell, Your post made me hungry for cake! The critical incident of flexing style got me thinking. I feel that it has taken me son long to figure out my style that I am struggling to consider what I might need to change. It likely has something to do with being assertive and confident. That has been a life long journey. I loved how you identified your leadership skills from past roles and your desire for new ones. What is your wrench? What new style are you currently experimenting with?
Hi Jenny,
In my class I have a Ukrainian Pastry Chef and in another I have a Spanish speaking Pastry Chef. One of them brings me treats, so she probably will get an “A.”
I went back to look for my wrench. I think what is foreign to me is the Key Stakeholders/Board. As missionaries work themselves out of a job we have to learn to “let go/let God” which is a #4 Diamond card. These past couple of years I have been moving into the background to let those “younger, faster, smarter” Hungarians expand and love orphans into the kingdom. Still working on that, I will be in Hungary in July to work the Horse/Trauma Therapy camp. My job…”to shut up” and clean the “outhouses!” We are doing 50 Ukrainian families.
Thanks for your comments….Shalom….Russ
Russell, like you, I too found myself a bit lost as I read Poole’s book, albeit inspectionally. At any rate, I enjoyed your military comparisons and list of “highpoints.” If you had to write Leadersmithing, I wonder what you would cut out and what you would add. Along those lines, what else would you add to the master-apprentice conversation and working yourself out of a job on the mission field? Is there a role to play in training other apprentices, once you’ve worked yourself out the job?
Hi Travis,
You asked: 1) “I wonder what you would cut out and what you would add.”
I am not sure I would cut out anything. I don’t think her 52 exercises are a mandatory checklist…more like a “smorgasbord” of leadership ideas that you can pick up and use when the window of opportunity arises.
2) Along those lines, what else would you add to the master-apprentice conversation
Sacrifice. I would add “sacrifice.” Duty, honor, country is a common theme in the military. God, country, family is another. Leaders in the military must find their balance.
I deployed to Iraq twice, the last time leaving wife and child. A lot of conversation needs to go into prepping our soldiers for the departure and return. We are changed after war. That needs to be discussed.
Also, because I do not believe we are promised peace (see Revelation + Putin + Xi Jinping), we will have to prep our men and women to understand the ever present possibility of killing and how as Christians we must wrap our minds around this.
3) Working yourself out of a job on the mission field?
and….
4) Is there a role to play in training other apprentices, once you’ve worked yourself out the job?
In Hungary I am learning to Let Go, Let God. They will make mistakes and I sometimes cringe to see them make the mistakes I made. Let them mature, let God guide that growth.
They also must have a mind to their “GoodSports Juniors.” Those volunteers/staff that will take over after they are gone. (Mining for Gold).
And beyond….
I have set up donor advised funds that will grow (stock market dependent) that will take them into the next 20 years.
Thanks for your questions…Shalom…Russ
Russell, thank you for your response. I deeply resonate with your “sacrifice” addition to the reading (and thank you for serving, brother!). Your statement, “also, because I do not believe we are promised peace,” makes me think that this reality and posture needs to be worked into the training of younger people (and, the apprentice model would be a great place to do so, in my opinion) in any number of different disciplines, including ministry leadership.
Russell,
Like Jenny said, you made me hungry for cake — good cake! My sense about you is that I don’t all you have done in your life! I would like you to talk about how your early years shaped the person you are today. Who mentored you? I think it’s beautiful that you post the language of people with whom you are working! You are truly a GLOBAL leader.
Hi Pam, I have to say that American pastries and cakes are too sweet for me. I enjoy the lower levels of sugar in European and Asian pastries. (I am still stuck on the Great British Baking Show!)
Living overseas for 30 years, my perspective is like a third culture kid. American passport, but a lot of time looking at America from a distance and letting other country perspectives impinge on my world view.
Who mentored me? No one in the beginning. But a former Army Captain once said to me, “the hounds of heaven were on my trail.”
I wasn’t a Christian until age 33, accepting Christ in Giebelstadt, Germany. Fun fact ,this year, I have been a Christian now for an equal amount of non faith years. (I am 63).
Once I accepted Christ, there are a LOT of Christian Military Officers who came around me. We all ride the tension of living for Christ and killing for the country.
While in Bratislava, Slovakia, God introduced me to the Navigator started…GoodSports International. He then pulled me out of the Army and launched me as a missionary in Hungary. (Although I started in Slovakia). I suppose marrying Trudy (a missionary in Budapest) changed my course to ministering in Hungary, starting 21 years ago until the present.
Our group has pivoted some resources away from out 6 Hungarian orphanages to Ukrainian refugees. We are hosting a Horse/Trauma Therapy Camp this July for 50 Ukrainian families.
Thanks for your comments…Shalom…Russ
Russell, I love reading your posts because you are so intelligent. You have tons of experience as a leader and I’m grateful for your insight. Therefore, I have an easy question for you. As a leader how do you lead people who have different theological beliefs than you do. This might be a question for London, so I can wait. 😊
It might come as a surprise to some that the U.S. Army is considered a petri dish for social experimentation. Blacks, women, transgender etc… We have all sorts of faith systems and I believe we even have Wiccen religious leaders. Sigh…
I had a young couple who worked for me who were declared Wiccen’s. I did not realize, but as a new Christian (age 33 ish) I offended them by actively reading my bible.
I was accused by the female of sexual harrassment. (double sigh…)
Fortunately, I had a Christian boss, who understanding I was new to Christ, said “Welcome to the Spiritual Battle.”
Wow Russell, you have so much experience in leadership in a lot of varying cultures/perspectives. Thank you for your service too. One of my son-in-laws is a disabled, retired military veteran. Thank you!
I am very interested in your Horse/Trauma camp for refugee families from the Ukraine in July. Looking forward to hearing more about that. Where will the camp take place? What does the program entail?
Hello Cathy, Our horse/trauma camp is July 25-29, 2023 in Lajosmizse, a town south of Budapest (about 1 1/2 hours).
It is sponsored by the Morning Star Ranch Ministry and GoodSports International (www.goodsportsinternational.org). There is a nearby Ukrainian transition nearby and we are planning on 50 Ukrainian families.