I’m stealing an old adage from the Army. As a young officer, I attended Ranger School and was awarded the Ranger tab, a patch I could forever wear on my left shoulder, indicating this accomplishment. Alongside serving in combat, it was the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I operated on one meal a day, only a few hours of sleep, and had to lead others under those conditions. I lost 30 pounds in the process and looked like a prisoner of war.
The Challenge Beyond the Tab
Our instructors reminded us as we graduated from the course, “There are tab wearers and tab bearers.”
We could certainly wear the patch for the rest of our lives, but would we live up to and honor what came with the elite warrior title, in both word and deed? Would we simply be wearers of the tab or bearers of what it stood for?
The Ranger Creed states:
“I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers… as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster, and fight harder than any other Soldier.”
Leadership Titles Come With the Same Weight
Any leadership title (CEO, VP, director, or manager) comes with the same pledge: to uphold its prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps. “Never shall I fail my comrades (employees). I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight, and I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some… I shall set the example for others to follow.”
I took the titles Commander, Boss, and Senior Rater very seriously. I stood in the shoes of leaders who came before me and felt a strong sense of duty to honor them and the leadership title itself. Of course, I let my guard down every now and then. But the creed, other leaders around me, and most importantly, my people served to remind me of my pledge.
You don’t have to starve yourself or stay awake all night to gain your leadership title. But you do have to bear it.
Read the Ranger Creed and apply it to your title, your words, and your actions.
Make it Personal!
Rob
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