As I prepared to move across the hallway and take over as our company’s Executive Officer (“XO”), I was sick-to-my-stomach nervous. Sure, I had been reasonably successful as a Platoon Leader, but what on earth did I know about running a company? It wasn’t like I had my hand held as a Platoon Leader (“PL”), but the XO sure did an awful lot on our behalf.
Whether we were getting ready for the field, preparing to support a sister company, or scrambling to get out the door for a prepare-to-deploy mission set, the XO always seemed to have the right answer tucked up their sleeve. Could I really live up to that?
Like most things in life, it just took some time, a few stumbles along the way, and a ton of support from great teammates before I found my groove. For those of you experiencing those familiar nerve-wracking feelings as you prepare to move from your platoon to the company level, here are five bits of advice that worked wonders for me.
- Anticipate the “What Ifs”
The platoon is a very forgiving environment. If you need something, chances are you can find it readily available, either within a sister platoon or headquarters. As a result, we tend to find comfort in the perception that the company operates autonomously within a sort of vacuum. We have our glidepath, we stick to it, and we make the mission happen.
Though you can enjoy a great deal of success as a platoon leader who holds this worldview, you will quickly discern its limitations once you begin operating at the company level. Whether through direct or indirect means, units are constantly exercising a massive amount of influence over one another. Critical personnel shortages, equipment shortages, no-notice changes to mission, and other minions of Murphy’s Law always have a say in what you are doing.
I encourage you to start thinking through that interplay now. The more you anticipate the “what if” scenarios (without letting them consume you), the more prepared you will be when your unit bears the brunt of a significant shift in trajectory.
- Be An Excellent Diplomat
If you build strong relationships within your unit and, especially, with the various civilian-led support agencies on your installation, you will be extremely successful.
Ask around until you have a solid list of unit and civilian contacts on all things logistics and sustainment. Then, hit the road, leave your office, and don’t come back until you have introduced yourself to all these very important people, personally. You might feel a bit shy or unsure during this approach, but I promise, these individuals will appreciate your initiative, remember who you are, and help you out when you need it. By demonstrating that you value them as people and your relationship with them, most folks will go the extra mile to assist you and your unit if you need help in the future.
- Bring Out The Best In Your Team
As an XO, I was never a subject matter expert in anything. Don’t get me wrong, I always made the effort to learn, but a few months of XO time does not allow you to learn everything and cannot compare to the years and years of specialized experience your section leaders have in their respective fields. They are the pros, and you should rely on them heavily.
If you dedicate your limited bandwidth in the hopes of becoming an expert in one of the commodity shops, you will miss the mark. Instead, I would encourage you to spend that time and energy in building your team. Who are your section leaders? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What makes them tick? What are their goals? If you earn their trust and prove to them that you are in their corner, they will move mountains for you. Leave them to the wayside, and you might be left to fend for yourself. Good luck with that.
- Focus On Your Commander’s Priorities First
Here’s a good one – if you focus on completing your commander’s priorities as soon as possible (and preferably knocking them out of the park in the process), you will have a lot of time and trust to concentrate on the things you want to do.
Seems simple enough, but I’m telling you – folks miss the mark on this all the time. People either (a) procrastinate with a hollow promise that they will get to it eventually, (b) forget about it, or (c) ignore it outright. Instead, just do the thing. Immediately. If it’s going to take longer than anticipated, be a good communicator. Your commander will appreciate the fact that you made the time and took the task seriously, and you’ll continue to accumulate invaluable social currency for your efforts. You might need to cash it in later, so take advantage of these easy opportunities.
Remember, your notebook and email inbox are just digital versions of purgatory if you don’t complete the task right away.
- Develop An Effective Routine
Ladies and gentlemen, we are designed to focus on one thing at a time. Said differently – do not let yourself believe that you can multitask effectively. That is an outright lie. None of us can, even if we have been led to believe that it’s the only way.
Instead, design a weekly flow that enables you to focus on one distinct effort at a time. Calendars (preferably ones that can be shared amongst your team) are not just recommended, but, dare I say, irreplaceable. You must have a tool with which to visualize your allocation of energy in time and space.
Once you establish a weekly framework that works for you, stick with it. First, you are creating a mostly predictable flow in which due-outs do not fall through the cracks. Second, you are enabling your team to maximize their own effectiveness through increased transparency.
Conclusion
Though leading a platoon can be an incredibly rewarding, enriching experience, rest assured that life post-platoon can be just as exciting and meaningful. You will encounter new puzzles to solve, new dynamics to play with, and new personalities with whom to learn and grow.
As an XO, you may find yourself fulfilling the role of unofficial senior leader therapist, good-idea-fairy sounding board, dumb-idea voice of reason, commander consigliere, and so much more. Embrace all of them – it’s part of the process.
Know this – these positions, and the time you spend in them, will continue to flow as quick as a wink. Savor them while they last, be as inquisitive as you possibly can, and spend your time with people who want the best for you.
CPT James J. Duncan graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2017 and currently serves as the commander of the 59th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion out of Fort Carson, Colorado.
