Your relationship with your commander could be the most important relationship you have. Support from your commander gives you the resources, authority and support you need to help your organization protect America. Listen to a tale of three commanders:
The first and best commander is the one who gets it. She understands information is important and doesn’t only pay lip service; she enables you. She listens, because you’ve proven your value. She supports you, because you only ever ask for what you need. She trusts you, because you’re focused on mission and act in support of the organization, not yourself. You have direct access to this commander. You brief her on what she needs to know and you support her vision by bringing a great command information game.
Ah but we know the second commander well, because he knows everything. Once, a few years ago, he did an interview. He knows how to be a PAO, after all … since he’s a commander. He’s got it all figured out and doesn’t need to hear from you. So what do you do? You have to bring your absolute best. Only speak when you can add value and know what you’re talking about. Read. Get smart on things your organization is about to do. Be respectful, and better than he thinks he is.
The last commander is the tough guy. “Grunt, grunt, PAOs are leaf eaters.” Sure. This commander pays lip service to the importance of information but would really rather be talking about squad live fires. Too bad for this guy, he’s really missing the bus. But, no matter, you must press on. Your mission is way too important. So with this guy, you have to do things behind the scenes to help the mission. Stop talking about what you’re going to do and just do. Build a ground swell of support. Let the J3 or the Deputy Commander eventually say, “man, the PAO is pretty good.” Resist the temptation to brief or send emails telling everyone what you’re doing. Just do it and your commander’s support will follow.
In reality, your commanders are likely combinations. In reality, you should do the things discussed above regardless of your commander. You have to be great. Caution for #miltwitter PAOs, you’re not good PAOs because you have an opinion or because you attended DINFOS, or even grad school. Being good means being good every day on every topic because you have trained intuition, you’re well read and you’re ready.
We hear PAOs bitching about the lack of support from their commanders. Stop bitching and start performing, producing … quietly, to support the mission.
Now go and do likewise.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Haley McMenamin
