Specifically Thankful

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Thomas Harrell
  • 48th Surgical Operations Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  What are you thankful for? My thoughts run quickly to my wife, my children, our health, our family and our friends to name a few. 

However, I would like to focus on our Air Force family. As I stood at a retirement ceremony recently, I found myself wondering what I will be reflecting on as I hear the National Anthem for my last time in an active duty uniform. 

I know that my remembrance will be the incredible people I am surrounded by each day. The audience for the retirement ceremony was full of 60 to 70 folks, but none of them saw the flurry of activity carried on just moments before when friends and colleagues dashed about making certain every detail was reviewed. 

Two squadron members set about to fix a sound system problem which arose suddenly. Another member ran to the post office for one more search for a gift that was to arrive...it did. The proffer re-rehearsed each step and timing. The list of behind the scenes workers goes on and on.

 What ties them all together? Each member of our team will do whatever it takes, whenever it takes it to see the mission succeed and take care of one another. You will not find a civilian organization which can compare. 

I am thankful to be part of this team. We work with folks every day who get it done even with the challenge of short notice turns, incomplete information or the lack of straw to make bricks. We face operational challenges every day of the week. 

Our maintainers and fuels members keep the planes in the air through all kinds of weather. Ground support personnel keep operations safe. Base support personnel keep the home front stable. Medics keep us healthy, while security forces and fire department personnel keep us safe. 

Our Air Force family gets it done 24/7, as our own families make it possible, even when our mission takes us away from them and other loved ones. How can you not get excited about that kind of team?

It is a given that the mission is going to get done with folks like these around, but have you thanked the folks you work with for who they are and what they do? Are you intentional about catching your colleagues and subordinates doing well? When you tell them they are doing a great job, are you specific about what you have seen? 

One of the most powerful things you can do as a leader is to acknowledge the efforts of your team. I'm talking about more than just "...thanks for working hard." 

When your folks see that you know what they are doing well enough to cite them on it specifically, they'll know that you are not only interested in getting the job done, but you're interested in them. When you're specific with your praise, you are investing in their efforts. You are valuing their unique contribution to mission success. 

It takes effort to tear yourself away from "jail mail" and get out of your office, but letting your colleagues and staff know they matter is extremely important for morale and organizational success as well. 

There is no substitute in the leadership equation. We serve in the greatest Air Force in the world and our people make sacrifices every day without expecting anything in return. But it sure is nice to be thanked from time to time.