15 Things for New Lieutenants to Focus On

I once came across a list of tips for new senior leaders from ADM(ret) James Stavridis.  It was a succinct list of well-written advice for high-ranking military officers.  I thought it was a useful template for a list of tips focused on new lieutenants.  As the Air Force Academy's class of 2015 report to their first duty station and embark on a career in the Air Force, these are the tips that will setup new lieutenants for success.

Fifteen Things for Lieutenants to Focus On

• Learn something every day about your job, your coworkers and the Air Force.
• Be genuine in your leadership style.  
• Details matter. Take the time to ensure you have the details right before closing out a task.  
• Learn to speak and write with simplicity and precision. This includes understanding your organization’s staffing and coordination process.*
• Be enthusiastic and get involved. You’ll likely get stuck with tasks you don’t want to do. This is true for all ranks and positions.
• Respond to e-mail quickly and over the phone if practical. The faster you  clean out your inbox, the more time available for truly important tasks.
• Stay informed and up to date with your career-field and the Air Force in general. Pick your favorite professional publications and read them regularly. It’s important to understand the bigger picture and how you contribute to it.
• Spend time thinking about your future. Focus especially on goals. Write a plan now and update it every few months. Things will change but the mere act of writing it down will pay huge dividends. Show your plan to people you trust and get their advice.
• Greet colleagues by name…ask again if you forget.
• Ask questions in meetings...even stupid ones. It’s the fastest way to understand your business.
• Write e-mail assuming the Secretary of the Air Force will see it. This means don’t use foul language, don't be overly emotional, always use proper titles and be respectful.
• Develop a personal organizational style. You will often need to find old documents or e-mails. Figure out a system that works for you and stick to it.
• Verify secondhand knowledge for yourself. Read the policy or guidance and make up your own mind.
• Find leaders who inspire you and learn to emulate them.
• Figure out quickly who you can trust. This includes those of higher rank. Not everyone will give you good advice. It’s crucial to find the people you can depend on when you need something done quickly or when you need accurate information.

BONUS: Five Things to Avoid

• Losing patience with people. You don’t get to choose who you work with or for in the Air Force. The only thing accomplished when you lose patience is a decline in your team's performance.*
• Becoming excessively emotional over minor inconveniences.
• The impulse to ignore advice you don’t like. Evaluate the source and determine the underlying rationale before deciding to dismiss the advice.
• Thinking “I’m just a lieutenant”. You are an officer in the Air Force. Take the lead and make decisions when you can.
• Talking too freely about your personal life. People will judge you based on what you tell them. Make sure you present yourself accordingly.

* Modified from ADM(ret) James Stavridis’ Fifteen Things for Senior Leaders to Focus On