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Commentary: Expect the best – and that is what you’ll see

  • Published
  • By Col. David Reeson
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Many years ago, a young man had been recruited by an employment agency and was being relocated to a distant town called Podunk, Neb. He was delighted with the new job but apprehensive about moving to a new community where he knew no one. About 20 miles outside of Podunk, he stopped to get gas. A wise-looking elderly gentleman was sitting in a rocking chair outside the service station, and the young man engaged him in conversation.

"I am moving to Podunk for a new job and am wondering what the people will be like in my new community."

The old man inquired, "What are the people like in that town you are coming from?"
The young man spoke with disdain in his voice. "I am delighted to get away from that place. The people there are awful. There is no sense of community. They're selfish and dishonest, only looking out for themselves. You have to lock your doors for fear of being robbed, and no one even talks to their neighbors. My old town is just an awful place to live and raise a family. I'm glad to be getting out!"

The wise elderly gentleman spoke with sadness in his voice, "I am so sorry to have to tell you, but so you will find the people of Podunk."

A short time later, another young man hired by the same company and moving to Podunk stopped at the very same service station and inquired of the same wise-looking, elderly gentleman, "I am moving to Podunk with a new job and am wondering, could you tell me what the people are like in my new community?"

The old man once again asked, "What are the people like in the town you are coming from?"

The young man's eyes lit up as he spoke. "I am very sad to leave that community. The people there are delightful. There is a real sense of community where all are welcome and everyone belongs. They are selfless and honest, and we all look out for each other. You never have to lock your doors. We have weekly barbecues and activities for the kids, young married families and even the older folks. If anyone is ever down on their luck the whole community chips in to take care of them until they are back on their feet. Everyone knows everyone, and it is an awesome placed to live and raise a family. I'm really going to miss the wonderful people there."

The wise, elderly gentleman spoke with a twinkle in his eye and joy in his voice, "I am delighted to tell you, so too you will find the people of Podunk."

I believe when we expect the best, that is what we will find in our neighborhoods and also in our workplace. Many of us in the United States Air Force have experienced a leader who is a micro-manager, looking for and finding problems in every person they work with. Many of us have also experienced leaders that believe in their co-workers, looking for and finding the very best.

We have some of the best-educated and most competent and gifted women and men in the entire world in our United States Air Force. In our enlisted ranks, 99.9 percent have graduated high school, 70.1 percent have some college, and many in the higher enlisted ranks have completed studies for bachelor's or master's degrees - even Ph.D.s. Among officers, 88 percent in the field grades have advanced degrees.

Overall, members of the Air Force are very young, at least from my perspective (I can only be considered middle-aged if I live to be 116 years old!). The average age of officers is 35, and the average age of enlisted Airmen is 29 - but the members of my Air Force are wise and gifted beyond their years.

Besides being well-educated academically, I find that our Airmen - from a four-star General to a brand-new Airman Basic - quickly come to know their jobs and perform with high expertise and professionalism. We have the most dedicated, hard working and capable women and men in any profession.

When I look at those I work with and expect to find incompetent, lazy, selfish people, I find it. However, when I expect the very best, I also find exactly what I am looking for. My simple advice to all leaders in the Air Force, no matter what the rank, is to equip, train, make expectations clear, trust your people, get out of the way and then expect to see great things happen.