Communications

Was on my way home from work when i saw a Warrant Officer i recognise, in his civilian clothes. The thing is i noticed how uncomfortable he seemed mingling with the "civilians". He was trying hard as he could to shift away when a young woman came and sat down next to him. Was kinda hilarious the way his eyes grew wild and started glancing all around for a place to hide.

So while laughing at him, i came up with a theory. This dude, is one of those stern, fierce, i-say-you-do kind of Warrant Officer, the I-have-the-power type. Communication in camp is simply barking of orders to the men under him. He only knows to say "Yes Sir!" to those above him, and expect the same from those underneath of him. Release him into society proper, he loses orientation of his place in the scheme of things. How to you get people to do things for you without exerting authority? He gets confused when he says "Excuse me, can i go first?" and is shot with a "No!". How those the system work out here? There isn't a clear indication of rank, ie. power rating. How should he behave to those people around him? Its not any better back at home. He's the head of the family, so when it comes to rank, he should be the big boss. Yet somehow it doesn't seem to work that well. His children find him too authoritative, and are reluctant to try communicating with him. His wife sees it as him being chauvinistic. He doesn't know what to do and hides behind his stern unapproachable exterior.

I suppose it could happen to quite alot of people, people in positions of power who are used to using that power to get their way. I'm glad i've never tried using rank on purpose. My style has always been to be on equal footing with my guys and winning them over with proper communications. But maybe its not that good an idea too... ends up with people getting too friendly with me, bordering on disrespectful at times lol... But oh well, i don't mind, its my fellow officers who feel that i'm "spoiling the market". Bleah...

Just some random musings...