Ben Sloot

Today, a senior executive of our organization came down hard on the staff leadership during an end of day sync. He questioned our ability to lead, our morale and ethical standards, and the effect our poor leadership would have on the organization. He did it loudly and publicly. He dressed us all down because our group half-assed our way through a block of HR mandatory training. We provided no feedback to the virtual instructor as most of us continued to work on other things while getting credit for attendance.

I was pissed. I’ve spent 19 years committed to accomplishing the mission. I’ve walked a straight-line and answered the prompted questions. I understand the course material. I’ve been through the class every year for at least a decade, and some years on multiple occasions. I was fucking pissed, and since that public scolding I’ve not stopped thinking about how little consideration he had for the million priorities we try and balance everyday.

He was right though.

The block of training we dismissed for other work? The Army Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program.

91 people from our company dialed in to the training, and only a few people…staff not in management roles… provided more than one word answers to the questions. The staff leaders, myself included, set a terrible example to the more junior members of the headquarters. Check the block and move on. It’s not my problem.

The problem is mine, ours, everyone’s. The Army has a sexual harassment and assault problem. Soldiers at all levels treat subject their teammates to unwelcome advances, inappropriate environments and even unwanted physical contact. Just because I expect myself to act with professionalism and respect to my fellow Soldiers does not excuse me from providing real input to the difficult conversations which are essential to the prevention of Sexual Harassment and Assault.

The senior executive drove home his point with the parent’s in the room. Would we trust our children… Would I trust my own daughters in an organization with leaders who check the block on training meant to protect my teammates.

I was pissed because I was wrong. A hard lesson I won’t forget.