My boss’s jaw dropped when I said it to him.  I think he was dumbfounded that I  (a cocky young Lieutenant) had just “laid into” one of the most revered men in our district.

His name was Einer.  He was a German immigrant and, I think, just two days older than God.  He had been at the Washington Navy Yard since Moby Dick was a guppy, had worked his way to the top and was in charge of all facilities on our 6 installations in the National Capital region.  Even though he wasn’t the most senior civilian around, his opinion mattered.  When he spoke, things got done.  If he cared about something, other people cared as well.  I don’t if it was the way he carried himself, if he had dirt on everyone or if he had been one of Hitler’s Henchmen, but no one crossed paths with him.

My police officers stood gate duty on all our of installations.  That winter had been a particularly cold one in Washington, DC and my team had been freezing all winter (mostly outside) due to the renovations on the “guard shacks.”  I had purchased space heaters, cold weather gear and other items to try to accommodate them but, in the end, I was alone in my want to keep their quality of workplace decent.  I had gone up and down the chain of command trying to get something done to speed up the renovation process but nothing worked.

That’s when it happened.  It was early March, the weather was starting to get warmer and my boss was walking with Einer.  They stopped me to discuss a few things and then, at the end just prior to leaving company, Einer said, “We’ll get your guys taken care of and warmed up soon.”  I stood there in disbelief.  I had been working all winter to get something done and NOW something was going to happen!?  I replied, “My guys could have been out there half dead, frozen, and nobody has given a shit!  Now, in March, you care!?  Don’t bother!  I’ve got it handled!” (That’s when my boss’s jaw dropped).  Einer looked at me, smirked and then walked away.

Two weeks later Einer stopped me in the hall and let me know (in his thick German accent) that “he and I were men of action…what ever I needed, I just needed to let him know.”

The lesson I took from this is that, sometimes, meeting moxy with moxy garners respect.  Moreover, just as we have to adjust our leadership style to suit our followers, we also have to adjust our style to match our superiors.  From that day forward, Einer was my man.  Whenever I needed something done, if I went to him (even if it wasn’t facility related), he’d grease the skids for me.

Never be afraid to stand up in the face of adversity and say what you feel.  Granted, I could have stated my case a little more eloquently but, with Einer, I don’t think I would have gotten the same response.  Being a “yes” person gets little done for your team and gets little respect.  Think, adjust, and stand up!