August 27, 2024
by Stephen T. Messenger
If you’ve ever been in a soldier’s office, you would know they have a lot of stuff on their walls. Every assignment culminates with a going away gift, and over a 20-year career, we accumulate a lot of cool plaques, gifts, books, and things.
Last month I packed up all my office memorabilia in preparation for a new job. The mission: to transport “my stuff” from the second floor to the parking lot. It wasn’t excessive, but it was more than a one-person job.
Well, I in my stubbornness and not wanting to bother anyone moved under cover of night. I took countless trips up and down the stairs, awkwardly fumbling heavy boxes, fragile frames, and strange-shaped items in the July heat. At the end, I was tired, sweaty, and sore. I definitely should have asked for help.
The irony is that everyone would have loved to help. There were 15 other people in that building who would have been more than happy to grab a box and take one trip down—no questions. Many even offered! Just like I enjoy helping other people, they would have as well.
But for some strange reason, I feel like I had to do everything myself. Maybe it’s not bothering others. Maybe it’s pride. Maybe I like lower back pain… Whatever it is, I was wrong and should have asked.
When one soldier goes into battle, they bring a basic M-4 rife load of 240 rounds. If they fight as an 800-soldier infantry battalion, they bring over 200,000 rounds, 800 people, heavy weapons, mortars, sniper teams, vehicles, logistics, medical, and the most damage-producing weapon on the battlefield: a radio to call Air Force pals.
Organizational success is predicated on using teams to accomplish missions. We must all ensure we’re leading the charge, not running up the hill by ourselves. Don’t fight battles alone!
Blackhawk Down
On October 3, 1993, an infamous incident took place in Mogadishu, Somalia. American forces in the area were originally part of a United Nations mission to alleviate starving Somalians, but due to increased violence against American forces, President Bill Clinton deployed a task force consisting of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force operators along with a helicopter package.
During the Battle of Mogadishu, two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were shot down by enemy fire. They came to rest in the center of a hostile city comprised of Somali militia converging on the crash sites. The Ranger Team secured the first, but the second was on its own.
Circling overhead was the Delta Force sniper team consisting of Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart. They were providing supporting sniper fire from the air but understood the crew on the ground would be overrun before reinforcements could arrive.
In an amazing act of sacrifice and heroism, the two requested to be dropped into the crash site to protect the four critically wounded crewmembers. Everyone knew Gordon and Shughart couldn’t fight this battle alone, including themselves, as they were looking at hundreds of armed combatants converging on the crash site. It was simply too dangerous.
But Gordon continued his request and on the third time was granted permission. He and Shugart inserted into the area armed with only rifles and sidearms, fought their way to the downed chopper, pulled the crew out of the bird, and formed a defensive perimeter. They held their position killing at least 25 insurgents and wounding countless more, but the hundreds of combatants eventually overwhelmed them.
Enemy gunfire killed both Gordon and Shughart along with three of the four Blackhawk crew. Only the pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant survived and was captured for 11 days before being released. Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day.
This story is not to argue the Delta Force Team should have stayed in the air. Quite the opposite. These soldiers showed true heroism and love of their teammates in the face of an impossible situation.
But they fought alone. They needed the full resources of the United States military in direct support. With more soldiers, firepower, weapons, ammunition, and equipment, they would have extracted the crew and fought back the insurgents.
Gordon and Shughart entering that situation was amazing. They needed to fight that battle. But they didn’t need to fight it alone.
Go Together
Rudyard Kipling stated, “He travels fastest who travels alone.” This statement is true but countered by industrialist Cyrus McCormick who told his workforce that, “This may do for a race, but will not do for… the kind of work we have to do. Ours is a different work, and we might rather say, ‘Scaling the mountain or breasting the stream, he travels furthest who pulls with his team.’”
Now, we’re not going to ask to be inserted into hundreds of insurgents with very little support. But we are going to have to make daily choices to tackle problems by ourselves or with others. This isn’t an easy decision, because Kipling is right. Going alone usually means going faster. But there are three main benefits to working with others.
Increases Brainpower. We’re limited by our own experiences on how we would tackle a problem. Once we bring in more people, the breadth of knowledge and experience exponentially increases providing us more ideas and perspectives. Adding a subject matter expert to our specific problem will always expand our ability to overcome an obstacle.
I was going to install seven ceiling fans in my house a few weeks ago. I’d never installed one before, but my electrician dad does this for a living. He came over to help and quickly answered every electrical question I would have been stumped on.
Multiplies Manpower. I’m always fascinated by the “two-man lift” signs on boxes. It’s nearly impossible to move them by yourself, yet people love to try, myself included. Going by ourselves is like trying to move those heavy boxes in a Home Depot aisle. We’ll probably get it, but look like a fool in the process, struggling by not asking for help.
My family moved a piano a few months ago. That morning, I tried lifting one end, and it didn’t even budge. But when eight of us each grabbed an edge, it wasn’t even heavy. More people equals more success.
Builds Team Power. In a world of telework, teams who physically come together, help each other with projects, solve problems, and interact frequently have higher levels of trust and teamwork. Trust is built by proximity. People have to be together to gain a level of trust with each other. When we fight and win together, we improve our team.
Last week, someone in our section was tasked to box, label, and move thousands of books in the warehouse… by herself. A few of us went down, rolled up our sleeves, cranked some music, and rocked out to the sounds of 90’s boy bands and packaging tape. We didn’t have to. But now we have a success under our belts, a shared hardship, and inside jokes. Our relationships took a huge leap forward.
As the African Proverb states: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Find Partners
It’s easy to fight battles alone, and sometimes it’s hard to ask for help. Yet there is no more powerful way to accomplish something than by adding others to our team. An additional person, or more, brings new perspectives, more energy, and more teamwork.
So next time we need help, let’s not be afraid to ask. Trust me, it’s way easier on the lower back.
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