Spotlight Ranger

I often find myself torn between amusement and disappointment when a “leader” appears just in time for the spotlight.

A high-ranking officer materializes during a major inspection. A camera is poised to capture a soldier in action. A microphone is conveniently available. And suddenly, someone who was nowhere to be found moments earlier is front and center. Those who seize these moments to claim credit they did not earn make my blood curdle.

You’ve seen this person before. They might be an officer or enlisted member trying to climb the corporate ladder. They might be invisible during normal duty hours or are perpetually late to formation and never get punished because they are extremely physically fit. Everyone has motivations for why they do or don’t do certain things. Most people save those motivations for evaluation time with their rater. But a select few can’t resist the urge to broadcast their ambition to the world at the most unnatural— and inappropriate — moments.

“Look at me! I was here!” is the unspoken message.

You feel it when a senior leader asks a junior member a question, only to cut them off mid-sentence because the leader must explain why the mission was successful—and, coincidentally, why it was successful because of them.

“Me, me, me. My, my, my. I, I, I.”

These are the reflexive words of people who have no concept of team. Yes, leaders set culture and provide direction—but nothing in the military is accomplished alone. Nothing. Even the medic who performs CPR on a stranger in a mall learned those lifesaving skills from someone else.

Every opportunity to make someone else shine should be a defining trait of strong leadership. And every failure—every miss, every breakdown—should rest squarely on the leader’s shoulders. Not the other way around.

I once went TDY and failed.

I assumed one of the support staff would sign the technicians’ timecards while I was gone. I didn’t confirm it. I didn’t follow up. And as a result, none of the technicians got paid for that pay period.

I panicked. Then I took a breath and sent this message to everyone affected:

“I’m so sorry your pay got screwed up this pay period. It’s because I didn’t certify your timecards in time while I was TDY. This was my responsibility, and I’m very sorry.”

The issue was fixed the following pay period. A few staff members even thanked me for being direct and honest. I didn’t pass the buck. I didn’t blame a system glitch or a misunderstanding. I owned it—because it was mine to own.

I learned from it, too. Now, I’m hyper-vigilant about having a clear plan anytime I’m gone during a pay period.

Leaders who hoard the spotlight when things go right—and dodge it when things go wrong—aren’t just irritating. They actively stall positive cultural progress. Effective leaders listen more than they speak. They watch for opportunities to elevate others. They understand that their success is measured by how well their people thrive.

One day, those junior members will remember the shoulders they stood on—or the ones that disappeared when the weight got heavy.

Humility is a hard pill to swallow for some. Don’t be afraid to crush it up, stir it into your tea, and toss it back.

That’s what leadership tastes like.