I still remember the words of a U.S. Army major who worked for me: “Sir, you are tearing this team apart.”
The time was January 2000. The location was Lithuania. I was an Army colonel.
At that point, I had served just over 20 years in the Army on active duty and in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. I had success as a unit commander and staff officer. I had recently left the command of a National Guard infantry battalion of about 850 soldiers. Because of past success, I thought I knew everything there was to know about leading people. I was mistaken.
Wake-Up Call
The major had...