Many years ago I was an Air Force officer. Just out of college, commissioned as a second LT. I thought I was a "leader", because of my rank. I was assigned to an engine shop at Andrews AFB and it was mostly civilians that worked there with a minority of military sargeants, all of them mechanics. A big AF inspection was going to be given for the shop a few weeks later. I went in and tried to tell them. how to do their jobs- which they had been doing for years! I learned quickly when a senior sargeant took me aside and told me, "Lt. you need to back off. These civilians know more about their job thanh you ever will and the enlisted mechanics know almost as much. Give them space and they will make this the best shop on base". I got the message and instead of telling them how to do their job, I took the time to praise them for the work they were doing. We got an EXCELLENT on the Inspection.
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