Chief's Perspective: Analog leadership in digital times

News > Chief's Perspective: Analog leadership in digital times

Photos


(U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
Download HiRes

Chief's Perspective: Analog leadership in digital times

Posted 7/13/2012

Email story Print story

by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy

7/13/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The United States Air Force is the world's most advanced air, space and cyberspace force. Most of that can be attributed to you -- our outstanding Airmen -- but technology also plays a huge role. Advanced tools help us maintain an advantage over our adversaries. Technology has enabled our continuing success.

However, technology also threatens to cripple us.

As electronic communication becomes more widely used, our face-to-face interaction skills are beginning to suffer. We know how to text, Skype, and FaceTime, but some of us seem reluctant to engage in a meaningful face-to-face conversation.

We value technology because it saves us time, provides conveniences and helps us to be more efficient. But we must also recognize its potential to strip us of critical human connection skills.

This high-tech challenge has a low-tech solution. We need to strike a balance; we must continue to emphasize the importance of technology - a resource we cannot and will not stop exploiting - and at the same time emphasize the importance and value of analog leadership.

Analog leadership means temporarily putting down the iPads and Android tablets, logging out of Facebook and Twitter, and switching phones to airplane mode to stop the stream of texts coming in and out. It means shutting off the technology and talking to each other.

Face-to-face. One-on-one.

Real human interaction - yes, for some of us it may be awkward at first, but getting to know each other better is an investment that will yield incalculable returns. Stronger connections will create a foundation on which we can grow more meaningful relationships.

And then we can turn the devices back on and use them for their intended purpose: to augment and add value to our real-life relationships.

As Airmen, we have to understand how to use technology, because without it we are not as well-equipped to do our jobs. However, as human beings, we also have to understand how and when not to use technology, because when distracted by it we are not as well-equipped to relate to others.

Thank you for your service and your continued dedication to duty. I look forward to seeing you face-to-face as I travel around our great Air Force.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy

Comments

7/24/2012 3:05:08 AM ET
I agree with the message the Chief provided; however, one of the most important aspects that needs to be dealt with in regards to face-to-face communication is finance customer service. I hate to slam finance, but it's a continuing theme ,at least at Ramstein. When a member emails back and forth to the finance email hotline and still is not getting the answer to their question, it's frustrating. Bring back finance customer service and let's have some face-to-face interaction with our customers

DSharp, Ramstein AB Germany

7/20/2012 2:59:37 PM ET
I think most people commenting on here are missing the Chief's point. The CMSAF does not have the ability to sit down with every member of the service and tell them to engage in more face to face communication. This is a message that does not know the difference between officer, enlisted, civilian, retired, contractor, family. All of you that speak of the Chief's irony could not possibly believe that Chief Roy has only sent an email on this and let it be at that. If you do not think that he has pressed this upon MAJCOM Command Chief's and other senior enlisted AF leaders, who allowed you to think? This is something that should be passed down. If your supervisor, flight chief or superintendent passed down via email only, then it is your responsibility to sit down with them and express your opinion as to what the Chief's message was really about...tactfully of course, this is not your authority to say that SSgt Chamberlain said for me to tell you what you are doing wrong I know p

SSgt Thomas Chamberlain, Joint Base Andrews MD

7/20/2012 7:49:08 AM ET
It is said that soldiers don't fight for their country. They fight for their buddies. Our willingness to put in the extra hours the personal sacrifice and sometimes to risk our own safety is often based on the same commitment to our team. Electronic communication lacks much of the personal interaction and may reduce some of that willingness and commitment. The chief is right on. We can't operate at today's tempo without the electrons but we also need personal face-to-face interaction to make the service work.

Retired, Hanscom

7/19/2012 12:38:51 PM ET
No matter how many gadgets leadership is based upon PERSONAL relationships. No amount of automated emails is going to change that.And oh what if In all my years in SAC we always practiced the comm-out situations you lost ALL electrical means of communication now whatThat is something that I see as a weak-link in our forces now. Great to automate but can you still do paper and pencil And no not pencil whipping eitherNothing will replace human contact.You are totally correct Chief and it ought to be done at ALL levels and within all work centers.

Retired MSgt, Maryland

7/18/2012 6:47:03 PM ET
Good words Chief. CMSAF Gaylor has been making this point for years. However I must agree with SSgt Nichols comment sure we need to spend quality face time with our troops Oh yes he did but we must also consider the countless personnel programs we have moved toward automation at warp-speed. Finance TMO MPF etc. Let us not forget the practice of command by email that has taken over our service. Just because we can automate something doesn't mean we should.

SMSgt USAF, Peterson AFB

7/18/2012 6:31:48 PM ET
Check CMSAF Bob Gaylor speeches regarding High Tech Low Touch and see if we've not been down this road before.

Dag00ch, Sunnyzona

7/18/2012 6:03:36 PM ET
This is a very important message...I hope some folks will read and heed. I would hate for our great nation and AF to become socially inept and redundant akin to the characters in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

J Shields, Peterson AFB CO

7/18/2012 3:54:44 PM ET
I work in aircraft maintenance where we are not allowed to take personal cell phones to the flightline and SSgt's and TSgt's work directly with their troops for the most part. I think the trap we have fallen into is when we receive emails from commanders more than one organizational level on them that don't have our name specifically in the subject. Even I just glance at most of these emails and then delete them and knowing that I am sure that most airmen just delete them without even that glance if for no other reason than to keep from getting the mailbox full messages. We are in an Air Force that relays messages about delayed reporting and road conditions ON FACEBOOK. Last time the road conditions became dangerous here, I didn't realize that the roads were BLACK and delayed reporting had been initiated until after I came to work and saw it in my email. Really, thanks JBER for letting me know that I didn't have to potentially kill myself in a blizzard to get to work this morning.

TSgt Quigley, JBER AK

7/18/2012 12:27:25 PM ET
Current MSgt: I guess the Airmen who worked 24/7 ops before the advent of cell phones and email failed every day, eh?

Taca Salad, Work

7/18/2012 12:47:05 AM ET
Chief: As a NCO who grew up seeing great change in technology, I've found myself needing to utilize all the tools youve stated. I find such things as facebook, email, texting and phone calls have seriously effected our social skills. We have, as you pointed out, lost our basic communication skills. I make it a point to seek out the opportunities for facetime, but in a world going 100 mph, asking us to go 120 in order to keep up it gets harder and harder. We still must indeavor to put our people first, not technology. God Bless the United States Air Force

TSgt Wooster, Barksdale

7/17/2012 6:38:04 PM ET
What a joke, this message was sent via email and now posted on the portal. The best part is it has links to like it on Facebook, Reddit, Blogger, Pinterest, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Gmail, Tumblr and 323 other forms of digital media.

Ryan, March ARB CA

7/17/2012 4:04:11 PM ET
Yea, try that in the 24/7 Ops world where you have rotating shifts, rotating days off, etc... etc...Most of you don't work in this world. If you did, you would realize you HAVE to use email, cell phones, etc, or you will fail.

Current MSgt, asasa

7/17/2012 2:28:37 PM ET
Yes, there are many times I have counseled my subordinates on turning off the phone while on the job site or at meetings or physically go over and talk to someone. Thank you for providing guidance on this issue. The work place is dangerous and unproductive with these distractions.

Josh, Buckley AFB

7/17/2012 1:13:48 PM ET
I'd love to see more face-to-face interaction. When I was overseas we had a lot of it. Now that I'm stationed back state side it seems like I see it less and less every day. I've been on shift work since I've been in the AF and you can see people's trend in anti-social behavior the longer they're left on shift with the same people. It's sad the amount of people I've seen at work on facebook talking to each other instead of talking face-to-face.

Josh, Offutt

7/17/2012 8:56:02 AM ET
You are on the right track, Cheif. Can we start with a face-to-face finance office?

SSgt Nichols, Ramstein

7/17/2012 8:42:23 AM ET
Chief, thank you. It's great to hear this from the top.

Dave Pifer, Grand Forks AFB

7/17/2012 8:20:03 AM ET
I agree, i think you haveto find a balance between the two worlds. A balance between personal skills and networking is a good skill to have to begin and maintain long lasting meaninful relationships.

Justin, Grand Forks AFB ND

7/17/2012 5:13:46 AM ET
Nice one, Sir. To those who are picking apart his message or pointing out that it was sent in an e-mail or that the Chief travels, you're missing the point. It may be that you're too old or out of touch with technology as well. But that can't be helped in some cases. The message's intent... is with all of today's social media assets at hand to not get distracted and pay attention to the mission and its people. Facebook, twitter, youtube, vimeo, Google and others are great assets to the Air Force when used to our advantage. The issues lie when you are having a meeting/formation/training and your troopers are looking for the latest status updates from thier favorite site. Or worse, if the supervisor is the one doing it. As invloved as our under 30's are with social media, social skills can sometimes loose its luster. and with our focus on interpersonal communication in the AF, social media doesnt count.

JD, USAF

7/16/2012 8:28:27 PM ET
Chief, you could not have said it any better. There is nothing worse than hiding our relationships behind phones, email and worst of all posting our life on facebook. I think we need to get back to talking amongst one another and encouraging networking and positive interpersonal relationships.

Enlisted Guy, Charleston

7/16/2012 8:03:34 PM ET
Chief, I agree with you. With that established I wonder....how do you feel about electronic promotion notification? Electronic assignment notification? How do you feel about squadrons being gutted of resources to the point that commanders are tethered to their desks, engaged in administrative self-support that precludes getting out-and-about? How do you feel about staffs getting involved in wing-level duties that were previously left to the wing? Preaching the message is one thing, but putting the policies in-place to fix it is another. I'd love to see people put down their smartphones. I'd love to see the Air Force set the example by restoring the primacy of human contact.

Elvis, Planet Earth

7/16/2012 4:54:53 PM ET
The chief makes a good point, face-to-face communication is important in building relationships, but we have to ensure we are using the tools and technology available to use the taxpayers dollars efficiently. Email, phones and social media each provide a unique way to interface with each other and accomplish the mission. We should not so easily mark off technology that is off the shelf and readily available to us war fighters.

Markus, Florida

7/16/2012 4:43:00 PM ET
Sounds good to me. IT's nice to know that someone else see's the same issues. I think thats in the old PFE and geting out from behind your desk......and lead.......

Nate, K-Town

7/16/2012 12:26:31 PM ET
I couldn't agree more, Chief. My opinion: NO Cell phones at work. All this technology will be the death of us in the wrong hands and it's nothing but trouble. It's an obsession with our youth today......PARENTS, where are you? Ohthat's right, your to busy on Face Book to pay attention to your kids

Dee, Eglin AFB Fl

7/16/2012 12:13:37 PM ET
Chief, you hit it on the nail. Wonderful article.

ADAF TSgt, Valdosta GA

7/16/2012 11:16:00 AM ET
Great job, Chief, on identifying this important issue, but I think the CMSAF left out the most important piece: application. I was hoping he's going to address how today's AF is missing the human aspect -- commanders and supervisors' interaction with his or her Airman on promotions, force shaping and other life-changing events instead of emails.

Prior-E, Lackland AFB

7/16/2012 9:50:09 AM ET
Because I'm profoundly deaf people typically email me so they don't have to handle the communications issue. While it is easier for them they do not get an idea of who I am. This effectively isolates me in a room full of AF and civilian personnel and makes me feel alone in the middle of 10 people.

Mike, Colorado

7/16/2012 9:25:04 AM ET
I completely agree with you Chief. With the advent of new technologies its easy to minimize face-to-face interactions. Some people do believe that staying at their desk and communicating electronically or by phone makes them more efficient but it all has a cost.Isolating ourselves hinders our ability to be a truly effective communicator. I remember reading Peter Handel chairman president and CEO of Dale Carnegie Training when he said Avoid the overuse of emailinstead request regular face-to-face meetings.It is definetely clear and the same time it is human nature. The human interaction allows for clearer and stronger communication. That includes when we cannot produce the gauge tone from an email we cannot look at someones eyes or read their body language by texting or email alone. Thank you Chief for your message

Fernado Alejandro, Milwaukee WI

7/15/2012 8:34:54 PM ET
I think the Chief was right on the mark with his perspective. Unlike when I grew up where my group of friends all met at the corner dime store to socialize my two teen sons complete social life is on-line as is most all of their friends. Its a different world now but I wonder how good their face-to-face skills will be when they interview for an important job. Meeting in person developing relationshipsrespect breaks down barriers and promotes teamwork. Our ever increasing high tech Air Force must always keep this in mind in order to stay the worlds best.

Lt Col Mark Wittmayer, Pittsburgh ANG

7/15/2012 6:42:01 PM ET
I hate seeing a room full of people in meetings with smart phones in hand. Freaking turn your phone off and listen to the briefing. If I was king I would tell everyone to leave your personal cell phone in your vehicle while working.

David, Charleston AFB

7/15/2012 5:58:17 PM ET
The Chief is right on point because the issue has to be given visibility throughout the organization and society in general see Newsweek article this week entitled Is the Internet Driving Us Mad. The lack of a process and organizational requirements which requires a level of face to face communications preferably in person builds professional relationships sustains morale and leads to better and more rational policy and plans development. A lack of personal contact engenders anonymous and unthoughtful work product and unsustainable real world policy.

Richard Bartel, Air Force Safety Center

7/15/2012 10:44:46 AM ET
Doubt the irony is lost on the Chief. We all get it you got an email about communicating face to face. He did say we must embrace technology and he's using this as one method of communicating this message to the entire force urging analog face to face communication between airmen and first line supervisors. As the last line says he's traveling and will probably be talking this message when he visits you.

StoneCold, USA

7/15/2012 10:32:19 AM ET
Thank you for your comments on this issue Chief. It is necessary for a person to have a real physical conversation every now and then Maybe all the mishaps that have occured here lately will began to decreas once people realize someone actually cares

NCOAirman, Langley AFB

7/14/2012 7:26:50 PM ET
Chief in sending this email you're falling into the same trap that got us here in the first place. just because email gives you the ability to shower 332000 people with a blanket message doesn't mean you should do it. Before we had email you would have been forced to train educate and trust your subordinate NCOs to carry messages for you. It was more difficult but as you rightly imply in your email it was the right and best way to lead.

Tony, Charleston

7/14/2012 2:29:17 AM ET
Good article. But the last line says it all as I travel around our great Air Force. Too much travelling not enough impact. What happened to HYT at 30

Retired Chief, Overhere

7/13/2012 11:27:31 PM ET
Right on Chief. Leaders can't lead from behind their desks.

Jay, Buckley AFB

7/13/2012 4:45:33 PM ET
I agree with the Chief but thought it was funny that we received this same message about face to face earlier today in an email.

Tm, Columbus

7/13/2012 11:31:03 AM ET
face-to-face was easier when we had 600K people

Tak, USAF

7/13/2012 10:39:11 AM ET
Right on chief. E-mail, Facebook, etc., can help us maintain a relationship that has a solid foundation, but nothing beats in-person communication for building it in the first place. Telephone is a distant second and should be used more often, too.

CMSgt Matt Proietti, Dover AFB

7/13/2012 9:56:46 AM ET
Chief, I'm with you. Positive huuman interaction is critical. I believe it is one contributing factor to the suicide and sexual assault issues the AF is facing today.

Retired Col, Ohio

Add a comment

Inside AF.mil

GeneralImagesVideo

View All RSS

Subscribe AF.MIL

More Headlines

Airmen rally to help save lives

Lost Johnny Carson film found at March

Brig. Gen. Witham nominated as ANG deputy director

AFPC Airman: Don't forget, they're not all home

Muncy Honored With Second Highest Private Citizen Award

AF nominates AFMC, AFSPC civilians for DOD award

Air Force medical treatment facilities not involved in multi-state meningitis outbreak

Hundreds on October supplemental promotion list

Construction of second runway continues at Osan, South Korea  |  VIDEO

Air Force Week in Photos

'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary  1

Tail swap enables Afghan mission support and humanitarian effort

Fort Smith ANG Airmen Head Home   |  VIDEO

1952 C-124 crash descendant finds closure in Alaska  1

Commentary

Standards? What standards? 3

First things first: Get your degrees in order 34