What soldiers guarding benches can teach us about collaboration

During a training session on collaboration and teamwork, I shared a second story about a unit commander ….

After assuming command of his unit, the new commander decided to walk around and inspect his camp.

During his walk, he came across two soldiers guarding a bench.

Puzzled, he walked over and asked them why they were guarding the bench? The soldiers replied that they honestly didn’t know and that they were simply following the orders of the previous unit commander.

Being a responsible commander, he did not want to change any orders without knowing the original basis for the decision. So, he contacted the previous commander and asked him why he had deployed soldiers to guard the bench. The previous commander replied: “You know what? I really don’t know. The commander before me did it, so I continued.”

Not satisfied with the answer, the new commander went on to contact the earlier commanders. But they all told him the same thing — they did it because the previous commander did it.

Finally, he reached the now 100-year-old retired General, who had commanded the unit 60 years ago. The new commander said: “Excuse me sir. I’m now the commander of the unit you commanded 60 years ago. I understand that you assigned…