Leave it better than you found it

By Col. Laurel Walsh, commander, 50th Operations Group / Published March 19, 2019

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --

When I was six years old, I learned a leadership lesson that has continued to be relevant throughout my Air Force career – “Leave A Place Better Than You Found It.” That’s right, a colonel is referencing a lesson learned as a child, but I’m writing about it today because it is still extremely relevant.

This philosophy was first instilled upon me as a scout. At the time, it meant leaving a campsite cleaner than I found it.  It meant not only picking up after myself, but also picking up trash or debris left by others at the campsite. Over time, I realized that simple philosophy had much broader applications to leadership and life. “Leave It Better than You Found It” means to leave not just places, but also organizations and people, better off than when you found them.

Don’t just walk by a problem – fix it!  If there is litter on the ground – pick it up.  If you see a light out – report it.  If a procedure or checklist needs to be corrected – update it.  If you think of a better way to perform operations – suggest it.  Fix what you can control, and do a little bit every day.

Imagine what an impact you can make at Schriever Air Force Base, if you try to make a difference each and every day.  Organizational change can take time, but the sum of several minor changes make big ones.

Within a military organization, it is vital for everyone to identify the actions or resources needed to ensure mission success, and to suggest structures or processes to improve upon the way work is accomplished. In our resource constrained environment, it’s more important than ever for people to try to identify new and innovative ways to accomplish the mission.

Accomplishing the mission more effectively is an example of leaving an organization more prepared to tackle future challenges. Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis used to say, “Remember the will to win is not more important than the will to prepare to win. Consider every week your last week of peace.” At the end of every week, ask: is my organization better? Is it more ready than last week?

It's also important to have a customer-service oriented mindset, no matter what your job is. Don’t give “no” as an answer to another individual or organization too easily. Instead, try to help, assist, or guide them in the right direction. On the other side of the coin, don’t take “no” for an answer too easily, and look for ways to work through obstacles.

As a leader, work for your people and toward mission success. Remember, it’s not necessary to lead or take credit for every effort, just do the things you know will advance the ball down the field.

“Leave It Better Than You Found It” also applies to people. Optimize what you can affect in yourself and seek out opportunities to expand through self-improvement, education and experiences. View every challenge as an opportunity and seize on it, that’s what great leaders do. Most importantly, leave your people better than you found them by caring, enforcing standards, offering constructive feedback and providing them with developmental opportunities, education, training and the right resources. The most lasting impact you can make is to mentor and develop people who will continue to serve and lead, even after you are no longer part of the organization.

There is always more work to be done, but strive to leave behind a place, organization and personnel  more capable of executing the mission than before.  If you try to make a difference every day, I guarantee you’re leaving it better than you found it.https://www.schriever.spaceforce.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/1789484/leave-it-better-than-you-found-it/