[August 25, 2015] An old custom in the U.S. military is for newly commissioned Second Lieutenants to receive their first salute by a person of their choice. The new officer gives a U.S. silver dollar as a token of appreciation and in my case I received a salute from Sergeant First Class J. Benjamin Sessions … a great soldier in his own right. His advice to me at the ceremony of the rank pinning was to “… always exercise extreme due diligence” while carrying out my duties as an officer.
“Everything yields to diligence.” – Antiphanes, Greek Writer
Although I did not understand at the time, he knew that diligence is a trait of leaders that is both difficult to uphold and tough on those who exercise it. No wonder that many of our military leaders fail to exercise the proper diligence in carrying out their legally appointed duties. Although the concept of due diligence originated in the business world, its usage has spread and so it’s meaning.
Due diligence used here refers to the maximum degree of effort required to ensure that all acts and decisions of a person in authority is correctly applied. It means doing the right thing every time; legally and technically. It also means knowing what is right. For example, the use of highly classified data on Ms Hillary Clinton’s email server means that she did not exercise proper due diligence. Her failure to do so means many have lost their trust and confidence in her; an outgrowth of her failure of due diligence.
By its very nature, diligence can only be applied if it is accompanied by a high level of skill, applied knowledge, and relevant experiences. Diligence has been recognized as a positive benefit to those who chose to lead … leaders seek its advantages and willing devote the level of personal vigor required to maintain it.
Both Sergeant Sessions and I are now retired. After the many years we both served in the U.S. Army we found that the use of extreme due diligence was a key to success of all leaders. What we also discovered was that senior leaders gained greater respect, trust, and admiration when they exercised it meticulously.
[Don’t forget to “Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]