Officers Eat Last
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mikeleeusnretOfficers Eat Last
Uploaded by
mikeleeusnretOfficers Eat Last: What burnt hotdogs taught me
about being a servant leader.
Patrick Houlahan, MSS, CSM Follow
Founder / CEO, Keynote Speaker at Strategic…
Published Dec 10, 2019
Obviously, this picture is a horrible example of leadership. Unfortunately, this is how
some individuals in leadership roles behave. In 2014, Simon Sinek published a book
Leaders Eat Last. The book was an instant best seller and offers great advice to
leaders. But what does this really mean? Is it simply that the leader gets last in line to eat
or is there a deeper meaning?
Officers Eat Last
When Simon released this book, I could have slapped myself in the face. In 2014, I had
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just finished my tenth year in the Marine Corps Reserve and twenty first as an officer of
Marines. In addition to the Marine Corps 14 leadership traits and 11 leadership
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principles, we were also taught that you always allowed your Marines to eat first. Woe to
the junior officer that jumped in line with the Marines and didn’t wait. I have seen a few
stern, quite, and direct conversations from a senior officer to a junior officer when they
violated this principle. “Officers Eat Last” is so ingrained in Marine Corps culture that it
permeates our personal lives as well.
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Leadership Lessons Comment
Both of my parents were officers of Marines. While they were both out when I was born,
the leadership lessons and philosophies they lived by in the Marine Corps were instilled
in me as a little kid. Many of them seemed to be a nuisance as an eight-year old, but later
in life they made perfect sense.
Recall the last time you were late to a church, company, school, or sports team picnic or
banquet. When you got to the food line what where you left with? Burnt hotdogs, busted
up buns, carrot strings at the bottom of the salad bowl, and chip crumbs. This was my
experience. However, we were never late. Remember that both of my parents were
former Marines and we were always on time if not early. But when it was time to eat, my
parents always made us go last. Why? Because they were living what they had learned in
the Marine Corps.
Servant Leader
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What “Leaders Eat Last” or “Officers Eat Last” is really all about is being a “Servant
Leader.” This doesn’t mean that you cater to every request of your team. It doesn’t mean
that your team’s needs are above the mission or goal. And it doesn’t mean that you
abdicate responsibility. Many individuals and organizations profess adhering to a servant
leader philosophy and let their teams run all over the place. This is obviously no way to
run a team, organization, or business.
Team Focus
A “Servant Leader” understands that the job doesn’t get done unless his or her people
are able to get it done. They understand that the focus is on the team. They live it every
day, 24/7. It’s in their heart and soul. It governs their every action as a leader. They serve
their teams and set them up for success…..not the other way around. Why do officers eat
last, why do leaders eat last? Because they understand the very simple concept that the
sum is greater than the individual parts. That as a leader, you don’t go first to the food
line, you don’t go first for praise, the focus is not on you. It’s on the team.
Humility
The core principal to this philosophy is Humility. It’s no longer about you. You put your
team first. Put them in front of yourself. You ask a lot of questions of your team. You
listen. You make every effort to understand and see the world through their eyes. You
take interest in their personal and professional development. You make sure that they
have the right tools, training, and guidance to accomplish the goal. It’s hard and it takes a
lot of work initially. But if you can humble yourself and put the spotlight on your team,
sooner than you could imagine they will begin to crush it and as a leader all you will have
to do is make minor rudder corrections. I believe Jim Collins has the concept correct in
Good to Great when speaking about Level 5 leaders…….. “They look out the window to
apportion credit…..and in the mirror to apportion responsibility.”
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Success
Leaders eat last, Officers eat last, be a servant leader. All of these phrases point to one
thing; Put your teams first and set them up for success. Believe me the rest will follow.
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Patrick Houlahan, MSS, CSM 5y
Founder / CEO, Keynote Speaker at Strategic Leadership Consultants LLC. Building Inspired, Compassionate, Mission-Dri…
Thanks Shaun. Let me know when you're ready for me to get back in front of the Fresenius team.
Developing Leaders at all levels is something every organization can benefit from.
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Shaun Hamblin 5y
Healthcare Executive Serving The Renal Community
Great piece, Lips....hope you are well.
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