CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
My supervisor stinks. Everybody is out to get me. I did not get the appraisal I deserved. Have you ever heard these things?
In the Equal Opportunity world, we hear them all the time. Not because they are EO issues, but because we are a venue for people to come in and vent their concerns and frustrations. When individuals approach us with these issues, we will try to assist them in finding resolution. However, this does not relieve the individual of all responsibility.
One of the common trends we have seen in the EO office is unprofessionalism in work centers. When we have our initial intake with our complainants, we ask questions. Lately, we have found an extremely relaxed work center is at the foundation of the complaint. We understand it is great to have camaraderie and fun in work centers but sometimes, things can get too far.
Take into consideration the following example. Two Airmen are great friends. Their families are close and they do everything together. One has now been promoted to staff sergeant. Both Airmen are now in the work center and one continues to call the other by his first name and refuses to comply with anything the NCO tells him to do.
Whose responsibility is it to correct the behavior? As we continue with our example, let's move onto conversations within the same work center.
Everything is great and wonderful, everyone gets along and this work center is the best of the best. However, today, the staff sergeant is having a terrible morning. He woke up late, got into an argument this morning with his spouse, and has been held up in the traffic on Dorchester Road. Things are not looking good as he proceeds into the work center. Unit members, to include the three civilians assigned, are sitting around this morning talking about the reality show on television last night. Now, the conversation has turned to who is sleeping with whom on the show. As the discussion progresses further, the conversation takes a different turn. It now turns into a sexual conversation about who wants to sleep with whom.
The staff sergeant, who normally participates in the conversation, has walked in on the conversation. He has told the unit members to stop the conversation and get to work. The unit members start to joke around with him in the same manner they have every other day. What should the NCO do?
Anytime there is a lack of discipline or professionalism, it is crucial that NCOs make sure the problem is handled accordingly. The Professional Development Guide tells us the senior member in the relationship bears the primary responsibility for maintaining the professionalism of the relationship. It also states all members are responsible for respecting authority and maintaining professional relationships.
So, the bottom line is while the NCO in this scenario bears the burden of being responsible for discipline and professionalism of the work center, everyone has a part to play in maintaining good order and discipline within their unit.
Your career can potentially be impacted by ignoring unprofessionalism. You are responsible for your actions. So, when your supervisor holds you accountable, your supervisor does not stink. Everyone is not out to get you and they are not marking your appraisal down for no reason.
The best way to avoid all of these things is to be professional at work. Ask yourself, am I doing my part? No one will take better care of yourself than you. At the end of the day, whether you are military or civilian, you are the person holding the primary responsibility for your career.