Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in U.S. Special Operations, often shares hard-earned leadership lessons. One particular story stayed with me. (Copy)

In Afghanistan, U.S. Civil Affairs teams were deployed not just to be present, but to add value—to dig a well, install a pump, or build a clinic. As Olson puts it, “Presence without value is perceived as occupation.”

He sent a team of four Civil Affairs soldiers to a remote village, asking the elders:

"What do you need most?"
The village leaders replied:
"A well—so our women won’t have to walk 12 km to the river and back every day."

The captain leading the mission thought:
“What an enlightened village—saving the women such a burdensome task.”

The well was dug. A ribbon was cut. The community celebrated.

Six months later, as part of routine follow-up, Olson sent another team to check on the project—this time, led by women.

When they asked how the well was working, all the men said:
"It’s great."

But the women said:
"Everything was fine until you built the well."

Confused, the team asked why.

The women explained:
“That walk was the best part of our day. We carried our children, talked, lingered by the river, and walked home at our own pace. Now, the men expect us to be home all the time.”

Although well-intentioned, the project failed to engage half the village. The experience prompted Admiral Olson to reflect deeply on Leadership principles.

1. Everyone deserves a voice, but not everyone gets to vote.
2. The broader the range of perspectives, the better the decision.
3. The more lenses you look at the problem, the better the decision
4. Diverse life experiences = stronger leadership teams.
5. No one is too senior to be wrong, and no one is too junior to have the best idea

and finally

Trust is the core ingredient of any high-performing team. You cannot surge trust; it takes time to build trust.

What do you think?

Take it easy until next time.

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