At Officer Training School, responsibility for the outcome could not be handed off with the work.
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After deployments and time as an instructor, I became a Course Director at the Royal Australian Air Force Officer Training School. In Agile terms, the role had much in common with a Product Owner.
The junior officers were the product. The Australian public was the customer. The Commanding Officer was a key stakeholder. Our purpose was to help produce roughly 200 competent junior officers each year as part of the wider responsibility to protect Australia’s sovereignty.
Accept responsibility
The Officer Training School motto is ‘Accept Responsibility’. Authority can be delegated; responsibility for the outcome cannot simply be passed away.
Developing an officer required constant collaboration across physical training instructors, medical staff, armoury specialists, flight sergeants, warrant officers, catering teams, instructors and civilian staff. The desired competencies ranged from fitness, drill and weapons handling to leadership and the agility to respond under pressure.
Daily and weekly conversations helped us track each student and adjust the course. When someone was injured, failed an assessment or needed more time, the answer could include recovery, extra training, study or re-examination. Pointing to a narrow contract or someone else’s role would not improve the result.
Be part of the solution. Collaborate on the outcome and accept responsibility for your part in it.