‘OUT-OF-THE-BOX’ IS OBSOLETE – BREAK THE BOX FIRST

‘OUT-OF-THE-BOX’ IS OBSOLETE – BREAK THE BOX FIRST

Are we all not tired of the oft repeated and ‘sickening’ dialogue of the boss “Think out of the box”. My question is to the Boss, ‘Why the hell did you get in there in the first place?’

The boss ‘knows’ that everyone is inside the box. They work there with complete happiness with the boss as the ‘boss’. Its his domain. He rules the roost. He is the most capable and most intelligent of all. Why did he require to send someone out of the box? Reason is simple. Whenever the boss hits a dead end the only way out is to ridicule intelligence of subordinates. So its always, ‘why can you guys think out of the box’? A guy comes up with a silly suggestion but much better than the collective intelligence reached earlier and he is hailed as a hero.

Here is something I did. In my 25 years of service in Army, not once did I hear anyone do what I did. I have published this story five years back in every circle in Army but not even one person has claimed to do anything near to it. I NEVER got into the box. I was never ‘led’. I thought about new things 24 X 7.

This incident is about my three month independent responsibility to ‘train’ my 120 men for war. This was a yearly exercise and each year the pattern would change. This was 1999, Talbehat, near Jhansi. I took my men, equipment, ration and 100% camping ware withal about 60 km away from unit and camped on a Second World War abandoned airfield near Lalitpur, MP. Completely cut from unit. Just me and my me. 100% independence to train them in any way I like to make them totally fit for war.

 I was a Major and was heading 120 men, six guns (these are Artillery guns as big as 155mm Bofors), 35 odd vehicles. I had about 35 drivers with service ranging from one month (recruit) to 28 years (JCO), about 65 gunners who fired the Guns, 25 communication persons and minor trades. We in Artillery are very equipment heavy and hence for technical support we were dependent on EME personnel. EME is Electrical and Mechanical Engineers personnel who are located in headquarters and we just had one representative.

Driver training was most difficult. From recruits to 28 year experienced jawans, five different type of vehicles, driving, maintenance, repair etc took years to train. Most training was theory except driving. We were not permitted to open running vehicles.

That’s the time I decided to do something different.

I requested my CO and arranged two Class V (discarded) Shaktiman Truck and One Ton Nissan vehicle. These vehicle were awaiting backloading to be sold in scrap. They were not in running condition but had all the parts intact.

I got all drivers around Shaktiman and gave just one instruction “I am giving you two days, I want each nut bolt separate and laid out. No two parts will be seen joined”.

Imagine one month service to 28 years’ service, strict hierarchy & just one order. In my life I have never seen the type of frenzied activity where seniority took backseat, knowledge rule & everyone worked morning to evening keeping track of each part, sequence and interdependent actions.

They took four days & had Shaktiman ripped apart! For next 10 days we had practical and theory classes. Then came the day of reassembly!! What josh in men! They reassembled the truck in two days.

The team of 35 drivers was never seen so tightly woven. Seniority, knowledge, hard work, brains and brawns each were respected and they realized that each had his place. I had one more vehicle. The One Ton Nissan. I kept quiet the next day. Around 10 am the senior most JCO came to me and asked, ‘Sir, can we take the One Ton Nissan?”

I was at my happiest best.

Next week we repeated the same drill with these vehicles, this time in total darkness, during night.

Why is it that no one in this million strong army having Shaktiman and Nissan vehicles from 40 years had ever done this? Reason is simple. If you remain boxed in, you are in comfort zone.

My fascination of playing with minds to create an excellent team was never thought of by anyone and the soldiers enjoyed it. Ripping apart of Shaktiman Vehicle was a grand success. I carried out another interesting exercise regarding multi-tasking and multiple-skillset.

I had six massive Bofors type guns each operated by 13 men, one month to 22 years’ service. Each had a particular expertise. We were very vulnerable. In war anyone could die, and would it mean that I cannot fire accurately? I thought WHY not involve the drivers I had trained a few days back? Army would not support me, hence risk was mine. One accident and my career was sealed.

I took all 35 drivers into confidence and asked them if they were interested in operating/helping gunners? I saw their eyes sparkle.

I created ‘affiliation’ of five drivers with each gun. Made the Gun Detachment head in-charge of training. Everything fell in place, easiest jobs were given to Drivers while rest gunners were upgraded. IN FLAT ONE MONTH, I had 35 Drivers who could assist in firing massive guns in WAR!

My Commanding Officer was in state of shock but asked me to train other 12 such sets!

Today I apply each of my BREAK THE BOX ideas in corporate to build teams.

I just ask then, CAN WE DO IT… invariably the answer is…..

YES WE CAN…

So? How do you start?

BREAK THE BOX FIRST!

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