The Division Supervisor's Coffee

On Nathan's first watch as Radioman of the Watch, his division supervisor said he needed coffee and appeared to leave. When Nathan encountered the limits of his readiness and rushed out of the radio room, his supervisor was standing nearby. He had created a safe opportunity for responsibility and growth without allowing inexperience to become catastrophe.

During Nathan’s first watch as Radioman of the Watch aboard USS KEY WEST, he was newly responsible for operating the submarine’s radio room and had not yet experienced every problem that could arise independently.

Nathan needed to perform the watch with real responsibility while still lacking the experience to recognize all of his knowledge gaps. His supervisor needed to let him discover those limits without allowing inexperience to endanger the mission.

The division supervisor said he was going for coffee and appeared to leave, giving Nathan room to work through the watch on his own. When Nathan reached the limits of his readiness and rushed out for help, he found his supervisor waiting nearby and ready to intervene.

Good mentors do not remove responsibility or abandon people to failure. They remain close enough to protect the mission while giving developing professionals enough space to discover their limits, ask for help, and become more capable.