The Power of Suggestion

This is not a new anecdote—many people have had similar experiences, but I was once witness to a newly appointed U.S. Air Force Major General’s first visit to one of his Airlift Divisions as Commander of a Numbered Air Force. As routinely expected, the unit prepared for the general’s visit by sprucing up the base and painting many of the facilities. When the general arrived for his visit and was touring the facilities, he merely mentioned in passing the seemingly pervasive color scheme in most of the buildings (“Oh, you painted the walls in most of the facilities light green.”). As soon as the general departed, there was a mad scramble from the top brass down to determine what the general’s favorite colors were and a plan to change the new and existing color scheme if light green was not among the general’s favorite colors. Fortunate for we enlisted airmen, light green WAS a favorite color of the general’s. The power of suggestion (especially in a chain of command) is a real, elusive and powerful arrow in the quiver of the chief that can be used at will. Be forever vigilant!