How to be a great caddy (and Air Force leader) Published March 22, 2010 By Lt Col BC Peterson 436th Aerial Port Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- With all the negativity surrounding golf lately, it is refreshing to find bright spots where examples of quiet leadership still shine. While recently reading a book by Rick Reilly, a quote by Bruce Edwards really jumped out. Bruce Edwards was a caddy for Tom Watson and Greg Norman before his untimely death in 2004 to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. One does not caddy for such big names without knowing a little about oneself, something about life, and a lot about the sport of golf. When Rick Reilly asked him for his advice on how to be an effective caddy, Edwards answered, "Remember the three 'ups': Show up, Keep up, and Shut up." In golf, these seem self-explanatory, but there is wisdom there if we care to look. I think these can be just as easily transferred to our profession as leaders. The first: Show up. Seems obvious, right? Show up to work. Show up to appointments. It is that, but more. Have you had that gut feeling on a Friday night when you are wondering, should I go in to work to check on the guys working that difficult mission? Or the thought that maybe you should be at that graduation with others in your squadron? That's called 'Showing up' and it makes a difference. To your peers, your subordinates and your supervisors, it adds up and it is important. The second: Keep up. Know what is happening around you at work. In fact, stay one step ahead of your peers and your supervisors. Make it a point of personal pride to know your job better than anybody else. Know what's happening on base and in the Air Force at large and how you make a difference. It gives you a bigger perspective and it multiplies the capabilities of the team. The third one is a little rough: Shut up. In golf, obviously there is a time to be completely silent. But as a leader, there are many times when silence is golden also. When a supervisor is teaching you something, when a peer is confiding a concern, or when a subordinate is sharing a way to make the job better. So many times we talk and miss opportunities to improve ourselves by listening. There is plenty of time to talk, leaders need to know when to listen. With all due respect to Mr. Edwards, I would add one more "up" that really makes a difference in our Air Force. That fourth would be: Step up. When a job needs to be done, be the first to volunteer. When tickets need to be purchased for an event, be the first to buy one. When it comes time to take the blame and give credit, step up. When your Air Force family needs support, step up. And when your supervisor and half your shop is deployed, step up. You make a difference.