The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
During my career in the Navy, “Retired On Active Duty” was a derogatory label for someone whose ambition was to do the least amount of real work possible. While applicable to junior personnel, it primarily was a pejorative for those holding some seniority in rank, but were unmotivated, in terms of their duties or responsibilities. Generally, lacking in ethics or integrity to perform their jobs well, these “ROAD scholars” would perform the bare minimum, so to avoid scrutiny from their superiors. In my experience, I have known a couple that kept that charade for years – impeding others trying to earn promotion. Promotion was based not only on one’s job performance but also if there were sufficient slots in a particular career field open. Fo those ROAD warriors in senior positions, their refusal to retire or promote would cause some very worthy professionals to stagnate – be career-limited and mandatorily retired.
Have you encountered someone who is filling a position, that they no longer – if they ever did – are performing the duties and responsibilities of that position? If we are talking politics, that critique probably fits most of the representatives and senators (State and Congressional) who have been in office more than 12 to 16 years. But have you encountered, in civil service or in education, a person whose seniority seems to get them a pass when it comes to performing the job?
Truths, Half-truths, and Sea Stories 