Letting my fear of other people control me is something that I have known I struggle with for many years, but have never full-on faced, repented, and overcome. You will not last long in the Navy if you are crippled by fear of superiors and/or subordinates. Dogs can smell fear and they will exploit it.As an officer if you are crippled by fear it will mean that you will forfeit your credibility to lead. This will lead to dysfunctional duty at best and the loss of life at worst.
Having a Senior Chief in ODS who was impossible to please helped me a great deal in confronting my fear of man. I was reminded that if I properly fear the One who is always pleased with me, not because of my perfection but because of His which He has graciously imputed to me, I need not inappropriately fear any lesser authority, whatever their rank and regardless of their bark and/or bite.
And interestingly enough, the less afraid of Senior Chief I became, the more I felt I was earning his respect.
