When I was a lieutenant in the Colombian Army I was in charge of a platoon of 45 soldiers. I remember one day that my battalion commander, Colonel Piza Gaviria, approached me and suggested that he was not very comfortable with my way of managing my platoon. He wanted me keep a greater distance with my soldiers because he believed that they might abuse my trust, and lose respect if I am too close to them. I told him that I learned that method of leading my team during my years at the military school, and that I never had problems with this system of command. Also, I explained him that during my 4 years at the Cadet Military School I had learned that it was important to show your subordinates that as a leader you are approachable and open to
