April 19, 2026 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)
Leaders set the emotional climate.
How does your temperament impact team dynamics?
When I took command of the USS Nimitz, I loved the call sign that came with the job.
Old Salt.
Every evening I would come over the shipwide intercom and begin the same way:
“Good evening, Nimitz warriors! This is Old Salt.”
Five thousand sailors lived and worked aboard that aircraft carrier. Two nuclear reactors.
Seventy aircraft. A floating city with a runway on top.
The energy on a carrier never stops.
I took command in March 2007, two weeks before deployment. For three years the ship became my life. I would get calls at all hours—sometimes several times a night—because there is always something happening on a carrier.
There’s an old joke that carrier command is limited to three years because that’s about as long as a human can go without sleep.
It wasn’t far from the truth.
But I loved it.
Every day I woke up grateful to serve alongside the men and women aboard that ship. I never viewed command as power or status. I saw it as responsibility—to the 5,000 sailors who depended on my leadership.
That responsibility showed up every night in those announcements.
I imagined a sailor deep below decks—tired, homesick, lonely…even wondering why they joined the Navy. That sailor was the one I wanted to reach.
So each evening the Bos’n would pipe the Captain’s announcement. The boatswain’s mates competed to deliver the longest whistle possible. It made me laugh—even if it drove the crew crazy.
Then I’d grab the microphone.
“Thanks, Boats! Good evening, Nimitz warriors. This is Old Salt.”
I would tell them what we accomplished that day. I would talk about the weather, the operations ahead, and the sailors who had performed exceptionally well. I called them out by name and told the crew how proud I was of their work.
My tone was intentional.
I was upbeat. Energetic. Positive.
My goal was simple: if a tired sailor heard my voice and thought, “If that guy is that excited,
maybe there’s something for me to be excited about too,” then I had done my job.
Temperament spreads.
Your tone becomes the team’s tone.
One evening I learned just how closely the crew was listening.
We had just completed three exhausting days of operations—flight operations in the South China Sea, followed by a full transit through the Strait of Malacca, and then preparing for another round of flight operations in the Bay of Bengal.
I was really tired. Almost spent.
That night, when I made the announcement, my voice reflected it. My usual energy wasn’t there.
Later, as I was heading down a ladder toward the mess decks, one of my sailors stopped me. Physically put her hand against my chest.
“Captain, are you okay?”
I was surprised.
“Sure,” I said. “Why?”
“Well… you sounded down on the announcement.”
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that leaders are always broadcasting something—whether they intend to or not.
Your temperament is never neutral.
Your attitude spreads through the team faster than any memo or directive.
When leaders maintain a constructive temperament:
• Teams feel more motivated and energized.
• Conflicts are handled with composure.
• People feel safe to communicate openly.
• Confidence grows during difficult moments.
• The culture becomes more resilient and positive.
A leader’s disposition sets the emotional climate of the organization.
Here’s the bottom line:
Your temperament is a leadership tool.
It influences morale.
It shapes culture.
It determines how your team responds to challenges.
And here’s the good news:
Temperament isn’t just something you’re born with.
It’s something you choose.
Leaders who consciously choose optimism, resilience, and gratitude create environments where
their teams can thrive.
The team’s temperature reflects your tone.
So set your “thermostat” wisely. Every single day.
Want more powerful leadership lessons from Mike?
- Begin leading from the heart: Order Learn How to Lead to Win | The Manazir Maxims | Leadership Study Guide for Manazir Maxims
- Book Mike to Speak or for 1:1 Executive Coaching
P.S. Know someone trying to build up their people and lead with heart? Forward this to them. It might be the encouragement they need to keep going.
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Let’s lead to win together,
Mike Manazir
Retired Navy Rear Admiral | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | Executive Coach