Formula for success: simple, brief, relevant

  • Published
  • By Maj. Stephanie Halcrow
  • 436th AMXS commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Last week, the wing hosted two terrific events: the Airman Leadership School Graduation and the Annual Awards Banquet. At both events, we honored the best and brightest of Team Dover and heard outstanding guest speakers. Chief Master Sgt. Richard Gates and the amazing Dan Clark were a terrific doubleheader - a friend reflected that he couldn't remember the last time he heard a better line up.

All this talk on leadership starting me thinking. Specifically, what would I say to a newly graduated class of supervisors from Airman Leadership School? What advice would I give them for the first day on the job? What would I tell them the Air Force expected of them? It would need to be simple, it would need to be brief and it would need to be relevant - be involved, be yourself and be the best.

Be involved. Be involved with your subordinate. First line supervisors are usually an individual's trainer, so being involved with a subordinate's work is easy. But how do you get involved with them on a more personal level? Try chatting over a cup of coffee. Surprisingly, this simple gesture works in any culture. The beverage of choice may differ, but sincere communication doesn't.

Be involved with your subordinate's goals and help them achieve these goals. How do you do that? Just ask. You'll be surprised at how easy and how rewarding it is to help someone else achieve their goals. However, one word of caution: being involved does have its limits. The following thought has served me well: You can have a drink with your subordinate, but you can't go drinking with them. You can have a dance with your subordinate, but you can't go dancing with them. You can attend a party with your subordinate, but you can't go partying with them. So know where to draw the line, but be involved.

Be yourself. Whether you are an extrovert, an introvert, a thinker or a feeler - be yourself. We hired you for you. Identify your strengths and then build on them. If you are a PT stud muffin - then lead from the front at PT. If you are an organizing fool - then get that self-inspection book in order for the Unit Compliance Inspection. The next step is to minimize your weaknesses by confronting them head on. If you aren't a good public speaker, then you should volunteer for every opportunity to do just that. You'll minimize your weaknesses in no time at all.

Another thought on why it is important for you to be yourself. The Air Force needs a little variety and if everyone conformed to one supervisory mold - it would be a very boring place.

Be the best. Be the best at whatever you do and start with being the best supervisor. Set goals, but more importantly write down your goals and post them where you can see them. In order to be the best, you'll need to invest in yourself. This means continuing your education, staying in shape, sustaining your emotional support network and creating a sense of purpose. It also means you'll need to challenge yourself and those around you. Birds of a feather flock together and it's easier to motivate others to be the best if you are after the same end. Finally, when you think you've become the best - try harder.

Be involved, be yourself and be the best. Simple, brief, relevant.