The Strengths Of Leadership

Leadership is a team sport. Every person has value and a role. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Embrace those traits and work together to fill in the gaps. To be a good leader, you must be a good follower. Everyone has a boss, but we are all leaders. When that concept is in motion, we become unstoppable. The military may be the profession of arms, but it is the business of people. People are our number one asset. Without people, there is no mission. Without a mission, there is no military. Without the military, there is no freedom.

There have been many influential leaders in my career. Some were senior to me. Some were even junior. Both enlisted Sailors and officers have provided sound examples of what it means to be a leader. ABE1 Tom Wilson-though he never was a Chief Petty Officer, he conducted himself in such a manner that I still think of his example this very day. He empowered his Sailors to achieve greatness. Though he may have never been a Chief, he made many. ATCS Tim McKinley-would later become CMDCM McKinley, has a way of reaching every person through the gift of communication. He shares his leadership experiences and stories

I have always been a big picture thinker, but not big future projector. Before becoming a Command Senior Chief, as a Navy Counselor, I had to think big. By thinking big, you realize that there is always more to the story. When a Sailor comes to you with an issue, there are typically many layers to the onion. When you peel them back, you discover more and more. Career counseling is very similar. Each step is progressive and requires thought on the impact of the next. I am good, no great at this. I need to apply that to future planning. Future planning takes effort. It requires reflection on the past, being engaged and aware of the present and educated to apply ideas to trends toward the