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#Leadership - deeds, not words, make it happen

  • Published
  • By By Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Gretlein
  • 314th Maintenance Group
Leadership is necessary. Leadership is crucial. Leadership is vital.

Leadership is -insert your favorite adjective here. Leadership, the word, is just worn out. In the Air Force, we hear this word so often it seems to have lost its value - it's watered down.

We have overused it so much it has become more of a tagline, or a label, or a cliché rather than the foundation of our daily approach to guiding our people. It appears in our Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Professional Development Guide, a staggering 301 times - it even has its own chapter.

However, just because the word is overused and worn out doesn't mean the concept has to be. Our subordinates need solid, genuine guidance now more than ever. We need to put the meaning back into a tired and overused word, but more importantly, we need to invigorate our focus on such a critical component of our continued success as the world's greatest air and space power.

"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." -- Gen. Colin Powell

The first step to take is to embrace your job. Whatever your role is at this moment in time, embrace it as if the entire future of our Air Force depends on how well you complete that task. In some cases it does - even if it may not seem like it at the time. Effort is contagious, but so is the lack of it. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is the slogan of complacency. It's a mindset that hopes that today's processes will be good enough for tomorrow, but it's pure fantasy.

Good enough is not good enough. You can't expect those that work for you to put forth their best efforts if you're not willing to do the same. Of course we all have bad days, but are they really that bad? In most cases, only if you choose to let them be. That's right, you have a choice to view every day, every hour, every meeting, every tasker and every challenge as either an opportunity to succeed, or as just another job that stands in the way of your off-duty time. You'll be amazed at how quickly those around you will be inspired by your actions.

"Leadership is a gift. It's given by those who follow." -- Gen. Mark Welsh

Once you've caught their attention, get to know your people. Learn their story; they all have one. Some are more willing to share than others, but everyone has issues that are weighing on their minds beyond what you can see on the surface. It's not easy for many of us to put away our pride and admit we need help. But if you know your people well enough to recognize the subtle changes, you'll be prepared to spot the signs of trouble before it's too late and be ready when problems appear. Not only that, but you'll also be postured to fan the flames of growth within them when the time comes.

Our most precious resource in the Air Force is our Airmen, and we owe it to every single one of them to identify what makes them tick. We must seize every opportunity to create an environment where the best, brightest and most creative have the opportunities to hone their skills and continue to shine. And when they show unsatisfactory efforts, we also have a responsibility to correct them immediately and get them back on the path to success.

Today's Air Force is smaller than it's ever been. We need each and every individual at their best every day, and we need solid leadership to guide them to success by not only striving for perfection, but also by demanding excellence! Remember, if your goal is perfection, you might not achieve it every time, but the near misses will be far better than mediocrity.

Expect the same from your Airmen. Develop your vision for the next year, the next quarter, the next month and next week, keeping that target of perfection and drive for excellence in mind. Express that vision to your team and set the standards high.
Even if you don't meet every single goal you had envisioned, you and your team have most likely improved over time and have set in motion the mindset of continuous improvement. It's a powerful tool.

Great leaders are what make our Air Force and the rest of the American Armed Forces the greatest the world has ever known. There are no civilian corporations that depend on unwavering influence used to guide people as much as the United States Armed Forces do. Politics will change, society will change, technology will change, the enemy will change, but our constant focus on leading the Airmen of the future cannot diminish.

We shouldn't - we can't - let our leadership get watered down, overused or worn out. The future of our Air Force and this great nation depends on it.