CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Charleston AFB hosted a consultant with the Dale Carnegie Training organization, for two sessions on "The 3 C's of Communication and Its Impact on Team Charleston." The training was held at the club on Tuesday for Team Charleston members and was split into a morning and afternoon session.
Jim Geffert has been associated with Dale Carnegie Training for more than 30 years. He bought the Dale Carnegie franchise for South Carolina and Augusta, Ga. in Jan. 1993. Since then, Mr. Geffert and his staff have worked with hundreds of organizations statewide to help improve business outcomes.
"I see the Dale Carnegie message as a private sector extension of our Air Force leadership goals," said Michael Peterson, civilian equal employment opportunity manager and project officer for the event. "These presentations motivate and inspire people from a variety of backgrounds to a higher level of performance."
The 3 C's of Communication presentation, delivered by Mr. Geffert, was built specifically for Charleston's military community with emphasis on problem solving, getting in touch with our inner selves and different aspects of behavior. The $6,000 worth of training was offered at no-cost to attendees and was sponsored by wing leadership.
"We are very fortunate to have Mr. Geffert present the 3 C's of Communication to Team Charleston," said Col. John Michel, 437th Airlift Wing vice commander. "The three-hour presentation he has tailored to our community not only stressed the importance of continuing education and professionalism, but demonstrated how effective communication can influence each and every organization and mission on base."
Almost 600 Airmen and civilians from the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings attended the presentations. Those involved in the program said the various exercises carried out in the seminar created an environment where participants could openly communicate.
"No matter how good our technology, we still need to build people skills," said Mr. Peterson. "It is an essential ingredient for professional and personal success."
Attendees said Mr. Geffert focused on a lot of different behavioral aspects such as fear, listening and interaction with people and can now use that information to apply to their own individual problem areas.
"There was a tricky 'listening' quiz at the beginning to demonstrate how to really listen," said 1st Lt. Kristen Franke, pilot from the 15th Airlift Squadron. "The quiz made a good point -- that it's hard to listen accurately and that we all do it differently."
Attendees said they look forward to more professional presentations like this offered on base because there are always skills and areas to improve upon in our lives.
"I think it is important for Airmen in all ranks to improve on communicating, problem solving and listening," said Master Sgt. Antonio Brock, flight chief of fleet service for the 437th Aerial Port Squadron, who attended the training. "These types of seminars bring an outside perspective to the way we do business."
The Dale Carnegie Training program is offered in all 50 of the United States and in more than 75 countries. The 2,700 instructors involved in the Dale Carnegie programs have trained more than 7 million people internationally.