JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
"Leaders should be collaborative, modest and generous."
- Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator and retired NBA player
Everyone has their own conception of what leadership should be. If all of these ideas were put on a drawing board, many of them would be the same or in the same realm. One of the reasons I chose Senator Bradley's quote is because it sums up what my idea of what leadership entails.
Leaders should be collaborative: Leaders should foster teamwork, enhance the confidence of those in their sphere of influence and ensure that everyone knows the mission, vision and strategy so everyone can work towards it. If you don't know where you're going, you'll never get there. It's a leader's responsibility to be transparent and provide the necessary tools and information to ensure a successful outcome.
Leaders should be modest: Leaders should be modest in the sense of not having to be in the forefront all the time for "atta-boys" and praise from superiors. Your peers and Airmen under you should make you shine without you having to try and grab the spotlight. If you are truly leading, your part in the grand scheme of things will be obvious by the orchestration of the team.
Leaders should be generous: Leaders should be generous in their praise of Airmen, peers and leaders when it's due. Leaders should be generous with their time for discussions, mentoring or listening with a concerned ear.
Leaders should also be generous with their knowledge and experience. The greatest legacy a leader can leave behind is one of sharing their knowledge and experience so Airmen can continue on successfully after their departure; process driven versus personality driven.
In your opinion, what should a leader be and are you striving to be that person?