CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, every day I witness the marvelous accomplishments of our Airmen. The success of many of these accomplishments is a direct result of the leadership in our organizations.
It appears many of our leaders appreciate the value of cultivating the ability of their subordinates. They work hard at growing and equipping the subordinate leaders who perform the mission. One of the ways they cultivate subordinates is through empowerment. There are times when trust, carefully placed in a capable Airman, is all it takes to overcome the obstacles to mission success. As leaders, it's good when we can delegate a task, provide the required support and empower our Airmen to get it done. Done right, empowerment is an aspect of leadership that breeds success.
Some inexperienced leaders may view empowerment as relinquishing a portion of their power, hindering their ability to complete a task or a project. Still, others may view it as the ultimate hands-off approach to leadership. Those who agree with either of these two extreme views of empowerment are missing the true meaning of empowerment. Rather than limiting a leader, empowerment expands a leader's ability to accomplish their mission. When capable Airmen are trusted to make reasonable decisions, more work gets done.
One who thinks empowerment is the easy answer to leadership must remember that one can never delegate their own responsibility as a leader -- ultimately, the weight rests on the leader's shoulders. That said, it takes a confident leader to empower a subordinate without micromanaging. However, empowerment must be tempered with the wisdom to empower the right people and the good sense to monitor their progress.
Special thanks to the Charleston AFB Top Three Association for a successful Oktoberfest. This annual event is just one way the Senior NCOs on the base say thanks to the First Six (technical sergeants and below) for giving their all in support of the wing's mission. Empowered Senior NCOs like Master Sgt. John Lewis, from the 437th Communications Squadron, make events like this happen. His leaders should be proud.
Last week I spent a few hours working alongside the First Six organization during one of their community service projects at the Lowcountry Food Bank. The Lowcountry Food Bank provides much needed food to 10 coastal counties in South Carolina. Both the First Six and the Top Three volunteer their time to help this food bank pack boxes of groceries. In less than five hours, the First Six packed a record 1,170 boxes of groceries, weighing 30 pounds each. Normally, it takes two days or more to pack that much food. Through the determination of this group of 16 volunteers, led by their president and my assistant, Tech. Sgt. Nina Murphy, there are now 35,100 pounds of food available for those in need. They were enthusiastically invited back by the staff and openly celebrated this enormous victory. That is another example of empowerment at its best.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!