In the following seven paragraphs I will answer a series of questions in order to describe my leadership manifesto; they consist of opinions from my subordinate’s supervisors and myself.
1. First, how would my subordinates describe me as a leader? This is a tough question for me to provide an unbiased answer for, so I decided to reach out to them for assistance. The following is a synopsis of what they had to say. My current subordinates said that as a leader, I have been an excellent source for information and guidance, as new NCO’s they have many questions on how to approach certain situations and not only have I provided an answer but led them in a way where they can make their own decisions. This empowers them as a leader and in turn they feel more comfortable making decisions.
2. The second question I was asked to answer is how would my supervisor describe my followership? Much like the question above, I had to defer to my supervisors. The overall opinion was that I am the kind of person to always be counted on to complete any assigned task no matter what is already on my plate. I have the ability to prioritize and execute utilizing my own skills and tap into and maximize the talents of my team members to ensure the job is completed by the most effective means.
3. The third question I was asked to answer is what leadership style do I use, and do I consider it to be effective? To answer this question in my own words I would say that I am an inspirational leader. I take all assignments and look at it as what part does this play in the big picture and I use my charisma to motivate my team to not only complete the assigned task but to understand how our work impacts the mission. I feel this is effective because it provides my team with a sense of belonging and gives them the motivation needed to push past the difficult tasks and feel accomplished whether working as a team or as individuals.
4. The fourth question is how would I describe myself as a NCO? Well for starters I am very laid back and easy to talk to. I have been known to put people immediately at ease which allows them to feel comfortable and open up to me. I have a wealth of real world experiences to fall back on and I keep myself educated on programs and methods to assist my team to face any challenge in both professional and personal life. I feel that this gives me the credibility I need to be effective when guiding and mentoring my fellow airmen.
5. The fifth question is how would my supervisor describe me as an NCO? Like question two I summarized a response received from my supervisors. I have the compassionate ability to lead peers/subordinates without individuals feeling like they're forced due to rank, people are willing to listen and follow directions. I have the natural ability guide members who are self-motivated and hard charging down the right path to meet their personal and professional goals and reel in the lost troops and focus them on what they need to be successful and ultimately gather the team to harmony and complete the mission.
6. The sixth question is what are my strengths? I feel one of my top strengths is the ability to understand people’s differences and adapt my leadership style to those individuals that need more attention and direction than others. Another one is I am a good active listener, but I can also easily discern when it is time to be a sounding board to just let people vent and get there frustration out.
7. The final question to wrap up this leadership manifesto is what is my essence? I feel this was the hardest question to answer as I didn’t entirely understand what makes up an individual’s essence. I had to do a little research to assist me in defining this attribute for myself. I would say that I am naturally engaging, articulate, entertaining and the overall role I like to take is to cheerfully point out who we all are and what we have in common to help us enjoy our shared journey.