I define it as putting on the rank, because I never truly became a Chief until I learned the value of leadership after many months of struggling and trying to perform as I always had. It took a lot of soul searching to realize that just because I wear the anchor of a Chief does not always garner the respect I thought I deserved. It took a lot of faith in God and trust that He put me in this position for a reason. That reason, was to change the life of any and all sailors that came under my tutelage. God has shone me, through my faith in Jesus Christ, that He was a true leader and that if I follow the servant leader example that Christ set, people will want to follow me solely based on the fact that I care for them. My family was the first real experience at leadership, and i didn’t even know that I was leading. I married a woman that for the most part never lived on her own, she taught me that just because I was the man of the house I was not always right. She also taught me that being a leader has to be a do as I do and not as I say mentality. My family is one of the most important things in my life, next to my faith in God. I do not always treat either of them in the manner that I want to, but they always love me even through my failures. That lesson has softened my heart to the failures of my people as well. To see the mercy my family and God …show more content…
In keeping with the theme of relinquishing control, I need to take a objective look when it comes to operational, or departmental planning. My mentor, Bruce, once told me "that if our people make up the plan, then the buy in is done. They will not want to let their plan fail.” The concept makes perfect sense, so long as I can let go of the necessity to control every situation. My job then goes from being a manager to actually leading a department. Leadership is entrusting the people to perform the duties that they are responsible for. Bill Bradley says “leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” I cannot understate the advantages we have as leaders today, with the amount of information at our finger tips. Letting go of the reigns and allowing the control, planning and execution at the correct level. I can then transform into someone who is just making sure the job gets done, to the leader that ensured the job will continue to be done long after i am