Along with the choices we all make in life, the Air Force affords us many opportunities. Opportunities to further our education, opportunities to travel, opportunities to innovate and opportunities to lead to name a few. I’d like to focus on some of the leadership opportunities.
During my time in the Air Force, I have met and worked with many people from all walks of life and from varying Air Force specialties. What they all had/have in common is a strong desire to serve and lead. However, some displayed a lack of confidence in their ability to lead mostly because they had not been “afforded opportunities to lead.”
Some worked in a one-deep position, while others are often the lowest-ranking person in their section. Many people associate being in charge or a boss with being as being synonymous with being a leader; they are not always. Just as there are some people who are bosses but are not leaders in the true sense of the word, there are people who may not be in charge/the boss, yet are leaders. These are often referred to as “informal leaders.”
In our Air Force environment, informal leaders are those people within an organization who others seek out for guidance and advice. Airmen often listen to the leaders because of their experience and reputation among their contemporaries. They possess an ability to influence the choices and decisions of others despite the fact they hold no formal position of authority and have no authority or power over those who choose to follow their lead.
They are respected and followed because they are prepared – prepared to handle tasks; prepared to lend a hand; prepared to answer questions, prepared to deal with adversity.
So how does one prepare them to be leaders? There are several ways, such as professional military education, academia, reading books on one’s own, listening to podcasts, experience through trial and error, and many other ways.
Although all are great methods to prepare ourselves, we should not underestimate nor underutilize mentors. There is a Japanese proverb that says, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” If you do not have a mentor or mentors, I would encourage you to look for at least one. I have several mentors and I firmly that the diversity of my mentors has been critical to my development and successes.
Zig Ziglar was quoted as saying, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” My mentors prepared me for every challenge I faced throughout my career and I am forever grateful.
For the first time in our Air Force history, we will have an African America chief of staff of the Air Force as well as the first female chief master sergeant of the Air Force. I am convinced these tremendous leaders were selected for the highest positions they could possibly attain in our Air Force because they made the right choices, prepared intently, and when opportunity knocked … they answered the door.
But I will tell you, had they not been prepared, opportunity would not have knocked. So must we all be prepared all the time … or else we risk opportunity walking right past our house.
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