Our strongest Navy Commanding Officers develop and cultivate a distinct voice of servant leadership. They strive to bring about top performance within their commands to realize the power of strategic, command-wide alignment. These men and women crystallize their organization’s vision for their Sailors. They effectively forge a coordinated effort and make the daily routine within their commands seem effortless. These amazing leaders seek new ways to express the "WHY" behind their mission, vision and values.
The effective CO's message provides a framework for thought and a conduit for action throughout their commands. They use every means possible to communicate with as many Sailors in the organization as possible in as many different ways as possible. Their message permeate their commands. They get the right things done, the right way at the right time.
CAPT Lambert,
ReplyDeleteThis article aligns perfectly with the current leadership discussions in IWBC. We have been using the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey) as the framework for leadership, personal, and professional development workshops throughout the course for a few months now. Consistently the most valuable discussions involve the development of, commitment to, and communication of a mission statement. We emphasize the importance of identifying a personal mission statement early and making it the foundation for a professional mission statement. Proper alignment between our personal and professional lives is critical to enduring success, and that theme is echoed in every discussion (VTC) we have with Leaders.
Leadership is by definition the ability to influence others; in the Navy our influence must extend far beyond our horizon, as we operate forward. A clearly articulated mission and vision will inspire action beyond our reach and drive a team to succeed beyond expectation. Conversely, a poorly communicated or nonexistent mission will produce failure. People will produce amazing results if they are given the resources and freedom to answer the “HOW,” provided they understand the “WHY.”
Thank you for your article!