Luke NCO's learn leadership skills

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When a real leader speaks, everyone listens, and it may not be the highest ranking person in the room.

That is just one of the many leadership lessons a small group of NCOs learned during a two-day seminar recently held at Luke Air Force Base.

Staff Sgt. Christian Nichols, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron fitness program manager, said he attended the seminar to learn how to be a leader of rank and people.

"I have about 25 people in my fitness program ranging in rank from airman to master sergeant, who recently failed a physical fitness test," Sergeant Nichols said. "So, there are times I have to lead people who are higher ranking than me, which can be challenging."

There are 21 irrefutable laws of leadership and before learning these during the seminar, Sergeant Nichols said he always tried to lead by example.

"Basically my leadership style was, 'I'm one of you' and 'we can do this together,'" he said. "I'm not saying that it's a bad way to lead, but I want to go above and beyond that. I want to inspire everyone to continue improving their fitness, even after they are finished with my program."

Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson, 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron preventive health assessment technician, said she took the seminar to gain a broader spectrum on leadership.

"We are always so busy in our jobs and I work in such a small office," she said. "I wanted to take a few steps back and see how other NCOs at Luke lead. Throughout the seminar, I've been picking up leadership ideas from other members and thinking about how I can implement those ideas in my office."

Sergeant Johnson said she learned that there are many different levels of leadership and there is always room for improvement, regardless of who you are or what rank you hold.

"I rated myself a two on a scale from one to five, which is actually high," she said. "Level one is where most military leaders fall; it's when people follow you because they have to. I believe I'm one step above, which is when people follow you because they want to. The third level is when people follow you because of what you have done for the organization and the forth is when people follow you because of what you have done for them. The highest level is when people follow you out of respect for who you are and what you represent."

The next leadership seminar, "Indispensable Qualities of a Leader," is scheduled for Jan. 11 and 12 in the Chapel Annex. For more information, call Chief Master Sgt. Norman Peck at (623) 856-3276.