The value of effective leadership

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
As members of today's military we have all learned the value of effective leadership. In our business, with people constantly deploying, going TDY or moving, it's imperative that we always ensure someone is ready to step up and lead. This reminds me of a powerful story. 

In the 1800s, buffalo hunters roamed across the West in search of the large buffalo herds to harvest for their meat and hides. The successful hunters quickly learned a unique aspect of the herds: each herd had one lead buffalo that all of the rest would follow. If that lead buffalo ran, the entire herd ran; if that lead buffalo stood still, the rest all stood still. So instead of rushing in on a herd and trying to shoot as many buffalo as they could, the hunters studied the herd for a day or so to figure out which buffalo was the leader. Once they figured this out, they would shoot that buffalo first. Once the leader was down, the rest of the herd would stand in place, not knowing what to do, and be slaughtered by the hunters. 

A strong parallel holds true in workplace organizations as well. If the organization leader has not taught the second and third in the chain of command of how to step up and lead the organization in the absence of the leader, then the same phenomenon that happened to the buffalo happens to your organization ... all forward progress is frozen as NO one knows what to do, and the mission is negatively impacted. 

Fortunately for Team Travis, we groom many layers of leadership to be ready to step up when needed to do so -- the mission of this base must always go on! Throughout of June, I will be attending a National Security Studies course at George Washington University and Col. Jim Baron, our 60th Operations Group commander, and later our new vice wing commander, Col. Giovanni Tuck, will be step up and provide the strong leadership our busy mission demands. Leadership preparation is essential in our business. 

A good example of this responsive leadership was shown at this week's Air Force Week in Sacramento. Colonel Baron, our partner unit leaders and our Airmen volunteers did a wonderful job putting Team Travis and the Air Force in the best light possible! Lt. Gen. Art Lichte, Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, was very impressed by everyone here during his visit Monday. Thank you to everyone who participated. 

Many of you are experiencing similar leadership changeover in your units. During the summer, we will see a large number of people deploy in addition to the many people affected by the summer PCS season. I guarantee we will all come across new commanders and supervisors at some point this summer. We have 11 change-of- command ceremonies in the next 20 days! Outgoing commanders must ensure that leaders and processes are in place to provide continuity through the top leadership changes. Units must also learn to be flexible as fresh ideas are presented as we continue as a team down the road to success. 

Be prepared to step up when it's your turn! Whether you're a captain or an airman first class, you will be called upon to step up and lead, so get ready now. Leaders and supervisors, regardless of whether you're an officer, enlisted or civilian, you need to have your folks comfortable with the span of responsibilities required to lead and have them ready to step up! Our organizations must continue our important mission in the leader's absence; we can't afford to be like the buffalos ... 

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!