January 2009 NRA News
by YNCS Ralph H. Hensley III, USN
The new year is upon us along with its unknown joys and challenges. I’m not sure about your past year, but 2008 flew right past me, with many events unfolding that affected my being. However, I have learned from these events and am excitedly awaiting what lies ahead as I chart a steady course to serve my God, country, family, and Shipmates.
Before I get into this month’s column, three items are worth noting. First, we collectively wish Godspeed and following seas to MCPON #11, Joe Campa, and welcome MCPON #12, Rick West, into his new role as our Mess leader and CNO’s senior enlisted leader. Second, while the USO continues to provide awesome service to our Shipmates here and abroad, I want specifically to thank Ann Morris at the USO NMPS Norfolk for her outstanding support, care, and feeding of our Shipmates deploying to and redeploying from the Long War and other contingency operations. Finally, I’ve put out a call to Shipmates and others to support the wounded heroes recovering at National Naval Medical Center Bethesda who need electric razors, water, Gatorade, break-away gym suits, and pt shorts. To learn how you can support these heroes, please e-mail at ralph.hensley@usnr.org.
As we continue the Long War by pursuing terrorists who seek to harm others who disagree with their views, I pray God will continue to bless our Shipmates deployed in harm’s way, keeping them safe to return to their loved ones awaiting their safe return. Now, let’s venture into this month’s column.
I ask the reader to start this month’s column by asking “What type of leader am I?” As leaders, we must continually fine tune our skills and abilities as well as engage in self-development by furthering our education. When we stop doing this, it’s time to go elsewhere . . . our time in the service is done.
In keeping with the spirit of continual self-development, I’ve been exploring leadership models to see if I’m heading in the right direction or should I remodel my leadership stance and practices. While I’ve been told throughout my career that I’m a natural leader, I don’t believe that anyone is born with true leadership abilities but it is a learned skill that one must continually hone in order to lead others.
After reviewing several leadership philosophies, I am assured that my leadership traits lean toward being a servant leader. What is a servant leader? A servant leader is a steward of the resources entrusted to him/her. The servant leader uses these resources while focusing on achieving results and ensuring adherence to the organization’s values and integrity. Servant leadership is nothing new. It has been used in military tactics for years. However, today these traits are being further developed by religious writers and popular leadership theorists such as Covey and Blanchard.
I’ve been reading Jesus on Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes and Deliver Us from Me-ville by David A. Zimmerman. These two books have further shaped my understanding of the servant leader’s role. One important lesson I’ve learned is that the most valuable source of learning to be a servant leader is the Bible, which provides Jesus’ role as a servant leader.
While I am a fallible human being, I am gaining the tools needed to be a servant leader not only to my fellow human beings but also to the Creator. I am also learning to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to me by the American taxpayer. As a Sailor, the Navy expects nothing less of each of us.
According to Wilkes, servant leadership has seven principles. While each principle can stand alone, together they make up the servant leadership model. These principles are right in line with many of the principles we learn through various leadership training courses and in CPO induction. They are (1) humble your heart; (2) first, be a follower; (3) find greatness in service; (4) take risks; (5) take up the towel; (6) share responsibility and authority; and, (7) build a team.
Next month, I’ll delve deeper into each of these principles and discuss how leadership is not something one usurps but is something others give to you. Until then, I remain your humble servant.