JFHQ NCO Leadership Conference
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuvWSSEn32k” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1500404926730{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1500404935606{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
Video by Pfc. Aimee Fujikawa, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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Article by Pfc. Breeanna DuBuke, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1500404961046{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]Leadership influences whether or not a team pulls together, unit performance, and ultimately, mission success. Therefore, as times change and society evolves, it is imperative that leadership evolves with it.
When 1st Sgt. Perlisa D. Wilson, Joint Forces Headquarters first sergeant, was first appointed to her position, she said she noticed a lack of motivation in some of the leaders throughout her unit. Wilson said she felt her leaders needed inspiration to heighten their motivational levels for them to motivate and inspire junior noncommissioned officers.
Wilson discussed the idea of holding a conference for unit leadership to revamp leaders’ motivation with Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin J. Wright Jr., Maryland Army National Guard command sergeant major, during the historic snow storm in February.
“I think too often a lot of our command teams do the same thing the same way and expect different results,” said Wright. “Sometimes, you have to step up, step back and do the professional development, so that your leaders understand what right looks like.”
With Wright’s help Wilson was able to organize the first JFHQ NCO Professional Conference in hopes of improving the quality and efficiency of the leadership among the NCOs in the Maryland Army National Guard.
The conference took place at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, Md. June 10, 2010, and consisted of approximately 150 NCOs, there to learn how to improve leadership techniques and to motivate each other to make those improvements.
When choosing the main speaker at the conference, Wilson and Wright chose a familiar name – Jeff Magee, an inspirational speaker with 21 years of experience working with the National Guard.
“I read Magee’s biography and knew that he was the person to motivate our Soldiers,” said Wilson. Besides his work with the military Magee has also published a magazine, written more than 20 books, and advised several Fortune 100 firms on leadership effectiveness.
Magee’s lecture during the conference contained tips on how to optimize a team’s performance, how to delegate jobs based on individual assets, and how to take ownership of the performance of one’s team.
“An effective leader has to understand how to get people inspired and motivated. An effective leader has to be able to communicate and, in part, envision a mission and give reason to why we’re doing things,” Magee said.
Although Magee was never a Soldier, Wilson said he was able to communicate his outside perspective to the Soldiers in a way that allowed them to understand what needed to change and how to change it. Wilson said she hopes everyone will start fresh and have a new concept of leadership, taking responsibility and accountability for their actions. She hopes they know the task ahead of them, look at mission first, and take care of Soldiers.
“I believe that we should continue this conference in the future,” said Wilson. “As NCOs, we need to professionally develop our junior Soldiers and our leaders and keep them well-rounded.”
By continuing to hold conferences like the JFHQ NCO Professional Conference, leaders will be given the opportunity to gain the knowledge to effectively lead Soldiers and ultimately complete successful missions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]