Today, for episode #1 I got the chance to speak to Command CMSgt Ronnie Woods, the 23rd Wolf Chief of Kunsan Air Base. For those of you who are not veterans of the Air Force, the Command Chief is typically the most senior enlisted position of his or her base. CMSgt Woods talks about his routine and the daily life and expectations of a Chief in his position.
We talk about Chief’s ideas on leadership. The discussion leads us to the late 90s and the second supervisor of his career at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. Chief Woods credits SrA Anthony Brown for saving his career and inspiring him to not be strictly business at work. To lead from the human element. The story of SrA Brown is an example that leadership does not only come from the most experienced, or oldest, or highest-ranking individuals of an organization. Leadership characteristics and life altering inspiration can come from all tiers within an organization. This includes the youngest and the lowest ranking.
Wolf Chief and I talk about the book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith. A book he claimed to be one of his favorites and suggested that I read. I found the book interesting as it examined leadership through a different lens.
The traditional way that people learn and improve their leadership capabilities is through emulating people they admire, reading, and being attentive to their behaviors. Most books suggest concepts such as improving self-awareness or showing compassion and empathy for people. This book takes a different approach to being a better leader. This book identifies some of the most natural human characteristics you and I do on a daily basis that pushes people away from us. This book doesn’t suggest more leadership ideas to apply in your daily life. This book identifies the things we must stop doing to be a better leader and person at work or at home.
Our discussion lasts just over an hour and a half. I feel honored that the Command Chief accepted my invitation to be the first guest on my show. I am extremely grateful that Chief Woods found the time to have this discussion with me and was willing to share his life experience with me and all who are willing to listen. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him talk and I’m hopeful I am not the only one who gained something from these 90 minutes.