C-H-I-E-F steps to success

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Skip Haag
  • 354th Communications Squadron
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) --  Just because you don't have eight stripes on each sleeve doesn't mean you can't exemplify the qualities of a chief. Many leaders have helped my military career thrive by influencing me to be a better troop, sharing in my accomplishments and by helping me bounce back from failure. These leaders all shared five key qualities:

Candidness -- There's no harm or no foul to tell it like it is. Tell your boss what he or she needs to hear, not what he or she wants to hear. Being candid doesn't necessarily mean yelling. Don't waste time being subtle, reserved or by beating around the bush. Make your point. Encourage your troops to do the same by letting them use you as a sounding board, so they can get things off their minds. We can be candid while still maintaining respect for each other's rank and position. To get business done we need to get down to the "real deal." Candidness means less time on words and more time on deeds.

Humility -- Don't forget where you came from or your struggles while climbing the ladder of success. Remember what it's like to be the first-line troop or supervisor packing the gun on post, turning a wrench on the flightline or working in the 24-hour messaging center? Subtle gestures like visiting your people in their work area, instead of having them come to your office all the time, makes a difference. Don't ask someone to do something that you're not willing to do yourself. Humility is also dropping what you're working on when a troop knocks on your door to talk. Without it, your troops are less likely to bring their problems to you.

Instinct -- Use it. If you have a strong impulse about something, but didn't act, you didn?t listen to your gut. Do you know when to seek forgiveness rather than ask permission? If you're doing something important without any definitive rules or regulations it's better to go with your gut instinct instead of asking permission only to get burdened with "red tape." It is not a case of being deceptive or sly, but the desire to take advantage of an opportunity. If your instinct is saying you're being prudent, not reckless, just do it. As Gen. Colin Powell once said, "You don't know what you can get away with until you try."

Endurance -- Obstacles and challenges will increase in number and complexity during your career, but don't get overwhelmed with frustration. You must maintain your strength to handle "irons in the fire." There will be times in your career in which the day-to-day running of the mission may seem second priority. There's always some special project or a need for a project point of contact. You need to work hard to keep distractions from making you fail at your day-to-day contact with your troops. The greatest measure of success is how you use your energy, or endurance, to establish a pattern of excellence.

Fortitude -- Don't take the easy way out even when given the chance. It's the ability to make a tough and unpopular call without fear of ticking somebody off. It's the courage to admit you made a mistake. It's also realizing when to salute smartly. Fortitude is having the mental toughness to overcome pain or adversity. I've been fortunate to have some great role models from which to learn, not only superiors, but subordinates as well.

Not everybody will reach the rank of chief master sergeant, but there's no doubt in my mind that following the steps of C-H-I-E-F will make you a successful leader and foster much success in your career.