The challenge of leadership

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Maj.) Olga Westfall
  • 94th Airlift Wing Chaplains Office
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  In 2003, while serving as an Army chaplain at Fort Lee, Va., I provided an invocation at an Officer Basic Course Graduation Ceremony.

Many of the new lieutenants were issued orders to join up with units already deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous parts of the world.

These new officers were about to embark on a new challenge; leadership.
The battalion commander was the guest speaker for the event. He shared an inspirational message about leadership which he concluded with a quote from Collin Powell.

It stated, "Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership."
Being a young officer myself, I often reminded myself of that quote when I had to deal with various situations and circumstances.

As a Chaplain, I set a goal to always do my best, whether helping a Private, Airman 1st Class, or anyone who came through the doors of my office.

Although it is in my job description to provide confidential and empathetic listening to members who require it, Powell did not intend for this quote to only apply to Chaplains, but to all leaders.

We all are called to lead, whether at the workplace or within our families and communities. Life is full of challenges and difficulties.

Do people we are surrounded with, especially the ones that are under our care, bring their concerns to us or have they lost their confidence I us and have concluded that we do not care?

Being a leader requires dedication and caring. The reality is that we all are called lead one time or another. I believe one day we will give an account to the ultimate leader, who led by example, for how we utilized our authority and ability to help to those entrusted under us.

"For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more," the scripture says in Luke 12:48b.

Leadership also is very rewarding. There is an inner satisfaction when you help someone in need. We all are given opportunities to touch someone's life. Let's not miss out on those opportunities!