Daisy Grant
Staff Writer
Senior leaders spoke with members of a professional development program about leadership and advancement at a recent panel.
The panel made up of three members, spoke to the Employee Enhancement Program participants on June 13 at the Tinker Air Force Base Club.
The panel included Kevin Stamey, Executive Director of the Air Force Sustainment Center, Steven Morani, the Director of Logistics for the AFSC and Elwood Lewis III, Director of Financial Management for the AFSC comptroller.
The EEP is a competitive professional development program for civilians working on base. The panel included discussion and intermittent question-and-answer sessions, with panel members giving suggested readings.
Members of the Senior Executive Service from Tinker spoke about leadership to the current Employee Enhancement Program class on June 13 and shared personal stories about their careers, and both good and bad leadership traits they have recognized and experienced throughout their years of service. From left, Steven Morani, Air Force Sustainment Center Director of Logistics; Kevin Stamey, AFSC Executive Director; and Elwood Lewis III, AFSC Financial Management. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)
Stamey began the discussion by defining toxic leadership, which he said can “kill” or “devastate” an organization.
“A toxic leader is someone who abuses their power, they promote themselves instead of others. A typical trait of a toxic leader is that they will berate others, they will belittle others, they will not treat others with respect,” Stamey said.
Stamey discussed a toxic high ranking leader he encountered early in his career, saying the way the leader treated people demotivated them from wanting to follow him.
“Suggestions for handling toxic bosses include figuring out what makes them tick and serving that, not being intimidated and not letting them define you, but letting your work define you,” Stamey said.
“Let your work be your best effort. If you can honestly look yourself in the mirror and say ‘I did my absolute best’ even if you made a mistake, but gave it 100 percent, let that be your best,” Stamey said.
Lewis emphasized the importance of being mindful of how you engage with and present issues to negative leaders, as well as maintaining the qualities of a good leader to set an example for coworkers and employees.
“If you show inconsistency and erratic behavior, you will spook the herd…Once you spook the herd it is very difficult to wrangle them back together,” Lewis said.
One of the most important roles of a leader is taking care of the team, making stability and integrity important, Lewis said.
Morani discussed the importance of connecting with the core values of a job to having a successful career, highlighting the Air Force value of ‘Service Before Self.’
Morani said he views serving in a military environment as a calling, and stressed the importance of being okay with doing things that may not be easy, but are in your best interest and those of the United States Air Force.
“I can tell you, I’ve moved more as a civilian, than I did as an active duty person. I’m on my third job in three years, and you know what I’m okay with that, because every single job asked of me was because I was the right person to do it,” Morani said.
“Sometimes you’re asked to do things you don’t fully understand, and if you say no to it, you may alter your career in a way that, perhaps, limits you.” Morani said
Morani said it is important to be patient with promotions, and to work on expanding your knowledge base thus preparing yourself to be broader by enhancing your competency level.
“It’s not longevity that gets you there, it’s readiness to serve at the next level that gets you there,” Morani said.
“You have to be ready to step out of your comfort zone and maybe your (Subject Matter Expert) knowledge that you have and learn some other things, because that’s what we’re looking for as you ascend to those higher levels” Morani said.