Photo By Mark Rankin | Mary Fink, a class instructor with the Scarlett Leadership Institute, commends 2014...... read more read more
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Leadership can be described in many ways. In today’s changing interactive social culture, it can be described as “a process of social influence in which one can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a fundamental task.”
This is what Nashville District Commander Lt. Col. John L. Hudson told 11 graduates of the Leadership Development Program class today at the Scarlett Leadership Institute in Franklin, Tennessee.
“You are the future leaders of the Nashville District,” said Hudson “I hope this training has allowed you to have a broader understanding of how the Corps and district works.”
The Leadership Development Program, or “LDP” as it is commonly referred, is part two of a three-step program to increase managerial and leadership skills of selected employees that has been in effect since 1998 in the Nashville District.
“This class is all about teaching Corps personnel leadership traits, and we have been doing it for a long time,” said Mary Fink, Scarlett Leadership Institute class instructor. “We have a long history with the Nashville District for training leaders and, from some of those attending today, it has been pretty good.”
Not only do employees learn about leadership, they collaborate on various projects with each other on specific tasks and travel around to the district working on tasks designed to enhance their leadership development skills. The class attended site visits, did service projects and provided community service.
“This is a great leadership program and I enjoyed it,” said Aurora Scott, a park ranger from Lake Cumberland Resource office.
“I enjoyed working with all my great co-workers on the projects and learning from the instructors,” Scott added.
“Programs like this are unique because it gives exposure to the employees to go out and see and learn all the different day-to-day functions of the Corps, not just a specific area,” Hudson said. “Without that exposure, it’s hard to be a good leader.”
The 2014 class of 11 met once a month and conducted seminars, worked on special projects, and partook in classes at Belmont University – all aimed at developing them as a future leader of the Corps of Engineers. This LDP participants began in April and graduated in January.
Maj. Brad Morgan, deputy district commander, said a leader must have courage and graduates are expected to grow and expand from their leadership training.
“The change is internal and external and now you have jump-started your leadership growth,” said Morgan. “Leadership does not come overnight and it will take time to become a great leader, but what we want you to realize is that you have the skills,” said Morgan.
The LDP course is a great leadership tool but, if students wish, they can continue to get exposure to the rest of the Corps’ missions by applying for the division-wide LDP, or LDP 3 classes.
“The LDP course is a highly-selective process,” said Morgan. “Applicants must have an impressive resume to begin with and they also have to be recommended for the program by their supervisor. After that, they have to be approved by a panel just to be able to take the class.”
LDP develops future leaders, and even as leaders, we’re always developing," said Karla Miller, chief, Internal Review and a graduate of the 2014 LDP class.
Involvement in this is an added responsibility of participants in addition to their 9-to-5 jobs, a task not easily done, said Hudson.
“Now that they have been exposed to some great leadership skills, they should start inserting yourselves as a leader within the district,” said Hudson.
“This class is worth investing not only for yourself, but also for the Corps and, with that, I thank you and wish you good luck,” Hudson said.
Class graduates are: Michael Brown, David Chapman, Mike Corcoran, Edward Deslatte, Lindsey Houchens, Brian Mangrum, Valerie McCormack, Karla Miller, Aurora Scott, Jamie Summers and Allison Walker.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2015 13:27 |
| Story ID: | 153042 |
| Location: | FRANKLIN, TENN, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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