Former Chief of Naval Operations gives leadership lecture

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Wax | Former Chief of Naval Operations retired Adm. Vern Clark speaks with military members and civilians during a Hampton Roads Naval Museum and Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation luncheon lecture. Clark gave a presentation on his perspective of leadership: past, present and future at the June 8 luncheon at Vista Point Club at Naval Station Norfolk.  

NORFOLK, UNITED STATES

06.08.2009

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Wax 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

NORFOLK, Va. — Former Chief of Naval Operations, retired Adm. Vern Clark, gave a lecture on leadership: past, present and future during a Hampton Roads Naval Museum and Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation luncheon, June 8.

The speech was part of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum's luncheon lecture series that features subject matter experts in a variety of topics throughout the year.

The luncheon also honored and celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of Midway, which took place between June 4 and 7, 1942.

"Sailors at the Battle of Midway showed what courage is," said Clark. "The past teaches us tremendous lessons."

Clark strongly believes that a person's perception can strongly influence the way he behaves and the outcomes in his life. He stated that this was true during the Battle at Midway and it is true with organizations and leadership today.

"You have to analyze what the world must have felt like that day," said Clark. "There were probably people who wondered if we could even win. What we say to ourselves is really important. A whole group of people found out they could believe in themselves again."

Clark stated that trying to define what makes a good leader is like putting five puzzles in a box, shaking it up and then trying to put the pieces back together.

"When you see a good leader you know it, but trying to define what makes them a good leader is futile," said Clark. "We are still searching for that magic calculus of what makes a good leader."

According to Clark, there is a moral and an ethical side to leadership that have to be taken into account.

"When I reflect back on my years seeking to lead, I discovered that I have strengths and weaknesses ... those strengths and weaknesses are going to have an influence on those people I am trying to lead," said Clark.

Clark stressed that most of his leadership philosophy can be summarized in three questions: who are we as a people, what do we believe and where are we going to go?

He spoke of challenges in improving Navy personnel retention back when he took the office of CNO and used his three questions to illustrate how these simple questions can point a leader in the right direction.

The Navy wanted Sailors to stay in, but Clark queried, what was the Navy going to do as an organization to make them want to stay; what does the Navy believe about its people and where is the Navy going to go, in terms of direction, to keep its Sailors. The answers to these questions helped him shape personnel policy and improve retention.

Clark concluded his speech by speaking about the importance of accountability in leadership.

"When we point one finger out, we have three fingers pointing back at us," said Clark.

For Becky Poulliot, a director with the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, the luncheon lecture was a great success.

"Where else can you get the opportunity to get that close to someone that led our Navy," said Poulliot. "He [Clark] was able to distill the idea of leadership into something I can take back to my job."

• Date Taken: 06.08.2009
• Date Posted: 06.08.2009 16:52
• Story ID: 34737
• Location: NORFOLK, US