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    Learning to lead

    Learning to lead

    Photo By Airman Collin Schmidt | Capt. William McMullan, 341st Missile Wing chaplain, speaks to Airmen of the 341st...... read more read more

    MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, UNITED STATES

    10.01.2015

    Story by Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt 

    341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

    MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. - Members of the 341st Mission Support Group attended a leadership and self-deception discussion at the base chapel at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Sept. 29. The roundtable was held to help Airmen within the group learn some of the qualities of great leaders and how to be honest with themselves in order to become effective in guiding others.

    “We used material from a book called ‘Leadership and Self Deception,’” said Capt. William McMullan, 341st Missile Wing chaplain. “This information helps people better relate to others as equals. It also helps those who study it to recognize that even the best of us have weaknesses. It illustrates how not to objectify those around us and lead by example."

    “This content has been case studied and applied in numerous situations and because of that I feel very confident in bringing it to our leadership here on base,” he continued.

    According to McMullan, studying self-deception is an integral part of the material because it can play a part in hindering effective leadership. An important item stressed throughout the discussion was how to be open to self-evaluation and learn to work on the blind spots that may sometimes cloud good judgment.

    For Col. Denise Cooper, 341st Mission Support Group commander, providing her senior leadership with as many learning tools as possible is essential to helping them succeed personally, and in their mission.

    “As the new MSG commander, I want to do an off-site (focus group) two times a year at a minimum to think about who we are, what we stand for and where we are going,” said Cooper. “In the support business, it is easy to get frustrated and defensive so we really need to think about our organizational identity so we can commit to principles over personalities.”

    The theme was built around the topics of the book because most people have blind spots or overestimate themselves, a sort of fundamental attribution error; judging ourselves by our intentions and others only by their actions, she stated.

    “I know I had to address this for myself recently when I thought I was doing something positive but was off the mark big time,” said Cooper. “It happens. As a mission support group, we are a team of teams and we are worth five hours every six months to think, exchange ideas and reflect on how to be stronger, more enjoyable and a more efficient organization.”

    For McMullan, counseling with Airmen is what motivates him daily and being able to have that opportunity with the mission support group was a welcomed occasion, he said.

    “I was so grateful to the chaplain staff for their leadership, advocacy and commitment to supporting us with this,” said Cooper.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.01.2015
    Date Posted: 10.01.2015 16:52
    Story ID: 177790
    Location: MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, US
    Hometown: GREAT FALLS, MT, US

    Web Views: 47
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN