WBAMC leaders engage in leadership development

Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Col. John A. Smyrski III, commander, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, addresses an audience of leaders during WBAMC’s Leaders’ Forum held at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center, Sept. 19. During the forum, Dr. Jody Rogers, director, Executive Skills Program, Army Medicine Department, discussed leadership development tools available to supervisors and engaged the audience in the importance of being a good leader.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

09.23.2016

Story by Marcy Sanchez  

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Edward C. Meyer once said, “Successful leaders require the interaction of three properties – character, knowledge and application.”

William Beaumont Army Medical Center held a leaders’ forum for WBAMC leaders at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center, Sept. 19.

During the forum, personnel gathered for leadership development training to look at the impact their leadership may have on the organization. The forum welcomed Dr. Jody Rogers, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, for a presentation on leadership tools to improve their individual leadership skills.

“I would have been able to grow faster as a leader if I had had (this forum’s) information,” said Rogers.

Rogers, currently the director for the Army Medical Department’s Executive Skills Program in San Antonio, specializes in working with aspiring leaders from all industries to discover their personal leadership skills.

Rogers also presented WBAMC leaders with methods of increasing their leadership qualities and improving employee relationships to advance the mission.

“It’s not just officer and enlisted but rather officer, enlisted and civilian who are all part of a team,” said Rogers, speaking on the challenges of communicating in a military environment. “We have to work together as a team.”

Topics of discussion included philosophy, character development, public speaking, verbal and nonverbal communication and demonstrating a caring attitude.

“People know what your rank and position is,” said Rogers. “What they don’t know is whether you’re worthy of being followed as a leader.”

Col. John A. Smyrski III, commander, WBAMC, challenged leaders to change the way they approach and resolve problems if they are not seeing the desired results.

“We’re one voice,” said Smyrski. “We’re united in our mission.”

Smyrski went on to recognize the unique challenges that WBAMC leaders may face serving a large population of Soldiers, families, retirees and veterans while also contributing to El Paso’s trauma services serving two border cities, due to the proximity of Juarez, Mexico.

“It’s a unique challenge, unlike anything our leaders may have previously faced,” said Smyrski. “It’s not just active-duty Soldiers supporting that mission. (Soldiers and civilians) are all part of the team supporting that effort.”

• Date Taken: 09.23.2016
• Date Posted: 09.23.2016 16:10
• Story ID: 210476
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US