BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Stacey Pilling
Director, DLA Disposition Services Resource Management
Battle Creek, Michigan
Describe your job in a sentence or two. I am the director for warfighter support and people and culture divisions.
How long have you worked for the federal government, including military service? 16 years.
How long have you worked for DLA Disposition Services? From January 2016 to the present.
What is your favorite thing about your line of work? I enjoy working with our team and directly supporting the military services.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? “Listen with your mouth closed.” I know it sounds odd, but when I stopped listening in anticipation of responding and started practicing mindful listening, I found that I was more likely to see the situation clearly and had time to process my internal thoughts and reactions before responding. It helped me see the larger picture and a path forward.
What is your leadership philosophy and how does that tie into your line of work? In our line of work, leadership is about inspiring and encouraging others to successfully support a common mission. It is about building a positive environment where the team members feel comfortable, can thrive and apply their skills to the best of their abilities. Leadership is about supporting others by learning what motivates them and providing them with assurance to be successful and maximize their full potential.
How would you describe your leadership style and why has it worked so well for you? There are several different leadership styles; as a leader you need to understand your team and apply the leadership style that best fits to the person and situation. However, if I had to select one style it would be transactional leadership – this style encourages employee motivation and productivity by setting clear, specific and measurable goals.
What keeps you motivated? I am self-motivated. I was raised with the core belief that hard work pays off and do the best that you can do.
What do you look for when evaluating top talent? When I am evaluating talent on a hiring panel the key items I look for are attention to detail, clear communication and specific examples related to the position I am hiring for.
What do you see as your biggest challenge right now? My biggest challenge right now is the global pandemic. We are still in stage 1 of the reconstitution plan. Although we can meet our mission with the workforce teleworking, I look forward to the day when the team is back in the office and we can have face-to-face conversations.
What mistakes have you seen individuals make that prevent them from being successful? In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes is not being prepared. Whether it be for an interview, a presentation or a meeting, I encourage the team to try to predict all the questions that may come and be prepared to answer them.
What book are you reading? I am currently reading Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Tell us something that most people might not know about you? I worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Crisis and Homeless Hotline for four years: three years answering crisis calls from veterans who were either in a mental health crisis or those who were homeless or about to be homeless followed by one year as a supervisor at the crisis line. Therefore, if you hear me say “call 1-800-273-8255, press 1 for veterans,” it is because I have intimate knowledge of the support the crisis line offers our veterans.
What are your hobbies? I love to canoe/kayak, camp, run and read.
What is your favorite quote? “Never, Never, Never Give Up” – a quote credited to Winston Churchill. I have this quote on my refrigerator, so I read it every day.
Employee and leadership spotlight regularly features outstanding personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services and other DLA organizations located at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. Organizational directors may submit feature request to DLA Disposition Services Public Affairs.