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News | Sept. 29, 2022

Leadership Working Group Forum reminds supervisors “why” all job rolls are important

By Amy T. Parker DLA Aviation Public Affairs

The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation’s Leadership Working Group held its first in-person forum since 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sep. 20 in the Frank B. Lotts Conference Center on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. The event was also available via web stream and dial in for supervisors whose offices are in regions outside of Virginia.

The guest speaker for the forum was Mike Mason, a former Marine Corps officer, Fortune 100 executive, FBI agent and bus driver for Chesterfield County Public Schools. Mason gave a presentation titled “Never a Tumbleweed,” which reminded supervisors at various levels of the critical work they do to support the warfighter and why it is important to constantly reinvigorate and reinvent yourself.

“Always remember your ‘why,’” Mason said, citing that oftentimes, individuals forget “why” they perform their work because they get caught up in day-to-day tasks.

Mason also touched on having a positive, self- attitude as the “secret sauce” to being happy at work, which includes feeling and knowing that your work matters, striving to perform your work role to the best of your ability, not being bothered by what others think of your specific job title and laughing daily.

He also shared tools for success including having mentors, periodically recalibrating and reinvigorating your thoughts and actions, using our own creativity and innovative spirit and having the self-courage to succeed – no matter what job you have.

He ended his presentation encouraging all supervisors and employees to never stop evolving.

Active since 2014, the DLA Aviation Leadership Working Group provides a peer network for all supervisors in the organization by hosting monthly supervisory meetings and quarterly forums to share experiences and lessons learned through leadership, sharing best practices, resolving common managerial problems, and featuring guest speakers who provide valuable lessons in leadership.