In response to feedback and requests from the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command workforce, the command's G5 Enterprise Development and Proficiency division is providing interactive leadership development courses to employees.
This monthly initiative is a priority of USASAC Commander Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald to champion the Army Materiel Command's security assistance enterprise workforce through implemented Professional Development Opportunities and maintain a Ready and Resilient Force.
"The courses are meant to enhance leadership and managerial skills for the entire workforce," said Jason King. King, who works for USASAC's G5 and was responsible for coordinating the classes at USASAC's Redstone Arsenal and New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, locations.
USASAC's classes are intended for both employees and supervisors and include five hours of instructor lessons, scenario-based group discussions and role playing exercises.
The first two classes offered at USASAC's Redstone Arsenal office were "Negotiation Skills" and "Managing Performance."
"Negotiation Skills," held Aug. 19, offered students a perspective of how political framework integrates into negotiations within organizations such as USASAC's country program managers coordinating with international partners to facilitate foreign military sales, according to King.
"In the 'Building Trust and Relationships' portion of the negotiations class I learned it's important to have characteristics such as dependability, honesty and integrity," Barrett Parris, of USASAC's G3 Operations and Security directorate, said. "This was the most beneficial thing I learned during the class, and I will be able to apply a variety of tactics to address the different negotiation styles in my job."
"This course gave me a different and better perspective of how to manage emotions, influence others and how to achieve win-win outcomes," said Shavonne Fuller, the executive assistant to USASAC's G3 Operations and Security directorate.
The second class, held Thursday, was "Managing Performance." King said participants learned the principles and best practices of performance management within organizations. Through the use of hands-on exercises, assessments and models, students were engaged in an interactive learning environment in small group settings.
"During the role playing lesson on conflict strategies, one situation was the employee's request or complaint is denied without reason by a supervisor," explained John Sanders, chief of USASAC's G8 Financial Policy and Systems division. "Taking a win-lose competition situation and turning it into a win-win collaboration strategy, where both parties achieve their goals, is a perfect resolution."
Fuller commented that even though she wasn't in a supervisory role the "Managing Performance" class was still beneficial.
"As the information fusion vocal point for the G3 directorate, I am in a unique position to facilitate the director and division chiefs in handling their personnel management and prioritizations," Fuller said.
These same classes will be conducted for USASAC employees in New Cumberland during the last week of August.
"There is always room to improve yourself with leadership classes," Sanders said.
Future classes planned for the remainder of the fiscal year include "Business Problem Solving," "Project Manager Fundamentals," "Effective Business Writing" and "Leadership and Influence."
"Employees asked for leadership classes through the annual command climate survey sent from our commanding general," King said. "They expressed interest in certain leadership topics and those are the classes being offered through October.
"We are already planning the next 12 months of classes based on a survey sent out to employees in August. As soon as we award a contract we will be ready to move forward with that plan."
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