SES to personnel: Be engaged, believe in the Army's 'Why'

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- About 350 senior and mid-level leaders from the U.S. Army Sustainment Command learned about how to build a more employee-engaged workforce during a Commanding General's Leadership Professional Development training event, here, Feb. 4.

Karl Schneider, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in Washington, D.C., served as the keynote speaker. Schneider's discussion stemmed from Simon Sinek's book, "Start with Why."

"Sinek says there is something called the, 'Golden Circle,' made of three concentric circles," Schneider said. "The center of it is 'Why,' the second circle is 'How,' and the third ring is 'What.' He says it is important for any organization to start with 'Why.' He says great organizations have a clear sense as to why they exist, and every employee understands why, they understand why we are here."

The "How," Schneider said, is a matter of working together to contribute to the "Why." The "What," he said, is the product. He said the Army's product is trained and ready Soldiers that U.S. combatant commanders want to use in the field.

"You have to commit to the 'How,' and you have to be passionate about the 'What,' he said. You have to say, 'I'm going to make the best product I can because I am proud of what I do, and I am represented by that product. If that product isn't first class, then I'm not first class.' "

Schneider explained that the "Why" of the Army relies on Army professionals.

"We exist to defend the nation; we exist to fight and win the country's wars," he said. "Every single one of you should be thinking about that every single day, because the work you are doing is enabling the United States Army to achieve its 'Why.' That's why we need you."

Schneider said it is important to have an engaged workforce. He said this is particularly important during a time when the Army is getting smaller, and the demands on the Army are not going away.

"We know that engaged employees are more productive, more effective, and more innovative because they believe in what they are doing," he said. "To be an engaged employee, you need to own it, you need to be committed to it, and you need to have passion for it."

Schneider talked about the computer company Apple as an organization that Sinek discussed as having a well-communicated "Why." Schneider said Apple's "Why," was not confused with their product, which allowed their employees to think completely differently about how to improve the computer user's experience.

Schneider also talked about NASA's drive to put a man on the moon as an example of a government organization with a clear "Why." He said everyone who worked at NASA, from the custodian to the highest-level managers, believed in what they were doing.

Schneider said it is important to show employees the products of their work. To illustrate his point, he showed a video of U.S. forces' recent operations in Europe.

"A while back, Russians were threatening the Ukraine, and all of our allies where saying, 'Well, wait a minute, this could happen to us,' " continuing that the U.S. sent ships to deter further action.

The problem was, he said, the ships were not very visible to European people. The goal, he said, was to help make the allies feel protected. To help boost confidence, the U.S. sent the 2nd Cavalry Regiment on a military show of support through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and back into Germany.

"It was a tangible statement of U.S. resolve and support for them, that we were there to defend them," Schneider said. "When those Soldiers and those Strykers went down those roads, the people were waving their nation's flag and the American flag. They knew we were there to help them."

Schneider emphasized the role that Army professionals played in the operation.

"Every single one of you did something to enable the 2nd Cavalry Regiment to do that," he said.

"If that doesn't make your heart pound, if that doesn't make you proud, someone needs to take your pulse," he continued. "When you see something like the 2nd Cavalry Regiment rolling through those countries, having the people say, 'We are glad that you are here,' you should feel passion for that."

Hope Sanders, reassignments program manager, G1 (Human Resources), ASC, said she enjoyed the presentation.

"I thought it was intriguing. It got us thinking about why we are here, how we are going to take care of the force, and what their mission is," she said. "The reason why Soldiers exist is to fight and defend the nation. Indirectly, and sometimes directly, we civilians help them do that."

The CG LPD was divided into two sections for mid-level (GS-12s and GS-13s, E7s and E8s, O3s and CW2s) and senior level leaders. Each section discussed the same content, but the senior leaders had more discussion following the presentation.

Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, ASC, has "Building and Developing Leaders" ranked as one of his top five priorities. This priority is aligned with the Army's Force 2025 and Beyond initiative, which calls for strong Army leadership development during a future of complex environmental, geopolitical and technological changes.

The next GC LPD is scheduled for March, and the speaker is slated to be Command Sgt. Major Dennis Defreese, commandant, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

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