IMCOM leaders pledge to enable employees, build a culture of service

By U.S. Army Installation Management Command Public AffairsMay 31, 2017

Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl signs the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Leadership Pledge
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Maj. Gen. Sean Jenkins signs the IMCOM Leadership Pledge
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IMCOM headquarters staff directors sign the IMCOM Leadership Pledge
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Lt. Gen. Dahl displays the IMCOM Leadership Pledge
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IMCOM Leadership Pledge
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 31, 2017) -- An Army-wide campaign was publically launched this week at a headquarters town hall hosted by Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, commander of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command.

Officially known as the IMCOM Service Culture Initiative, the campaign represents the Command's long-term commitment to providing the best possible customer service to Soldiers, Families, and communities. The campaign is based on the premise that excellence in customer service is a result of how an organization treats its employees. If employees have engaged and caring leaders, feel valued and respected for the work they do, are properly trained, and live the Army values, they will in turn pass forward this positive attitude to their customers and to their co-workers.

"This will take the combined effort and commitment of every IMCOM professional to be successful," Dahl said.

Underscoring the importance of the campaign and acknowledging that IMCOM touches each and every Soldier and Family every day, Dahl waited until he could personally address the workforce and emphasize his commitment to the campaign by unveiling it personally, and publically.

At the town hall, Dahl, along with other senior IMCOM leaders, signed the first "Leadership Pledge" surrounded by his headquarters workforce.

The Pledge serves as a visible symbol and a reminder to leaders that all employees deserve respect and the basic tools needed to be successful, including proper on-boarding, performance standards, training opportunities, recognition programs, empowerment, and a commitment to hold one another accountable.

"The Pledge and the principles defined signify a return to the basics -- Leadership 101. The Pledge serves as a reminder of the importance of these ideals and a reaffirmation that we, as leaders, have a responsibility to ensure you are successful," Dahl said.

The campaign relies on actions related to four basic focus areas to reach that goal: team member sense of belonging to their organization, leader engagement, on-boarding, and team member recognition.

"We want to establish a culture where members of the IMCOM team take pride in the organization, fully understand and live by our organizational values, feel valued and respected, and are led by engaged and caring leaders," said Mr. Matt Margotta, Program Manager for the Service Culture Initiative.

"While most of the command is already doing this in some fashion, codifying and standardizing the principles, the process, and providing the tools and training to assist leaders and employees at all levels helps ensure we establish a culture of service excellence across the 70 plus installations around the world," Margotta explained.

In informal communications to the staff as the campaign was being developed, both Margotta and Dahl were quick to point to examples of great employee and customer service throughout the command.

"This is going to help us define who we are as an organization," Dahl said. "When it comes to taking care of our customers--our Soldiers and their Families--we've done a marvelous job and really have become experts at customer service."

"But when you think about it," he continued, "those of you working in human resources, operations, range support, emergency services, public works, MWR… you all provide service to customers. Even if the person you're helping is a fellow IMCOM professional, they're still a customer."

"So we've got to do this together," he concluded. "We're one team. If we take better care of ourselves, we're going to take better care of our customers."

Over the coming year, starting with a self-assessment at the garrison level, leaders will implement changes in the four focus areas, sign employee and customer pledges, demonstrate a commitment to employees and each other, and create, reinforce, or enhance employee recognition and on-boarding programs.

"Leaders will be provided the maximum flexibility in the implementation of the campaign" Margotta said. "Some garrisons already possess robust onboarding and recognition programs, like Fort Riley's ESPRIT (Employee, Satisfaction, Performance, Recognition and Improvement) Team. Our goal is to reinforce what we are doing well and enhance areas we've identified for improvement."

Dahl told his senior leadership while the campaign was being developed to "drive on with the things you are already doing that are working."

"We're not trying to tell you to do anything new," Dahl explained. "Follow the most basic leadership principals, and we'll reach our desired end state: an organization filled with enabled and enthusiastic employees supported by involved leaders, providing the best possible service to our Army and our nation."

Related Links:

Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation

U.S. Army Installation Management Command