TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - The Army Materiel Command Chaplain, sends out daily quotes that are often comforting, challenging, inspiring or some combination thereof.
Today, he quoted "In Extremis Leadership: Leading As If Your Life Depended on It" by Thomas A. Kolditz. "Recognize that determination, discipline, and stamina are key characteristics for all leaders. There are other ways besides counting push-ups to determine if people have these qualities, and even those who are physically challenged can possess them. The point is that all organizations should take these characteristics into account and form assessments of future leaders based on these qualities. You want to hire people with heart."
People with "heart" are people who have determination, discipline and stamina among other qualities. According to Kolditz, not only should people in general possess these three characteristics, but also leaders in particular should embrace them.
Determination has two aspects: Arriving at a decision or conclusion and resoluteness or a firmness of purpose. Combining the two sides of determination allows individuals and groups both to follow through with and to build upon decisions as a baseline for new visions and innovation of what might be accomplished.
The term discipline has several meanings. A field of study or branch of knowledge such as history or economics; an orderly system of behaviors or methods of practice in accord with rules of conduct such as a set of rules and regulations; the training and process to improve strength or self-control; the ability to control oneself even in difficult situations; the trait of being well-behaved; negatively, punishment intended to correct or train.
Stamina is the physical or moral strength to resist or withstand illness, fatigue or hardship. Stamina is synonymous with endurance, enduring energy, strength and resilience, staying power and toughness, grit vigor, and tenacity. Stamina is about the power to withstand hardship or stress.
When you combine determination, discipline and stamina into a leader, an individual, or a group you have people/organizations with purpose, vision, and the will and the ability to see issues through to the end. The dynamic is life-invigorating rather than life-draining.
Rick Warren, author of the bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life," was featured in a Fox News television special in August 2006. The feature was titled, "Can Rick Warren Change the World'" Reverend Warren was interviewed about his book, his church, and his leadership in the church growth movement. The interviewer also highlighted Warren's attempts to move outside the continental United States with a global network of churches to revolutionize how to handle what he considers the five biggest problems - poverty, disease, illiteracy, spiritual emptiness, and egocentric leadership.
Throughout the interview Warren found himself haunted by the question: Can his plan really work' Can one man - or one network, or one nation - really heal all the hurts of the world' He did not shy away from the question, but met it with the four words that he wished to be on his tombstone: "At least he tried."
Warren and his congregation have proven themselves to be people with "heart" - with a vision that demands determination, discipline and stamina. We can all be people with "heart," but in order to have "heart" we must take the time to find direction, firmness of purpose, self-control and endurance.
To have "heart" makes life worth living; it makes getting up in the morning an adventure to discover what is around the next corner, even when what is around the next corner is not pleasant or that for which we might wish.
Leaders who have developed determination, discipline and stamina make a great difference for those whom they lead. Tobyhanna Army Depot has "heart" and continues to make a difference because of each and every individual and organization who takes the challenge seriously to put determination, discipline and stamina into action.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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