Intentional LeadHERshipBy: Allaina Rapps

In full transparency, I never intended to become a leadHER. My plan was to get out of the military after my initial enlistment. However, in a blink of an eye and twenty years later, I still serve.

What changed?

I experienced leaders who were intentional. Leaders that inspired me over time through action, deed and word.

To inspire, you first have to aspire to be greater than you are today. Anyone can make a decision. But great leaders are self-aware and are intentional in thought and action, even faced with adversity. These intentional leaders saw my potential even when I couldn’t see it myself.

They mentored me through formal and informal leadership.

A formal leader is appointed by position or title. An informal leader is someone you look up to or you want to emulate.

Their intentional leadership provided invaluable counsel throughout my career, so for that, I want to be intentional about equipping you with the very philosophies and lessons they provided me in developing my leadHERship.

Reading fosters growth and enables you to stay relevant. Former colleague and mentor, Sergeant Major Dana Richmond, says “Lifelong learning is a part of being a professional, stewarding your profession, challenging yourself, and improving your organization. ” Richmond recommends, “find a mentor to guide you, ” for personal and professional goals alike. “One of the best attributes any leader can display is the ability to not only listen but to do so with empathy, ” says former Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Retired, Anthony Young. As my first mentor in service, he believed in putting “ourselves in someone else’s shoes. ” It provides the opportunity “of connecting to that individual in ways that we may not have been able to otherwise. ”

Warren G. Bennis said,

“The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing. ” Friend and previous Commander of mine, Lieutenant Colonel Nelson Avilesfigueroa, says “I believe doing the right thing, which is not always the popular thing to do and probably the most challenging, requires courage. ” Have the humility to understand your weakness and the courage to strive to be better.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, grit is a hard sharp granule of sand or firmness of mind or spirit. Sergeant First Class, Retired, Steven Trackwell, is a leader I respect for his passion and perseverance; for his grit. Trackwell says, great leaders “ ...test your limits daily both physically and mentally, ” and that “great leaders…are the ones that push you through your potential breaking point into greatness. ” When you have grit, you never give up. Grit builds character.

Lastly, you don’t need to have all the answers to be a great leadHER. In fact, admitting you don’t have every answer is admirable in itself, and key for self development. LeadHERs gain knowledge through experience and experience is accomplished by trying things you’ve never tried before.