Airmen participate in mentoring workshop

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan E. White
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Approximately 58 Airmen were provided with tips on networking and explored team dynamics at the 514th Air Mobility Wing Human Resource Development Council Mentoring Workshop held here, Jun. 22-23.

The goal of the mentoring workshop is to bring together airmen from different squadrons and teach them about mentoring, leadership, team dynamics, and group cohesion in a fun setting, Maj. Dori L. Mansur, 88th Aerial Port Squadron, said.

Over the course of two days, several guest speakers presented Airmen with an abundance of information. Dr. Maureen McGuire, McGuire Consulting Services, led the lineup. A 25-year professional in leadership development, McGuire discussed what networking can do for you and conducted activities on managerial styles.

"If you are not networking then you are not working," McGuire said. "80 percent of people who obtain a job receive it through their extended network."

McGuire said that when building a network, the individual should follow up with the person after the initial meeting and provide information that might be useful. Also, the individual should network at all levels with people who make him or her feel comfortable. These factors should help create a relationship between the two parties.

During the other segment of McGuire's presentation, Airmen were assigned to teams and participated in several team building activities which revealed their managerial style. It was discovered that the managerial style named 'director' should be used the least because it can be demotivating to employees.

Later during the workshop, teams would get the opportunity to use their classroom instruction and apply it to finishing the 15-station outdoor leadership reaction course. Teammates worked together and displayed camaraderie in completing their assigned tasks while battling the sweltering heat.

"One of our scenarios was a destroyed bridge in which we had to use wooden planks to transport a wheelbarrow and personnel to the other side," Staff Sgt. Joseph Perry, 35th Aerial Port Squadron, said. "These are field activities we do not see in the Air Force on a regular basis."

Col. Paulette Schank, 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, recalled a moment during the mentoring workshop which left a lasting impression on her. While monitoring the leadership reaction course, she witnessed a team become frustrated with one of the stations. Initially, only one of the 10 team members was confident the group would prevail. Over the course of time, the team pulled together.

"That was teamwork!" Schank said. "That team could not have done it without each other's coaching, support, and help. There is plenty that happens in a mentoring workshop and that was just one piece."

Other pieces of the workshop included consisted of an activity loosely based on the game show Minute to Win It, a barbecue, speed mentoring with senior leaders, a professional athlete and coach panel, and an awards presentation.

HRDC's mission is to provide advice and council to the commanders and the wing's Executive Steering Committee (ESC) on policy matters relating to human resources within the Wing. Areas of focus include work force diversity, educational opportunities, mentoring, recognition, promotion, recruiting, retention, quality of life initiatives and other factors affecting individual morale.