Leadership framework: TEACH
Trust and Take care of
Enrich, Engage, and Encourage
Act and Achieve
Consistency, Communication, and Creativity
Honor
The leadership framework that I created is described using the acronym TEACH. Through years on sports teams, my experience through high school, and my time as a Coast Guard Academy cadet I have had the time to observe leadership and act in positions of leadership. TEACH is a framework that I developed through these experiences. For one to be a leader, one must learn to follow, lead self, and then lead others. My framework is equally as applicable to a follower as it to a leader but based on the belief of lifelong learning and leadership growth.
The first phrase of TEACH stands for Trust and Take care of, the foundation of my framework. In any team or organization, one cannot effectively lead without the trust of his or her people. Trust is a fundamental building block in any professional or personal relationship; without it, it will be hard to achieve a desired outcome. When others trust you, you become credible, and your opinion and values will be taken seriously by others; when you speak, act as if your trust and credibility depend on it. The second part of the phrase is ‘take care of’ which attributes to the underlying trust your team holds in you. A leader needs to take care of his or her team and be attentive to their ideas and concerns. Leaders must know their people and have an awareness of their emotional and mental wellbeing. This is a critical part in building solid relationships and understanding when your team is not performing to their full potential.
The next phrase of my framework is Enrich, Engage, and Encourage. Enrich your experience so that when you leave your unit, receive a promotion, or change your job, that you are bringing something valuable with you. Make the most of your experience - act as if your resume depends on it. Leave your unit more knowledgeable and add something to your tool bag. Second, engage with the environment, employees, and crew, seek mentors, and become involved in group and community projects. Encourage yourself and others to do more rather than less, encourage yourself to show up early, and start a new idea or continue building on another.
The third phrase of my foundation is to Act and Achieve. To succeed, first you have to act. Work hard on your goals, both personal and team goals and continue to do more rather than less of your share. The commitment to act is the desire to achieve your tasks promptly so that you can strive for more. Success is built from small choices, which begins with action.
The following phrase is Consistency, Communication, and Creativity. Be aware of your work and personal habits, strive for consistency, show up early, keep a clean uniform, and maintain a consistent work habit. Communicate your intentions, current ideas, and short comings. Seek creative ideas and grow on out of the box thinking. This comes from spending personal time on self-development. Creativity can also apply to the way in which you accomplish your work, in the fashion that works suitable for you.
The pinnacle of the TEACH framework is Honor. Honor is what ties the framework together. It is important to honor the uniform you wear and the last name on it. Honor the work you do and own it. The Coast Guard is a humanitarian service committed to saving lives and keeping the people of the United States safe. It is important to honor those who have come before you, to honor your shipmates, and to honor the last name of your family.
These characteristics are important to me because I encourage open engagements, self-growth, and development. It is intuitive to do something that matters in an effective and efficient manner. I want people to be able to achieve their own goals and feel that what they do everyday matters and has a purpose behind it.