Fierce Conversations class held at ARPC
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Mid-level supervisors from throughout the Air Reserve Personnel Center gathered for a two-day intensive training course called Fierce Conversations held here March 15-16, 2016.
The course helps managers ensure they are providing information to their subordinates, discerning the core meaning of communications from their subordinates and communicating the strategic vision of leadership in a way that employees can understand and apply.
"This approach strengthens the heart of the organization, the mid-tier managers," said Brig. Gen. Samuel 'Bo' Mahaney, ARPC commander.
Mahaney further emphasized the need to strengthen management and leadership throughout ARPC.
"This is just another installment in our continuing efforts to build a superior team of leaders to 'take care of our people, so they can take care of the mission,'" he said.
The objective of the course was to understand the power of conversation in order to help middle managers take the messages from senior leaders and involve front line teams.
“Before you try solving the problem, you better see it from their point of view,” said Molly Breazeale, Fierce Conversations trainer. “Often it’s when we start listening to the other side, it changes what we do next.”
Maj. Ryan Avery, ARPC Total Force Service Center Operations chief, explained how the class benefited him.
“It will help everyone because it helps us engage in the conversations we aren’t comfortable having,” he said. “I’ve always considered myself a good listener, but this brought to light how I need to listen more intently.”
Tech. Sgt. Jenny Sanchez-Liermann, ARPC director of staff NCO in charge, discussed how the class was conceived.
"Master Sgt. Derrick Perrault (ARPC director of staff superintendant) and I brought the idea to ARPC because it fit the organization’s middle supervisors,” she said. “The class provides added value to people who want to use it.”