CPOA Reflection

The Coast Guard’s Chief Petty Officer Academy (CPOA) staff utilize a reap what you sow philosophy in their curriculum. Attending the CPOA enhanced me not only as a person but also as a professional, and was worth the time, money and effort spent to complete the course. The three aspects of CPOA that were most valuable to me were: the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) 360 as part of the Leadership Challenge, the Coaching lesson, and networking with fellow team members and classmates. I am certainly a better person and senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) having attended the CPOA. The first takeaway I would like to discuss is my experience with the Leadership Challenge. The LPI 360 feedback I received will help me become a better leader and person. It pleased me to see that my coworkers value my contribution to the unit and respect me as a SNCO and technician. I was humbled though to read through comments made by my co-workers and reflect upon their statements and feedback. As I return to the work-center, I will more openly and
Counseling, mentoring, coaching and feedback are all part of being an effective leader, but sometimes we lose sight of how to properly engage our co-workers. I’m looking forward to utilizing the simple coaching techniques that I learned at CPOA as I transition back to work. I especially liked the distinction made between mentoring and coaching because in the process of coaching, compared to mentoring, the “I” is taken out of the scenario and the coaching session becomes all about the other person discovering the answer to their own problem. I plan to follow the simple steps of listening, acknowledging/validating and asking questions to help my co-workers deal with issues they have at work and at home. The Air Force strives to create mentors in all of its personnel. These new tools will enable me to fulfill the role of mentor and coach as a leader and