Hauraki and Auckland TF Battalions Combine in Leadership Training

By Warrant Officer Class Two Henry Wichman

Hauraki Battalion and Auckland North soldiers combined to conduct their first Self Leadership workshop over a weekend at the end of June.

Hauraki and Auckland TF Battalions Combine in Leadership Training (AW-10-0722-22).

The workshop was co-ordinated by the Regimental Sergeant Major 6 Hauraki Battalion, Warrant Officer Class One James Dawson and was in line with a key intent of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Sewell to develop leadership and to embrace the Army Leadership Framework (ALF).

In his opening address to the course LTCOL Sewell discussed the importance of leadership to our organisation and using a story from his past highlighted why ethos and values form the foundation building block for developing successful leadership.

As a facilitator who has worked at both the Lead Teams and Lead Leaders level, I was very impressed with the level of discussion that came from our Territorial Force Privates. These soldiers' perspectives on leadership brought some of the best discussions I've heard and reaffirmed to me the benefits the Territorial Force brings to our Army through having soldiers whose backgrounds and professions are wide ranging.

It also reaffirmed that our Private soldiers are smart and deserve our respect and the highest standards of leadership. Additionally, we should not underestimate the generally quiet and less assuming solders that we lead, for these are often our thinkers and reflectors. Some of the best "trains of thought" I heard during the weekend came from soldiers in who in the past I've hardly heard say "boo". There's a lesson there.

Lastly, in acknowledging our Commanders who addressed the issue of improving leadership within Army and brought to us the ALF, give yourselves a pat on the back, your display of wisdom is strengthening our organisation now and will continue to into the future.