SUBJ: ALL HANDS - SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP
1. THIS YEAR'S SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN WILL OCCUR DURING
THE MONTH OF APRIL.  CG-1 HAS ISSUED AN ALCOAST
(HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS/ALCOAST/ALCOAST161.09.TXT)
OUTLINING THE INITIATIVE.  TO ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC, WE'LL POST A SERIES OF LEADERSHIP GUEST BLOGS ON
ICOMMANDANT (HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/COMDT/BLOG/)IN APRIL.  EACH WILL
FOCUS ON ONE OF THE FOUR FEATURED LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES:  SELF-
AWARENESS AND LEARNING, MENTORING, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, AND
PARTNERING.  I ENCOURAGE ALL PERSONNEL TO READ THESE BLOGS AND THEN
DISCUSS (EITHER ON-LINE AND/OR AMONG YOUR SHIPMATES) HOW THESE
ATTRIBUTES CAN BE EMBRACED AT THE UNIT LEVEL.  EFFECTIVE
LEADERSHIP, EXERCISED AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, CAN
IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
2. I HAVE FREQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR EACH MAN AND WOMAN
IN THE COAST GUARD TO INTERNALIZE THE GUARDIAN ETHOS.  WE PROTECT,
DEFEND AND SAVE THE MARITIME PUBLIC WITH UNCOMMON DEDICATION ON A
DAILY BASIS.  WE MUST TURN THE GUARDIAN LENS ON OUR SHIPMATES WITH
THE SAME LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.  I CHARGE COMMAND CADRE WITH CREATING
A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE, WHERE DIVERSITY IS VALUED AND UTILIZED TO
IMPROVE MISSION PERFORMANCE, AND EACH MEMBER CAN REACH THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL. HOWEVER, THIS GOAL CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED BY THE ACTIONS OF
A FEW INDIVIDUALS.  LEADERSHIP IS AN ALL HANDS EVOLUTION.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR RANK, ENGAGE YOUR SHIPMATE IF YOU SEE THEM
STRUGGLING PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY.  DON'T LEAVE THEM ADRIFT -
THROW A LIFELINE JUST AS YOU WOULD FOR A MARINER IN DISTRESS.
3. AS THE CURRENT ECONOMIC RECESSION CREATES FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS,
THE CONTINUED HIGH OP-TEMPO LIMITS DOWN-TIME, AND THE EFFORTS TO
MODERNIZE OUR ORGANIZATION STRESS THE WORKFORCE, WE NEED TO LOOK
AFTER ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE EACH OTHER'S GUARDIAN AND TOGETHER WE CAN
REACH OUR GOALS. THERE ARE RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS DEAL WITH PERSONAL FINANCIAL TROUBLES OR WORK-LIFE
ISSUES.  THE KEY IS TO ENGAGE RATHER THAN WALK AWAY FROM PROBLEMS.
4. I CHALLENGE MEMBERS OF OUR WORKFORCE TO SET THE BAR HIGH FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. USE THIS CAMPAIGN AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS YOU
FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AT THE UNIT LEVEL.  ABOVE ALL ELSE,
BE A GUARDIAN - FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR SHIPMATES, AND FOR THE
NATION.
5. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COAST GUARD.
SEMPER PARATUS.
6. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.