This season we’ve featured a number of prominent leaders, resource groups and talked about updates that affect our military community. This week, we were very excited to share a new kind of talent with you. Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) Dexter “Dee” Hicks has been a well-known military influencer for the past nine years. His podcast NCOPD Live has highlighted key issues and notable leaders with the goal of bolstering military leadership at every level. This week we were fortunate to speak with “The Professional Small Group Leader” (#TPSGL) about his views on leadership and how we can improve together.
A Podcast was Born
A little more than nine years ago, SFC Hick made a stop at the shoppette on post. There, he saw an NCO who was out-of-regulation and made a peer correction. The peer did not receive the correction well. Hicks took to social media to vent his frustration, receiving a lot of feedback from others with similar issues. Several days later, a similar situation occurred. Once again, Hicks took to social media and again received positive feedback from a community that felt his pain. From there, NCOPD Live was born. Hicks’ main mission remains his desire to give back.
“I wanted to bridge a gap or flatten a curve…no one can say they do not have the opportunity to get professional development,” said Hicks. “All leaders, past and present, all services, all ranks…everyone can use professional development.”
Hicks believes in an “inform, perform and be better leaders” model. From post partem policy changes to promotions and diversity and inclusion, he aims to talk about the good but also the challenges in the force.
Although the show was already widely recognized, Hicks first credits Mark Anthony Clark Jr., former Army G1 SGM, who was a guest on the podcast and helped make additional connections. Then, after a fateful email invitation to the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) John Wayne Troxell, the show really took off.
Iron Sharpens Iron
Too often, we gravitate towards the things that come easy to us – building on our strengths rather than ironing out our weakness. We forget that iron sharpens iron. If we focus only on what we’re good at and don’t challenge ourselves, it stops us from becoming the leader we were destined to be. Success comes not just in mastering one area, but in embracing all areas, even the weak ones. Understanding our personal strengths and weaknesses becomes an invaluable part of our overall growth as a person. This is obviously hard work.
Hicks often talks about iron sharpening iron. In this scenario, he thinks of a blacksmith. A toiling job, but one with a purpose. He believes everyone has a purpose but that we need teamwork to sharpen our skills. “We don’t like to go and tell people that they’re lacking in this area, and some people don’t like to receive,” said Hicks. It’s this same feedback though that promotes growth opportunities.
It’s easy to get caught up in the race for promotions and bigger titles, but being a leader in your current role is often the best way to guarantee success. Keeping your focus on where you are now and developing new skills is an important way of showing that you have the potential to progress further. When you focus on being a present leader, future promotion will follow.
For More Information
Please watch the full video of this week’s Your Next Mission® video podcast episode on our website, our YouTube channel, or our newly launched Rumble video channel.
Your Next Mission® is a program initiative of the American Freedom Foundation, a non-profit
dedicated to serving our Veterans and Families. Your Next Mission® video podcast with host
12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley features insightful conversation with subject matter experts from the
military and civilian communities. It’s a place where we can have frank and honest
conversation, tackle the tough questions, share stories, and have some fun along the way.
0 Comments