Reading for a change - MTMC's professional development program
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Usually, there is not enough time.
At the Military Traffic Management Command time is being dedicated throughout the command for professional discussion and developments.
This is being accomplished with a developmental reading program.
Monthly, leaders and staff officers throughout the command read, debate and consider the lessons from a wide variety of professional texts.
The program was the idea of Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, MTMC commander. The program started with four books: "The Flight of the Buffalo," "Reengineering the Corporation," "The Leadership Challenge" and "The Goal."
The list has grown since I took on the program last August.
Some of the books read and discussed at headquarters include "The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons," "Who Moved My Cheese?" "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," "Leading Change," and "The 2000% Solution: Free Your Organization from Stalled Thinking to Achieve Exponential Success."
"They all have one thing in common -- they are very Inspirational. There is something new in each book.
At MTMC Headquarters, each staff principal sends the commanding general a book report after we discuss it at a monthly brown-bag book discussion. The pivotal point of the discussion is to draw ideas, concepts and knowledge from the book and apply it to MTMC processes and organization.
At times, the discussion can be quite frank and provocative.
"The intent of the reading program is a positive one," said Ana Colon, equal employment opportunity officer. "However, we still have work to do. We need to put in effect what we have read and learned - that is still a challenge"
MTMC's subordinate commands have similar professional development programs.
The Deployment Support Command's staff also reads a book a month for its reading program. The books are selected on the basis of such criteria as professional development, Army goals and vision, timeliness of applicability and entertainment value," said Rob Taraba, chief, concepts, initiatives and projects office.
Titles range from "Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times" to "Winnie the Pooh on Management: In Which a Very Important Bear and His Friends Are Introduced to a Very Important Subject."
Commanders and staff principals are expected to participate.
"There is a Web site on the DSC Intranet where comments, insights and discussions are posted for all participants to review," said Taraba.
Some of the titles have carried over to the rest of the command. Last September Col. Keith Morrow, chief of staff, discovered "Who Moved My Cheese." Based on his recommendation, it was added into DSC's reading program.
It was quite a discovery; the book soon became a favorite throughout MTMC.
The book as been on the New York Times Best Seller List for the last 34 weeks -- since December 1999, said Taraba.
The 598th Transportation Group reading program included: "The Flight of the Buffalo" and "The Goal."
" 'The Goal' made the point that the whole system is only as strong as the weakest link," said Lt. Col. Carol Umstaeder, deputy commander. "It made us focus on that link and how to maximize its input.
"This was good at the Group staff level. I used that concept in developing deadlines that effect multiple directorates. Instead of directing deadlines, I made the director or team give me a date - it empowered them and they did a much better job meeting the deadline."
The book "Flight of the Buffalo" reinforced empowerment which is absolutely required in this type of organization, said Lt. Col. Kirk Foster, commander, 838th Transportation Battalion, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
"Commanders empower subordinates," said Foster. "They, in turn, empower the members of the respective sections -- by default, productivity increases."
Another addition to the reading program was "The Defense Transportation Regulation, Parts I- IV."
"The purpose was to get back to basics and arm commanders and employees with the right documentation procedures," said Umstaeder.
A parallel program is run by the 599th Transportation Group.
"Feedback from the commanders and me goes directly back to Major General Privratsky," said Col. John Bordwell, commander.
"Each review is divided into two sections, "What have I learned from the book" and "What application do I see for my organization."
"The most important idea I took from "Reengineering the Corporation," was not to ask how to do what we do faster, better, cheaper," said Bordwell.
"The real question is, 'Why do we do what we do at all?' "
At MTMC's Transportation Engineering Agency, director William Cooper established a reading program for his senior staff. His division chiefs write reviews of the books that they have read.
"I was most impressed with "The Flight of the Buffalo" and "The Goal," said Cooper. "And yes, I used what I learned from these books to help re-engineer our organization and to help lead it." (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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