Greetings Brothers & Sisters:
Leadership is defined as “the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a shared vision or goal. It involves inspiring, motivating, and empowering others to achieve their full potential and produce outcomes that wouldn’t be possible alone. Key aspects include setting direction, aligning people, fostering commitment, and developing a culture of trust and growth within an organization.”
True leadership is NOT simply a position or a title. Being a leader takes hard work, experience, and humility. It takes sacrifice and the ability to put the well-being of others before your own. You must be able to adapt and overcome challenges in the world around you to help others succeed. Leaders must be able to admit they don’t have every answer but be willing to seek information and solutions. Leaders must be open to new ideas and different ways to accomplish goals for the good of their team.
As I write this article and continue to work through the loss of my close friend and our brother, Javi, I struggle to find the right words. It is extremely painful to mourn such a loss and simultaneously be excited for this opportunity to lead our local.
While working through these emotions, I am reflecting on my approach. Looking back on my life, there’s a pattern of being asked or “voluntold” to fulfill various leadership roles. These roles have looked simple and sometimes silly over the past 30 years: senior patrol leader in Boy Scouts, high school varsity team captain, Air Force boot camp flight lead, squad leader, job foreman, ETASV instructor, executive board member, and 332 president. Each role has been a building block to answer the ultimate call to serve the membership as your business manager.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that success as a leader is not defined by personal accomplishments. It is defined by the growth of those around you. It is measured by how many brothers and sisters you can inspire and lift up to find your own version of success. That is the approach I will take as your business manager. I’m excited to continue serving the local and building upon all our accomplishments together. I thank you for your kind words and support over the past few weeks. Your faith in me is humbling, and it inspires me to do my very best.
Always 332,
Pete Seaberg
Local 332 Business Manager