REBORN LEADERSHIP
with Tim Nadolny
A Story of Leadership
Separated from my family, I traveled thousands of miles across the earth to arrive at a new job that I have never done before and placed in charge of 23 people I have never met before. I have led teams before but this was different.
This new team was a selection of men and women from all around the world, and each of them were unique. The job was full of extraordinary purpose and meaning.
Then why do I remember the heavy feeling of despair that filled the air?
I got to work immediately. It took me 3-weeks to learn about my new position and to understand my predecessor’s relationship with his boss and with the team he was placed in charge of. There were conflicts between members.
Tasks were delivered down one-way, filled with disdain and received apathetically. Members were constantly criticized as the entire leadership chain pointed out their faults, errors and failures as they were discovered.
The largest problem was not only inside the work center but with the regional director. He had little to no belief in his people. His actions influenced the 2 direct supervisors of the team by using coercion and fear to drive the mission only to leave his people feeling used and worthless.
My job was clear. I was to protect and shield my new team. I was to inspire, and motivate them. I was to give purpose and value filled with tangible proof!
In 2-months I did just that and built a team who found inspiration and meaning in the work they did. Within 6-months they walked away with 7 individual quarterly awards and were recognized as the regional district’s Team of the Year.
I am honored to have been a part of that team, and filled with gratitude to realize my purpose.
Tim’s Story
I enlisted in the Air Force in June 2002; however I am not a stereotypical military-man.
Filled with fascination and as a student of leadership, I have led countless professional development courses, and taught the principles of leadership for over 7-years at multiple school houses.
I successfully applied many leadership approaches over the last 20-years and have led teams in 5 different careers fields at over 8 countries around the world.
Here are Some Highlights of My Journey
– In 2011, I applied and interviewed to become an Airman Leadership School Instructor in Okinawa, Japan. For 3-years I facilitated guided discussions on theories of leadership to over 300 newly selected supervisors. I taught supervisory principles on how to build and create teams. Focusing on verbal, non-verbal, written, and interpersonal communication, I helped shape some of the best students in the Air Force to become leaders within their organizations.
– My next assignment was to take these leadership principles and put them into action as I was placed in charge of 12 Airmen at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Navigating my way through this team was a journey as there were both manning and resource challenges in an undesirable location for most of my team members. Overcoming these challenges, I developed this team into one bursting with commitment and purpose not only towards the mission, but to each other. This team realized the profound effects of trust and cooperation by earning 2 annual team awards.
– Challenging the limits of my leadership in a demanding environment, I was selected to become a Military Training Instructor (Boot Camp Instructor). I led thousands of young men and women through the transformation into Airman. Regardless of what you might have seen in any movie, the opportunity to hone and develop my personal leadership to mold 50 strangers into an effective team that trusts each other every 8-weeks was truly awe inspiring.
– At the pinnacle of my career I found myself teaching advanced leadership concepts to the top 10% of the Air Forces highest performing leaders as Basic Military Training’s sole Deliberate Leadership Development Instructor. Leading guided discussions and in-depth 2-day behavioral workshops, I dove deeper into what it means to lead. It was in this position where I solidified my love of teaching and experienced the awesome power of how to help others develop as humble and inspiring leaders.
Professional Degrees and Certifications
– Community College of the Air Force degree – Instructor of Technology and Military Science
– Community College of the Air Force degree – Education and Training Management
– University of Phoenix Bachelors of Science in Business
– University of Phoenix Small Business Management & Entrepreneurial Certificate
– Thomas N. Barnes Center – Certified Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor
– Certified Community College of the Air Force Instructor Level II
– Certified Practitioner of Step 1 & 2 of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
– Advanced Communicator Bronze – Toastmasters International