Our Coast Guard Leader of the Week is Senior Chief Petty Officer Brynn Simonetti, a storekeeper assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting Office Washington, DC!
Simonetti has been an outstanding leader and mentor to so many. We are proud of her grass-roots effort with the Mentoring Project and its evolution to our new Mentoring Program! Well done Brynn!
"A good chief understands that their anchors are a symbol of responsibility to the people who work for them. That is their number one responsibility, their people. They should come to work every day ensuring that the people who work for them enjoy coming to work and that they are taken care of. A good chief knows they are always learning and that the smartest person in the room - knows that they know nothing. Be humble and be open to change, and new knowledge. Learn from your people, the goal is that you develop your people enough so that they are smarter than you, you want the people who come up after you to be more successful than you are at your job. Encourage the people who work for you to take advantage of new opportunities. Take action immediately on their work-life and professional needs, it helps maintain credibility among your team."
What advice do you have for junior members?
"As a junior member I think it’s very important to try to grasp the big picture of their responsibilities, it will help them become more innovative in their day to day operations. Also, never stop learning - pick up a book, grab a mentor, learn a new skill. It’s important to personally and professionally continue to grow. When we become stagnant in our lives and careers it leads to a lack of enthusiasm in our jobs and over all lives. Surround yourself with positive people, doing the opposite of this is not healthy, nor is it a good way to represent yourself. Ensure your shipmates are taken care of too, we are all leaders no matter your rank. Try to learn one new thing about your shipmates, you may never know the impact of taking the time to get to know someone. We are all human and we all need help from time to time. If you are having difficulties in your life or career, always know that there are so many wonderful people in this organization who consider you their family and would drop whatever they are doing to make sure you are taken care of, never hesitate to reach out."
Do you have someone you would like to nominate for the Leader of the Week? Email Chief Petty Officer Crystalynn Kneen.