More than 70 Airmen gathered for the most recent installment of the Lunch and Leadership series at the McChord Field chapel support center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, March 3.

This lecture was given by Lt. Col. Jaron Roux, 62nd Operations Support Squadron commander who talked about what he sees as the key elements to becoming a successful leader and how to use them.

“We all have different ideas of what leadership is and I think that’s good,” said Roux. “The main thing I want you to take away is; leadership that is pure is authentic, authentic to each and every one of you.”

Showing photos of people who he considers great leaders, Roux explained that each of them have qualities and styles that are unique.

“I can admire [them], I can try and incorporate things [they] did, but I cannot be [them], I have to be me,” said Roux. “Embrace who you are, be authentic and tell your story, each and every one of us has a story.”

Roux told his story of being raised by his grandparents, the lessons he learned from them and how the way he was raised influences him still to this day.

“Everyone’s story is the foundation of who you are and how you lead in the Air Force,” said Roux. “You take your story and use it as the fuel to go out and lead in your own unique way.”

Along with using your own story to help lead, Roux went on to talk about how being self-aware is an important trait for successful leaders to have.

“We are quick to jump on our strengths, but for us to be truly authentic we must be willing to recognize our weaknesses,” said Roux.“Being self-aware and recognizing your weakness is not a weakness, it is a strength.”

Roux touched on how everyone should live their values and principles and not simply use them as cliché statements to repeat when useful.

“In my office I have my vision [statement]; ‘excellence as a standard, not an option’,” said Roux. “Excellence, plain and simple is doing the best at the level you are on. If I’m a co-pilot, I don’t need to be the best instructor pilot. I need to be the best co-pilot and that translates to everything else.”

Knowing the importance of internal and external motivations and how to balance them was another key to successful leadership, he stated. 

Roux closed out his key leadership elements with talking about humility.

“You cannot be a good leader anywhere on the planet and not have humility,” said Roux. “You can’t just have humility outwardly, you have to do it at home too.

“You can’t just be humble in front of people when it’s okay to do it,” said Roux. “True humility is a 24-hour a day thing.”

Roux drew the largest crowd this year for the series and was able to touch on new subjects for people as well las reinforce leadership principles they already valued. 

“I thought the lecture was very powerful and something that needs to be highlighted with the diversity of today's Air Force,” said Staff Sgt. Preston Nealy, 62nd Judge Advocate adverse actions NCOIC. “We have to ensure that all Airmen understand they can lead and that they will lead best once they understand who they are as a person, while staying humble in the process.”

Having attended multiple lectures, Nealy sees the benefits of the attending the lectures.

“If I want to learn how to continue to lead I must seek out advice from every possible avenue so I can be better,” said Nealy.

For more information about future events, call Capt. Trevor Evans with the 62nd Airlift Wing commander's action group at 253-982-7832.