Staff Writer
For Col. Rhonda Earls, leadership means learning to adapt and making timely decisions.
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| Col. Rhonda Earls, former commander of Ireland Army Community Hospital, is one of the highest-ranking women at Fort Knox. She spoke to Cadets about various aspects of leadership. Photo by Kelsey Sullivan |
Though not all of her staff agreed on what do, Earls opted for surgery. Both mom and baby survived.
“Both are well and living today,” she said. “Leadership is about more than just listening. Sometimes you need to learn to adapt your leadership style to a situation.”
Speaking July 15 to Echo Co. Cadets as part of LTC’s distinguished speakers series, Earls stressed her four focuses of leadership: character, confidence, courage and humility.
Earls is one of the few nurses in the Army to command a hospital. She served as staff nurse, assistant head nurse and head nurse of the obstetrician-gynecologist clinic at the Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox. Earls went on to hold various medical positions around the world.
With her focuses of leadership, Earls said that to build character, she advised Cadets to first know themselves.
“Make sure you are well-trained, well-studied and know what your influences are,” Earls said.
She told the Cadets to have a winning attitude to help develop their confidence.
“Lead folks to do things you wouldn’t normally do,” Earls said.
To shape their courage, she instructed them to build inner strength and then display it.
“Step out, and get yourself moving,” Earls said.
To embody humility, she recommended the Cadets take a humble approach toward different situations they may encounter, but use their imaginations, too.
“Learn how to know when you’re not on the right track, and then be able to redirect,” Earls said.
Earls then shared a few more of her creative leadership experiences with Cadets.
She told them about a “Halloween Run” she organized for her battalion to get her Soldiers involved and to help build camaraderie. Earls got special permission for her battalion to run in costumes on Halloween instead of their PT uniforms.
The story was met with laughs and smiles.
Cadet Emma Curry said her favorite part about Earls’ speech was the story of the run.
“I liked that she got her whole battalion involved instead of just the company,” said Curry, who attends New Mexico Military Institute. “She knew how to have fun and yet still be serious.”
Earls’ last significant point was about dealing with adversity. When approaching a tough situation, analyze all of the parts first, she said.
Earls said leadership styles are different and change over time.
“Leadership is hard to learn,” she said. “It is easier for some, and some have to experience it.”
Cadet Tedessa Garcia, who attends New Mexico Military Institute, said Earls’ speech was especially important and inspiring for her because she is a nursing major. For her, the most memorable part of the speech was Earls’ Warrior Ethos.
“She keeps going, and never gives up,” Garcia said. “It’s her ambition. She keeps going and does what is right.”