HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- In economic times such as these, one way to get ahead of the awe-inspiring amount of competition is to develop leadership skills, even if you're not in a position to lead.

Leaders are needed at every level of organization, said Tracy Stauder, a flight director within the 309th Software Maintenance Group, as she began her seminar entitled "The Leader in All of Us" on March 12. Stauder's presentation was just one of many planned by Hill's Federal Women's Program for Women's History Month.

As they sat in Room 1 of Building 1279, taking notes and asking questions, ten women unwittingly exhibited Stauder's No. 1 habit of being a leader: being proactive. Of course, this was only one trait of many, as everyone would soon find out.

Some of Stauder's tips and strategies for being an effective leader were simple things that could be practiced every day.

"Smile," she said. "I think that sets people at ease." Stauder also stressed that effective communication is key to good leadership. More times than not, she added, she has found that when there are problems with a team, people aren't communicating effectively.

She continued on to state that keeping things simple should be a priority. "How you phrase things is important," she added.

Other leadership traits involved self-assessment and conditioning. Being proactive, of course, was one of these traits.

"Being proactive is really the habit of choice," Stauder explained. People who are proactive have the freedom to choose their responses and reactions based on their principles and desired results, she said.

Stauder also stressed the importance of having a goal or priorities. She recommended having a personal mission statement, and pointed out that "knowing those priorities and taking time to focus on them is important."

Other habits of effective leadership included in Stauder's speech were: beginning with a desired end in mind, putting priorities first, thinking win-win and synergizing. Stauder took these from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," a book by Stephen R. Covey and one that Stauder relies on heavily to explain and develop good leadership skills.

One of Covey's habits required some extra explanation. "Sharpening the saw," Stauder said, involves four dimensions of renewal: physical, mental, social and spiritual. Renewing these dimensions involves things such as exercising, reading or keeping a journal, cultivating relationships with others and staying committed to your values, Stauder explained.

She also had to give kudos to Hill's Wellness Program for enriching the bodies, hearts, minds and souls of those affiliated with the base, all part of "sharpening the saw."

Last but not least, Stauder ended with Covey's eighth habit, one he added to the list several years later. "Did the author forget a habit?" Stauder asked. No, she answered. Instead he felt that simply being effective as individuals was no longer optional in today's world, she explained.

She continued, today's need is "greatness."

"It's kind of about going above and beyond," Stauder said.

Here at Hill, we have Airmen and civilians both going above and beyond every day. So what is our job according to Covey's eighth habit?

"To find your voice and inspire others to find their voice," Stauder said.