Leaders need essential leadership skills to lead effectively. The Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Academy teaches these essential skills to improve leadership capabilities within the fleet. During my time at the CPO Academy, I gained essential leadership knowledge and skills throughout the courses I took and will take back to the unit. One course that had a significant impact was the Facilitative Leadership course, which gave me the tools to effectively lead a meeting. Additionally, the Change Management course provided me with the skills to support command policy and gain crew buy-in. Finally, the stress management course imparted knowledge to me on how to manage stress and alleviate it. First, let's discuss the tools I gained during the Facilitative Leadership course and will use when I return to the unit. An important aspect that I will implement is the delegation of tasks during a meeting to keep the group involved. According to the “Performance Improvement Guide,” an effect meeting group should consist of a timekeeper, a scribe, a recorder and a co-facilitator. Identifying symptoms of stress is important in order to maximize productivity. One way I plan to apply this skill is to spend time with the crew. When I arrive at work, I plan to spend a lot of time on the watch deck to become more friendly with the crew. This will allow me to better listen to what is happening in their lives and better identify markers of stress. This will benefit both me and the crew. By knowing what triggers my stress, I can apply methods to alleviate it. An example is that if I were suffering from emotional stress, I would try to “connect emotional symptoms to their sources” and “attempt to let go of an event beyond my control” (Orioli 70). Ultimately, stress management skills are among the essential skills a leader must master.