Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I still believe that leaders who connect with others are true leaders and they
the respect of those they lead. It is imperative that they embody credibility
and integrity. Without these two standards to live by, it is very difficult to
maintain any sense of respectability for the office of leader. I still believe
that all the traits that I put in the initial map are essential for any leader.
I have a different view of a servant leader after this class. Now, I see that
concept as more of caring about others rather than doing for others. Before
this class I linked it more with servitude. Now I view it as being genuinely
interested in helping people and not always with tasks.
Also, I found the followership theories very interesting and this was a new
concept to me altogether. Of course, I have learned through the years that
you have to treat people with respect and fairness. However, I did not
understand the concept of how followers affect their leaders. Now that I am
aware of this, I see how followers can have a major impact on their leaders
and many times it is not in a good way. The theory of followership was
probably the most profound to me.
Finally, the last module about neuroscience blew me away. I was talking with
my seven year old daughter about how we need to let our brain rest. I
explained that doctors now how science to show that many times we are
creative and solve problems when we are not thinking about them.
That same week she wanted to play on her iPad while traveling to see my
parents. I explained that she needed to just look out the window and let her
mind think about nothing. Later that evening, I overheard her tell my mother
that, the doctor says you can solve problems if you just look out the window
and rest your head.
For a long time I have thought that leaders had to be creative and always
thinking about that next big thing. I admit there have been times when I
thought I was not a good leader because I was not creating all the time. The
video was a nice reminder that creative people really do not know how they
create. I was happy to learn that rest and relaxation are very important
pieces to the puzzle. I always feel much better after a week off so it must be
true!
I believe that the leadership strength is working well with others and
connecting with people. Leadership Development, primarily for those who
are moving from a non-managerial position into a supervisory role is one
area that I believe I am most effective. I believe this primarily because that
is how I came up through the ranks. It is with my experience of going
through that period in my professional development that helps me connect
with people. Also, I believe that people can do anything they want. They
truly need a cheerleader, someone who can make them believe in
themselves. Again, through my own experience am I able to relate to those
thirty-somethings who pursue further education. I share those experiences
and am transparent so that people understand I messed up along the way.
3. Work-Life Balance
a. Develop better time management skills and learn to say no to
commitments that do not benefit me, my work, my family
(without becoming totally selfish!!!!)
b. Plan to leave the office four out of five days over the next six
weeks to establish a pattern
c. Plan to stop checking phone for email/voice messages after 6pm
each evening and not at all on the weekends
d. Module 15s video gave me a whole new perspective on rest and
being creative. For a long time I have felt that I need to be
creative to be a leader. I plan to take more time off throughout
the year to recharge.
ii. Getting home earlier will ensure that I eat with my family
and have a better meal as opposed to eating on the go