My Own Leadership Point of View

What do you believe about leading and motivating people?
I believe that people are almost always more than I (and sometimes they) think. They have a certain set of skills, talents, abilities, gifts and strengths to offer to the organization. I believe that if a leader allows each person to use those skills and operate at least 50% of their time in those strengths, then they will be motivated to work hard toward the achieving the goals of the organization. I believe that we are all self-motivated when we are doing something we enjoy doing. A team member who is struggling with motivation is a team member who is probably not being allowed to use their strengths at least 50% of the time. I also believe that people need to feel connected to a bigger cause, feel included in decision making, feel appreciated for their contributions, and feel they are making a difference somehow.

What kind of leader can your people expect you to be?
I will try to cast a compelling vision of where we need to go and what we could be in the future. I will be as honest and as transparent as I can safely be. Of course they can expect me to work hard and do my best - but they can also expect me to seek their input, listen to their ideas, keep my door open, receive feedback without defensiveness, take an interest in the things that are important to them, and invest time and resources in their development as a leader. I will recognize and reward those who are willing to risk and try new things. I will reward those who develop themselves and others. I will express appreciation whenever I notice someone doing well, and privately address behaviors that need correction. I will work with people (coach them) to help them improve in skills and behaviors. I will be available to those I lead both physically and relationally.


What do you expect of your people?

To keep their commitments, to work hard, to be honest always, and to work and play well with others. I expect them to be team players - collaborate with others, celebrate with others, challenge others on the team. I expect them to tell me the truth whether I like it or not. I expect them to think for themselves and not look to me to solve every problem. I expect them to be open to feedback and pushback and to bring the same to myself and others. I expect them to initiate new ways to do things- to innovate. I also expect them to commit their own time and resources to develop themselves in leadership - this means I expect them to read about leadership, to examine areas that need improving, to seek coaching and feedback and to seek out other leaders to learn from.

How will you set an example for your people?
I will do everything I stated above that I expect of them: I will demonstrate what pushback and feedback looks like, I will initiate and innovate, they will see me reading and working on myself, they will see me with other leaders for the purposes of learning from them.