LEAD.301.C1 Personal Leadership

Please don't generalize the answer ;(

Week 2 Discussion Forum

This week, our discussion forum will focus on purpose mastery. Leaders who have mastered this are clear about what is important to them, their values, and their purpose. You will find below the pre-work exercise this forum, which provides directions for identifying your values. Be sure to download that and do the exercise as pre-work for this forum. Also, be sure to watch my screencast on how to discern your purpose.

Also, in our course reserves, I have posted a short segment from the Anderson and Adams book I have mentioned, Mastering Leadership. I strongly encourage you to read it... It is only four pages. I also will post a short screencast.

Part 1: Your Values

In your initial post, share your individual values, definitions, and rank. Discuss to what extent you are living your values and challenges you have had living your values. You don't have to bare your soul; give us a flavor of some of your common struggles. It is hard to always live our values. If applicable, provide each other specific feedback on how you have seen each other's values show up in your interactions either in class or at work.

Here is an example of a person's values and how they came to be important to them. I encourage you to share your values in the form of a story. It is a very powerful way to communicate with others, and they are much more likely to remember what is important to you and why.

One of my long-time values is treating people with respect. I remember learning this from my father when I was very young. My father was a building contractor and had some people in our house doing some work. I noticed that he was being extremely nice to them, offering them food, coffee, etc. I was surprised because in my mind at the time... they were workers, and I wondered why he was being so nice. When they left, I asked him. I will never forget what he said... "By treating people well, they went out of their way to doooo aaaa really good job for me. It is important to treat people who work for you well." I never forgot that; it became an important value for me in my professional/leadership life. My value is treating people who work for me with respect and kindness. I have translated that into a leadership principle: To createee aaaa workplace environment that supports respect for others, I will treat others the way I want.

Part 2: Your Purpose

Share your thoughts on that and what you think your purpose is... if you are not clear, say that. How I articulate my purpose changes over time, so go with where you are now. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Here are some videos to spur your thinking.

TO DO:

You need to respond to your classmates post in the above discussion forum.example (Hello,mate!

I also chose honesty as a value and I believe that being honest is sometimes challenging to me because it can lead to having difficult conversations or situations with others that may feel uncomfortable or even painful. I recall a time that one of my supervisors was giving critical feedback to one of my colleagues and my supervisor felt resistance or pushback from my colleague because he was not prepared to hear the truth or felt upset by my supervisor's actions. I have learned that as a leader I need to have a high EQ, or emotional intelligence, and communicate my feelings in a clear and respectful manner while truly listening to the other person.)

Classmates post #1

Section 1: I must make it clear that there must be a sincere understanding of work and life balance, and frankly speaking, the "life balance" should always take priority over your work balance. I am completely aware that there are companies and organizations that prefer to put your career over your life at home, and I completely disagree and gravitate away from those people. I sincerely feel it is a psychological discrepancy when one is putting their career or work above their families and relationships. To me, it indicates that there is something wrong with your "life" for your "work" to be of such premium importance. When that became a problem for me, it took me time to recognize it. I was able to eventually walk away when my work/life balance became unhealthy, but succumbing to alcoholism to cope with my work life affected my home life well. That should never happen, and no one should be pressured for that to happen. I believe I am now setting an example with what I preach because of doing that. Secondly , I believe "extreme accountability" is of crucial importance from an integrity standpoint. When things go wrong, I think it is important to take ownership of failures. Too many people are willing to throw others under the bus when things go wrong, and it is often the people lower in the "chain of command" who suffer from those unfortunate results. Retired NAVY Seal Jocko Willink gives me my drive to have what he calls "extreme accountability", and if I as a leader can admit my mistakes, it will encourage others to be more forthcoming when an error or mistake occurs. Finally, I have to give credence to Grand Admiral Thrawn of Star Wars, to know the difference between an error and a mistake. Everybody is capable of errors. It is only a mistake when you do not learn from the error. As such, I make a point of always learning from my errors so they never become a mistake (lest I get stabbed in the back by one of Grand Admiral Thrawn's body guards for committing a mistake). Section 2: My purpose is to be the leader that I rarely had to others. Being a leader is not easy, but it is extremely crucial that the correct person is put in such a position of power. If it is the wrong person, it is not just the leader that suffers, but the entire team. Simply put, some people (I would venture to say many) are not up to the task more often than not. I have had examples of excellent leaders who provided excellent leadership, and I know how hard they are to come by. I also know how much of a difference they can make when they are able to control a steady ship. I hope to be a reliable and dependable leader that others can count on and look up to. I want to lead by example, and "walk the walk" or "talk the talk" when it comes time to put theory to action. Finally, I hope to develop the resourcefulness and versatility to counteract to changes when things do not go perfectly to plan.

YOUR RESPONse #1

Classmates #2

Aloha everyone,

Part 1: Growing up in a poor neighborhood in Hawaii, Ohana (family) and aloha (love and compassion) have always been the most important values to me. Living on these beautiful islands has taught me to appreciate the natural world, and I value sustainability and respecting my elders.

I try my best to live these values every day, like spending time with my family, helping strangers, and spreading the aloha spirit. But, I admit it's challenging when I see some of others not being as mindful of the others or when I have to deal with conflicts with people. Sometimes it's tough to be patient and loving when things get difficult.

While being in the Air Force was really important to me. Serving in the military has instilled in me a sense of duty, honor, and discipline. It's a commitment that can be demanding, especially when I have to balance it with my values, responsibilities in my community, and my job as a firefighter.

In 2009, I went through a tough period in my personal life, experiencing a divorce, which added another layer of complexity to my daily challenges. It's been a process to find balance and healing while staying true to my values and commitments.

Now, I'm navigating the joys and struggles of a new marriage, which is another journey altogether. Balancing my post-military service, firefighting, and family life while ensuring that my new marriage thrives is a constant challenge. Communication and understanding are key in making it work, and I'm learning and growing every day.

Part 2: Now my purpose is to continue to evolve and take different forms as I go through different phases of life. Considering my background as a military veteran, firefighter, and someone who has experienced marriage, my purpose is to mentor and support others. With my military and firefighting background, I have skills and experiences that can be shared with others. I try to mentor to young service members and seasonal firefighters, by helping them navigate their careers and personal goals.

Every day, I continuously seek knowledge and personal growth by pursuing new hobbies, interests, or educational opportunities. My purpose is a deep personal journey, and it's a combination of these elements or trying something different. I truly do what brings me joy and a sense of meaning into my life.

YOUR RESPONS #2

Classmates #3

Part 1: My Values My core values are fairness and kindness, being a good person, accepting others, teaching and meeting them where they are. I also hold my family in the highest regard, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance for myself and others is crucial to me. These values have deeply influenced how I approach life and the challenges I face. Fairness: Fairness to me means advocating for equal opportunities and just treatment for everyone. I strive to ensure that my decisions and actions in both my personal and professional life are equitable. Kindness: Kindness is something I hold dear. I try to approach others with warmth, consideration, and a willingness to help whenever I can. It's a value that guides my interactions with people. Acceptance: I strongly believe in accepting others for who they are, regardless of their background or perspective. Creating an inclusive and respectful environment is a priority for me. Teaching and Empathy: These values drive me to help others grow and learn. I often find myself in mentorship roles and actively seek opportunities to share my knowledge and experiences to uplift those around me. Family and Work-Life Balance: My family means the world to me, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is vital. It's a constant effort to nurture personal relationships while managing multiple roles as a wife, mother, professional, student, friend, daughter, and sister. Struggles: Balancing all these roles can be quite challenging. Like many of us, I often find it difficult to juggle the demands and expectations that come with each role. Achieving the perfect balance is often unrealistic, but I'm learning to manage my priorities and ensure that I dedicate quality time to each aspect of my life when it matters most. Embracing these values and acknowledging the challenges of work-life balance has helped me make decisions that align with my priorities and lead to a more fulfilling life. It's an ongoing journey, and I'm always looking for ways to improve and find harmony in my diverse roles. Part 2: Your Purpose My current articulation of my purpose is to empower others through knowledge and empathy. I believe that by sharing what I learn and fostering understanding and compassion, I can make a positive impact on individuals and communities. Explanation: I see my purpose as a blend of my values. Continuous learning allows me to accumulate knowledge that I can then share with others, empowering them to grow and achieve their goals. Additionally, my values of fairness and kindness align with the idea of empathy, which I believe is essential in building meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging. Challenges: Balancing my roles as a student, professional, and family member while fulfilling this purpose can be challenging. It's crucial for me to find efficient ways to share knowledge and promote empathy without overwhelming myself.

YOUR RESPONSE #3

Classmates #4

Part 1:

One of my values is honesty. I define honesty as being truthful and transparent in all interactions and communications at work, school, and my personal life. I believe that honesty has remained high throughout my life because of one of my earliest dishonest experiences.

When I worked with a certain county commissioner many years ago, we sought an architect to build a community center. The architect who wins the contract would receive about $75,000 from the precinct's budget. Strangely, a representative from one of the five architectural firms constantly met with the commissioner in his office. A few days later, each firm made its sales pitch to a group of 10 individuals, including myself, and based on those presentations, we ranked each firm from most to least favorable. The firm with the highest grade would become the chosen architectural firm.

However, what was odd after the presentation was that the purchasing director asked each grader to submit only the form with our name on it without our grade. We submitted a blank grading sheet. The county's purchasing director said he would take care of the rest. It turns out the grading we were supposed to do was done by the director himself. He filled out the ten pages from each group member, ranked a specific architectural firm with high marks, and ultimately led to one firm winning the contract.

Little did I know that the architectural contract winner was the commissioner's best friend from high school. The 10 group members and the four other firms were duped. The game outcome had already established a winner. The reason behind having a paper trail from the presentations was to legitimize the process and in case anyone questioned the authenticity of the fair ranking through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

From that early life experience, I struggled with adequately addressing ethical dilemmas in my professional and personal life, and honesty often conflicted with my other values and priorities. However, I have learned that I prioritize honesty and have found ways to balance commitments to honesty with different values and preferences, including compassion and loyalty, in order to make the best decision for myself and those around me.

Section 2:

Despite my life having been through evolving challenges, I believe that honesty has a purpose because it is a key component of building trust and credibility with others. If I continue prioritizing honesty, I will be more likely to be seen as an authentic and transparent leader, which could help me build stronger relationships with team members, family, and friends. By being honest about my intentions, actions, and decisions, I, as a leader, can createee aaaaaa culture of openness and accountability where everyone can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.

However, there will be challenges that can arise by prioritizing honesty in my leadership. For example, when I commit to honesty, I may struggle with communicating difficult feedback or making tough decisions that could have negative consequences for others. I may also face pressure to compromise my values to achieve short-term goals or maintain relationships with those around me. I need to balance my commitment with honesty with other values, such as empathy or strategic thinking, to make the best decision for myself and my coworkers or family.

YOUR RESPONSE #4