Not sure who to give credit to for this, but I LOVE it!
So very true J
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Model the Way (Work VS Home)
Just submitted my Leadership Development Action Plan. Boy, I drive myself crazy sometimes over thinking things and trying to perfect something that really doesn’t need to be. Gesh!
I am feeling fairly confident that leadership is on my radar (in terms of train of thought) and I am excited for the first leadership clinic this Wednesday, as well as meeting up with some of my team members for lunch. Our lunchtime discussion is going to be on ‘Model the Way’, and it got me thinking – how do I model the way? I think I need to give a re-read to Chapters 3 & 4 of Kouzes and Posner's The Leadership Challenge, so that I can really hone in on this for my next post. But for now, these are my preliminary feelings about it:
I think a big part of my model is showing kindness, which I place a great deal of value on. To me it comes naturally; sometimes it pays off tremendously and I feel empowered that I can make others feel good about themselves and their work. Other times it leaves me feeling stomped on and powerless when things don’t go so “happily” because I sit back and get angry inside instead of reasonably speaking about how I truly feel in that moment, then opt to sleep on it, sweep it under the rug and make assumptions(baaaaaaaaad, I know!). At work, I feel as though I am often stuck between a rock and hard place. My career path feels as though it is truly going no where and no one is going to care if I don’t. Sometimes it concerns me greatly that I still feel dissatisfied with my "career" , but other times I take comfort in the fact that I have a wonderful family that needs me and that I love very much.
There is a fairly large discrepancy between how I model the way at work vs. how I model the way in my home life. Why is that? I think it’s partially a comfort/situational thing, but there has to be more to it than that. Perhaps it has something to do with the line "If you don't believe in the messenger, you won't believe the message?" Am I perhaps a little too meek at work, and stronger/more self assured at home? Definitely something for me to think about moving forward. Why is it that I allow myself to sometimes be a pushover at work, where as at home I will speak my mind? There needs to be more balance between the two in terms of listening to my values and setting the examples that come with those values regardless of where I am and what I am doing.
To end on a more positive note, here is a café assignment from earlier this year where I spoke about how someone modelled the way for me - ENJOY!
Experience of Model the Way
Written February 2011
Entering the world of government at the ripe old age of nineteen, I was intimidated to say the least. Ridiculously shy and unsure of myself, I had no clue what I was getting myself in to. Although I was a quick and eager learner, I doubt I would have lasted my first fire season as a seasonal Information Coordinator had it not been for Wendy.
Wendy was my direct supervisor and she ‘modelled the way’ for me right from the get go. She took me under her wing, and even in the pressure of having a very busy and stressful fire season, our team had a lot of fun and showed a lot of respect for one another. She was very encouraging, thoughtful, and let her staff learn from their mistakes instead of punishing them. Her positive demeanour was infectious.
Although I know perfection isn’t always reality, I now taking pride in myself and the work that I do because of the values that Wendy inspired me to strive for. In a male dominated field such as forestry, she stood her own and was well respected by field staff. She had a lot of integrity and her modesty is something I will always admire.
Wendy encouraged me to come out of my shell and to know that I am capable of much more than I am aware of. I will always be truly thankful for the positive impact she has had on my life in the six years that I worked for her. Although she has moved to Ontario
Friday, September 16, 2011
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