Leadership Interview Paper Essay

I interviewed Becky Hendrix, Executive Director for original Care Services. I latterly had the honor of interviewing mortal in our community who has had more than twenty days of leading experience in our community. The interview ended up winning much unyieldinger than I expected because I was so influenced by what she had to say, I did not postulate to miss some(prenominal)thing. Mrs. Becky Hendrix started her career as a CPA back in the 80s for the World cloak Press. Her leading abilities were quickly realized, and she was promoted to head CPA. From there she moved on to the victor Care Service where she remained for fifteen years serving as a CPA, and finally drubing her way up to the Executive Director. Becky was in recoil of over 187 employees. My conversation with Becky took a direction that I did not expect. She attri thates her succeeder to the drawship traits that she has acquire over the years, and quoted many of the very ideas and theories al closely direc t from our class lecture. That was an incredible experience to witness firsthand how these traits be rally behaviors and practices. passim the course of our interview, Becky laid fall out the history of her leadership experience, and dited out how she has matched many of her pillow slipistics from watching other people. Becky heavily noted how leadership and focusing styles let made a drastic change over the destination 30 years from the my way, or the highway (Hendrix) approach, to a servant leadership approach. Mrs. Hendrix recalled a plaque that use to hang in her bosses office in the 80s that read Beatings and hangings will continue until morale improves That was the strategy that was used back then, but disregarded the lingering question of wherefore in the eyes of the employees.Becky extendd me with a great analogy that explained the concept of putting a screw into a board with a hammer. You fire exploit a Screw into a board with a hammer, and it will go in howev er, both she screw and the board will end up forever damaged and the board will eventually wiggle loose. (Hendrix) short check over term results can be achieved through toxic leadership, but long term goals will almost always weaken. Throughout her experience with Professional Care Services, Becky noticed that approach be used, and vowed to change it within her neighborhood of leadership. She attributes her success to that very idea.Strong inter personalized skills are peerless of the most all-important(a) characteristics she outlined for me. By that, she means take succession to be kind (Hendrix). To achieve positive results out of the people in which she work with, Becky turned her division upside down (Hendrix) or transiti mavind to a servant leadership philosophy. She wanted her employees to feel like the president of the company was nighone who not only cared most them and their concerns, but wanted to be virtuallyone who they could come to with any enigmas or ide as they have. Seek first to understand originally you try to be understood. (Hendrix) By taking time through magnetized leadership to be kind to her employees, and being empathetic toward their work and personal lives, Becky was able to achieve above average results out of average people.The world power to shut up and listen is a key trait one mustiness have to be a levelheaded leader. I asked her if she scene that by being friendly to her employees, and featureting to spang them personally interfered with her ability to delegate. Becky responded by stating that if you are firm but fair, honest and straight forth with people at all times, you will in turn commandeer respect from your employees which will provide both recrudesceies the necessary tools to excel in their respective positions. One must beware, however, of being insincere, because everyone will see objurgate through you and lose all respect. One must lead by example and be constantly and actively aware on a d aily basis that everyone is watching the leaders and modeling their actions later yours. mass put one overt care what you know until they know that you care (Hendrix).another(prenominal) key trait that Becky noted was that leaders are the ones who are free to countenance up and try it. When she was in her infant s smidgee of leadership, she volunteered to expire the store, for one of the managers. She just threw me the keys and walked out the door I was scared to death, but willing to give it a shot Yeah, I made around mistakes but I also learned how to keep from making them again. (Hendrix) leaders is a series of conquering fears and taking on challenges regardless if you have all of the answers. Your mindset must be one of I mobilise I can fix that (Hendrix). She closed the discussion on leadership traits and skills with a quote from one of her favorite authors, Zig Ziglar. If you want to press all you can out of life, you must first help others to get all they can ou t of life (Hendrix).I told Mrs. Hendrix that she had given me some great insight as to what traits and skills were necessary to being a leader among women, but wanted to know more. For me really get an idea of how these ideas and theories can be put into practice, I needed to know how one goes about actually doing these things while being in a high workload-high examine position on a daily basis. Becky stated that it all starts with the well-situated rule of treating others the way you want to be treated. Take time to stop and signify about each comment that you make. People will rally the things that you say and the way they perceive you. eternally make a certain effort wear a smile on your face (even if you dont feel like it) when dealing with others. When you are in a position of authority, people will naturally fear you, and model your emotions.If you want to employees to be happy, simply act happy around them. Secondly, one must make it a point to address others by name a t least twice in every conversation. Becky requires every one of the part time employees in her organization to wear a name tag so that she can remember their names and something about them. This is very toilsome to do however when you have over 187 people working on your team. For that reason one must use their resources. Becky required her managers to know some personal details about each employee that worked in their store. They would hold extra team building events outside of work such as an eventide out on the town. When Becky makes a visit to a store, she would first legal brief herself with the manager about the employees who worked there.She would want to know who was doing well, and a little about their personal lives. She would then go to those people and praise them in forward of their co-workers. A good strategy to use is to always praise in groups, and criticize in private. (Hendrix) When dealing with problematic employees, many managers unknowingly work around them for fear of having to deal with their complaints. When this occurs, the leader is actually rewarding the severely employee, and punishing the good employees by making them do the other persons work. This causes the good employees to slack off and learn to complain in order to get what they want. If you dont like what is being done, you better check what is being rewarded (Hendrix).Another Key practice Becky discussed was the power of questioning. During our interview, Becky performed a humor play to prove a point. She had selected the 6 of diamonds and laid it face down on the desk without my knowledge. She then told me that I was going to figure out what the solution to the problem was (what card was on the desk). She began to ask me a series of questions that caused me to rule out various suites and numbers of cards. I was astonished to find out that after only a few questions, I had figured out what card was on the desk. It made me feel like I had rationally come up with the solution on my own, thus making me feel important about my accomplishment. Rather than criticize others, ask them questions to make them realize on their own what mistakes they are making and how to improve upon them (Hendrix).Finally, I wanted to know how she got to the level of understanding that she has achieved as a leader. From the standpoint of a bookman interested in becoming a leader, how do you get from point A to Point B? Mrs. Hendrix pointed out that you must take time to develop a clearly defined and concise personal bursting charge statement. Furthermore, you must look at it each and every day and think about how you can utilize it in every situation. You must learn to become a student of people, and be able to effectively commune your visions and goals to others (Hendrix). One can begin by taking initiative in their own environment may it be work, school, social groups or any other situation you have the opportunity to stand up and be a leader. Be willing to accept t he fact that you will fail at times.One who is willing to attempt leadership and fails is better than one who never tried at all. (Hendrix). Listen to what others have to say, and encourage them to provide their input. Never criticize their ideas no matter how bad they may adept to you. This will prevent others from providing feedback that is crucial to your personal development as a leader. Most of all, Becky left me with the idea that leaders must have character and honesty. Leaders are born from the heart, not created or placed into their roles. Always act as a servant to others and listen to what they have to say. cyanogenic and Tyrannical leadership will spread like wildfire and destroy everything in its path. You have to make people want to do their part in striving for the common good, but be able and willing to do it yourself (Hendrix).ReferencesHendrix, Becky. Executive Director Ashley Vance. 17 October 2014.