Post by Stacey Fraser on May 4, 2021 12:00:54 GMT
Lesson #2
A. Ask Refer to the assessment that you invited your colleagues to fill out. What were some areas where there were opportunities for your growth?
A big area that I feel strongly about growing in, and was noted in my assessments, is my ability to feel more comfortable with public speaking, to confidently present information and educate my team, other agencies, etc. In this area, as well, I need to make a more conscious effort to not let my facial expressions give away any true feelings. My face is very expressive and will always tell others my thoughts, good or bad!
Another area noted for me to grow in is for me not to take on so much. I constantly volunteer to help in a lot of areas so that my team is not so overwhelmed. I shy away from delegating things for fear of overworking my team, affecting my budget adversely, and due to it being hard for me to let go of control.
How might the feedback you were given inform your stretch assignment work?
The feedback provides me with areas to identify and grow in.
I have options to choose from and will pick the area I really wand trying to grow in the most.
Please make a note of a few areas where you would like to improve based on your own assessment of your skills and those of your colleagues.
As identified above, improving my confidence in my public speaking is a major goal of mine. Also, in discussion with my mentor, presenting also allows for me to have the opportunity to improve my verbal presentation skills, as well as improve on creating the actual materials for the presentation. My PowerPoint skills can also be improved tremendously.
My real anxiety for presenting comes from within, I am told it does not outwardly show, however, on the inside, my heart pounds, I am a sweaty mess, and I am quite literally terrified. In the most recent presentations I have done, I honestly have little recollection of the actual event. It is as if it is all a blur and I want to find a balance in which I am not so terrified, a confidence that will lend itself to maybe just a little less anxiety for me. I know I would be less likely to shy away from opportunities that might enhance my programs and my teams if I could even lessen my terror just a little bit.
B. How might being vulnerable improve YOUR leadership? In what areas do you hold yourself back because of a fear? What will you do to overcome that fear?
I use the vulnerabilities I have strengthen my team. Being honest with my team and sharing actual situations and issues that I struggle with allows me to be honest and open, as well as allows for my team to know that I am not perfect and that none of us are perfect. My team, for years, has known exactly where I stand, the challenges we face as a team, and my team knows that I am always here to listen and really understand obstacles they might be facing. Being openly honest and vulnerable has really built connections amongst my team members.
The major area I hold myself back in, obviously, is the public speaking aspect. I am great one-on-one and with my teams and am always considered to be confident and in control. However, outside of those areas, I really struggle with anxiety issues and it prevents me, at times, from being proactive with volunteering myself for educational presentations for other organizations and situations that might lead to collaborations and partnerships. To overcome this, I will continue with making myself present, hoping it will alleviate anxiety and build my confidence.
D. Check in with your mentor as you consider your stretch assignment. Post your stretch assignment on the board and describe how it will enhance your leadership.
In discussing with my mentor, taking into consideration the areas I really want to make an impact in my own growth, and to improve collaborations and partnerships within my programs, I will be doing a 30-minute presentation for a new MCO coming into our area. I was asked the other day to do a presentation about one of my programs and provide detailed information about our future interactions as separate agencies. I was asked to provide a PowerPoint and answer questions that the new team of service coordinators for the MCO’s may have, as well as educating them on general information and more in-depth information on how we need to collaborate in the future. The presentation will occur a few days before the LA presentation, so the timing is perfect, and I can really dedicate a few weeks to my preparation. This will not be an easy assignment/presentation, as the group will be 20 – 25 people with NO knowledge of my program, I will have to prepare a Power Point presentation, I will have to answer questions, and I will have to really deal with my anxiety so as not to completely blow it and lessen my confidence being portrayed and my internal confidence.