Post by Gregg Caplitz on May 5, 2021 10:32:20 GMT
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? How might the feedback you were given inform your stretch assignment work? 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. Work with your mentor and share your thoughts on the discussion board.
I found the 360 Assessment quite informative. I found the feedback from my boss and a new peer most valuable. Particularly when they both suggested I could improve my communication, which I considered one of my greatest strengths. How could such a basic evaluation of myself be so incorrect. As I discussed the feedback with these two individuals and my mentor I began to realize something that should have been clear to me both from the Communications module and my prior reading in this crucial area. I had begun to think of communications solely in regard to verbal communications. I had begun to ignore important parts of it like body language, facial gestures and other non-verbal forms of communications. Things like eye rolls, facial expressions in ZOOM meetings had taken away from my strongpoint which is my verbal skills. Absent this assignment how long would it take me to realize that my so-called area of strength was an area I needed to focus on improving.
It did also help me identify the area of improvement I knew I had such as Teamwork. I knew I had significant experience as a leader of subordinates but the whole process of leading peers and superiors was very new to me since my prior experience was in a small company that I ran primarily. This helped me to select my stretch assignment which I will describe in an answer below.
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?
Being vulnerable is a difficult experience for me. I understand that it can improve your empathy and lead to stronger team building but I am old enough to remember when vulnerability in the workplace was a sign of weakness. Like an injured animal wandering away from the herd when lions are present. If you displayed vulnerability, you quickly became a snack. I have begun to move away from this rigid approach and understand that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength.
This has been driven home to me by my health challenges. I simply can’t do what I once did and some days are worse, much worse than others. I have learned to share with my peers and superiors some of these issues so they can understand that on certain days I am much less capable than others. The old Gregg would have found the results quite surprising. Instead of becoming a snack I have become more effective. My peers and superiors respect my issues and limitations and value my persistence in powering through these issues as best I can. I have always been more vulnerable in my personal life. My recent experiences have helped me in my professional life by showing that vulnerability can be a strength.
C. 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.
My stretch assignment is to create an Advisory Board for Community Work Services. We are currently preparing for a CARF Accreditation in the fall. I was selected to be on the team preparing for it. While reviewing company procedures I identified that CWS was supposed to have an advisory board of corporate and community leaders to support the mission, particularly in public relations and fund raising. This would necessitate me first receiving approval to beginning the project from Craig Stenning, our Executive Director. I would then need to assemble a team of peers and superiors to create a presentation to receive approval from CWS’ Board of Directors.
Once approval was received we would need to select a list of community, business and philanthropic leaders who could, if successfully recruited aid CWS in its overall mission, publicity and most importantly fund raising. This project would require demonstrating the ability to lead peers and superiors in a common mission and then to help influence those individuals we select to actively consider joining the Advisory Board. We would be working with influencers in the community. A group I have little experience with. I would need to overcome my insecurities about being a returning citizen traveling in rarefied circles to successfully accomplish, with our team this vital mission
I found the 360 Assessment quite informative. I found the feedback from my boss and a new peer most valuable. Particularly when they both suggested I could improve my communication, which I considered one of my greatest strengths. How could such a basic evaluation of myself be so incorrect. As I discussed the feedback with these two individuals and my mentor I began to realize something that should have been clear to me both from the Communications module and my prior reading in this crucial area. I had begun to think of communications solely in regard to verbal communications. I had begun to ignore important parts of it like body language, facial gestures and other non-verbal forms of communications. Things like eye rolls, facial expressions in ZOOM meetings had taken away from my strongpoint which is my verbal skills. Absent this assignment how long would it take me to realize that my so-called area of strength was an area I needed to focus on improving.
It did also help me identify the area of improvement I knew I had such as Teamwork. I knew I had significant experience as a leader of subordinates but the whole process of leading peers and superiors was very new to me since my prior experience was in a small company that I ran primarily. This helped me to select my stretch assignment which I will describe in an answer below.
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?
Being vulnerable is a difficult experience for me. I understand that it can improve your empathy and lead to stronger team building but I am old enough to remember when vulnerability in the workplace was a sign of weakness. Like an injured animal wandering away from the herd when lions are present. If you displayed vulnerability, you quickly became a snack. I have begun to move away from this rigid approach and understand that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength.
This has been driven home to me by my health challenges. I simply can’t do what I once did and some days are worse, much worse than others. I have learned to share with my peers and superiors some of these issues so they can understand that on certain days I am much less capable than others. The old Gregg would have found the results quite surprising. Instead of becoming a snack I have become more effective. My peers and superiors respect my issues and limitations and value my persistence in powering through these issues as best I can. I have always been more vulnerable in my personal life. My recent experiences have helped me in my professional life by showing that vulnerability can be a strength.
C. 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.
My stretch assignment is to create an Advisory Board for Community Work Services. We are currently preparing for a CARF Accreditation in the fall. I was selected to be on the team preparing for it. While reviewing company procedures I identified that CWS was supposed to have an advisory board of corporate and community leaders to support the mission, particularly in public relations and fund raising. This would necessitate me first receiving approval to beginning the project from Craig Stenning, our Executive Director. I would then need to assemble a team of peers and superiors to create a presentation to receive approval from CWS’ Board of Directors.
Once approval was received we would need to select a list of community, business and philanthropic leaders who could, if successfully recruited aid CWS in its overall mission, publicity and most importantly fund raising. This project would require demonstrating the ability to lead peers and superiors in a common mission and then to help influence those individuals we select to actively consider joining the Advisory Board. We would be working with influencers in the community. A group I have little experience with. I would need to overcome my insecurities about being a returning citizen traveling in rarefied circles to successfully accomplish, with our team this vital mission