I think I mentioned that I am in a Leadership & Personal Development course in my MBA program. Last weekend was our first two sessions. I really enjoyed it. Shawna mentioned that she thought it was interesting that I wasn in a personal development class at the same time I am goign through a divorce. She's right...it's strange, poetic, thought provoking, all those things.
Anyway, one of the assignments is to complete a three to five page paper reflecting on our first weekend of class. The instructor made the comment that any of us who blog should think about it like a blog entry. So, I thought I'd at least get started on laying out the heavy hitters from the weekend.
1. Surprise, surprise...we did Enneagram assessments and I am a type two "helper, giver." Say that surprise, surprise as if you were Gomer Pyle. My ears did perk up when we talked about things a type two does when they are under stress and things a type two does when they are trying to become more "self actualized" (I think that was the term she used.)
2. We did this Lego exercise where you couldn't see what your team mates were building, but you all had the same pieces and could talk. The goal was for everyone to have the same thing when it was finished. 4 of the 5 of our team were spot on, but one guy was 90-degrees off. All I could keep thinking was, "where did we go wrong?" Our 'status checks' to see if everyone was on the same page were not as effective as we thought. One contribution I made was to take a little 1X1 piece that had an eye on it and put a little 'roof' piece on top of it. Sort of made it look like a one-eyed guy with a hat. I shared that idea with the group and at least a couple of the guys did the same, and we got a little farther along and someone said, "oh, I took that off." I was proud of myself for sticking up for my idea...so we kept it.
3. It's challenging to do all this self examination and focus in on how this effects me as a leader. My tendency has been to focus in on what did I do wrong in my marriage...
4. A week or two ago, my mom was talking with me about "bossy" and how when I was in pre-school, she worried to my teacher that I was too bossy. Mom said that Ms. Gonzalez said, "Amy's a leader, she's not bossy." I wonder about that. We talked a lot about the difference between a manager and a leader in class. I think bossy is more manager than leader...but maybe not?
OK, that's enough for now.
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1 comment:
"I wonder about that. We talked a lot about the difference between a manager and a leader in class. I think bossy is more manager than leader...but maybe not?"
I've had many people in my life who are excellent leaders, but they weren't ever my bosses. I've also (and I'm sure you've had this, too), bosses who were absolute crap leaders.
I think the difference is that a boss just happens to have people reporting to them. A leader is someone who sets and example to follow or expects you to do things to further the efforts of the greater good (the team, the organization, your country). I think, for example, that Obama is an excellent "leader". W is an excellent example of a "boss". That's my frame of reference. :)
It's good to have some introspection with respect to yourself. You ever wonder if starting your MBA is one of the things that really prompted you to get the divorce (I'm sure it probably isn't...but interesting timing...)?
Good luck, Amy! And happy Thanksgiving! You have a bazillion things to be thankful for! :)
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