Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What was your first "act" of Leadership?
Some of us seem to find leadership within us at a young age...some of us are propelled into leadership and find it as we stumble along. In thinking of your own experiences and background what was your first "act" of leadership and what impact did it have on you personally and on the group you were leading?
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11 comments:
Wow...well today I observed a kind act...and in a way sure you'd call it leadership - certainly in a "being part of the world and community" kind of way- a kindness that demonstrated a lot of what I think makes a good leader...I was on my way to work today and as I stopped at a red light I saw a homeless person with a shopping buggy and all the contents of it spilled across the crosswalk- bootles to return for cash, clothes, a milk crate... and we are talking rush hour traffic in downtown Toronto.. dozens of people just keep walking by...when in a moment a man stopped and started to assist this homeless person pick up their recyclable bottles, milk crate and the contents of the buggy...this took more time than the light turning from red to green and as the impatient traffic honked their horns and sat in their cars in minus 9 degree weather- this gentleman continued to help refill the buggy and get this person across the street...a little human kindness...a little demonstration to the city that every human being deserves dignity...that's cool...that was my one beuatiful thing today!
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Dave Maskin
I was 5 and I showed my "kid" brother how to tie his shoe, sort of a tech. support act at the time... :>) Felt good to help him, even got a thank you. To this day, helping people gives me a good feeling, whether I get a thank you or not...
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Peter Henson
I was a young boy scout. Due to some changes in our troop numbers I was given the opportunity to lead a patrol for the year end camporee. I had seven other young scouts who looked to me for leadership and how we could make a good showing at the event. Before I went I read up on the competitions, held practice sessions with my team, and worked alongside them. At the camp we finished second in the province in the overall competition. My leaders were amazed. We bested a large number of well seasoned and longer together units. This bunch of thrown together kids showed that even though we were the second most junior group there, we could compete with the best. It was my first and fondest memory of instilling teamwork by leading by example. It is something I will never forget
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Ray McTier
Management and Technology Consultant, Toronto Canada
My first act of leadership, with respect to business, came at the same time I received my first management position.
My first night after being promoted, I came in and demanded and dictated what was to be done. The end result was that the job was not completed to anyone's satisfaction.
After sitting and thinking, I realized I had become the person I did not want to work for.
My next shift, I changed tactics, and acted like the person I wanted to work for, gave responsibility, trusted my people, and lo and behold evrthing was completed ahead o time and exceeded anyone's expectations
I admit ,that in order to accomplish this I did do some thngs that were a little unconventional, but it brought trust and respect.
I have continued with this measuring stick throughout my career, and it has brought me many rewards,and proved I am a leader, especially ith employees following me from job to job.
Never be the person you do not want to work for . . .
By the way the lesson happened 30 years ago.
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Bjorn Nilsen
INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN AND MATERIAL MANAGEMENT LEADER
Kansas City, Missouri Area
Following along with an example from Boy Scouting....
While scouting offered many opportunities for leadership and many successes in being such, the one I remember most vividly and fondly was as a young Eagle Scout (14 years old) where I had to transfer into a new troop (our family was transferred to a new Air Force base). In that troop there was at least one boy who was older than I and was close to making his Eagle but was dangerously close to scoutings age limit. It became my position as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster to provide the coaching and motivation for older boys like him to help make that final push to achieve Scouting's highest honor. The "act" of leadership that came to me was not one that would be based in position or rank within the troop, but rather in my own personal example (lead by example) that quickly earned the respect of the older boys, gave me access to their "inner circle", and eventually allowed me to help this one scout achive his ultimate goal -- I will never forget his personal "thank you" and acknowledgement given at the Eagle Court of Honor when he was awarded that rare distinction -- Eagle Scout.
Since that time MANY years ago I've always held on to the core belief that one leads by example first and foremost and the best achievements of leadership are those that gide others to achive more than they thought possible, but all that they dreamed.
Bjorn Nilsen
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Karen Randall
Owner, OMTG Brill
Los Angeles, US
www.omtgbrill.com
My first corporate "act" of leadership was when I was in my mid-twenties. I salvaged a boutique ad agency in Ginza, Tokyo from bankruptcy, built the agency into the tenth largest agency in Japan, and won international design and advertising awards in the process. Truth is that I had to use every ounce of my creative talent, generate belief from the skeptical thirty-five creative people I was put in charge of, and sell major Fortune 500 corporations on giving us a chance. But, before my first day at the agency, I had to find a book on how advertising was done, one that I could understand and felt I could apply, so that I had some clue as to what was expected. It was an amazing time. I fell in love with the courageous, talented people I worked with and the very surprised and amazed corporation representatives that gave us a chance to prove ourselves.
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Tadd Moore
Information Services Executive
Director, IS&T Infrastructure at Manhattan Construction Group
Well this got a chuckle out of me in the morning. :-)
It was 4th grade I think. The school was testing out a program to challenge small groups of "advanced" students with non-traditional projects. One of the first assignments was to work with two other students to create a new grocery store product, develop a name and a package for it, and do a 60 second commercial for the rest of the group.
I remember being irritated at having to do a 60 second commercial, since most TV commercials were 30 seconds. I was struggling with that, and remember timing commercials on TV with the clock in our living room. The teachers didn't budge though.
I honestly don't even remember who I did the work with, because they weren't really contributing anything. So I decided rather than to let those knuckleheads cause us to fail, I would do the whole thing by myself if I had to. And I did...made up a new cereal, gave it a name, did up the box, and wrote the commercial script. Since everyone had to be involved, I made the other two do sound effects in our commercial. Mission accomplished.
Looking back, that theme replays itself over and over in my life - I'm not out to impose my will, but I won't passively let the inaction of others cause me to be associated with a failed effort.
Haven't thought about that in ages...thanks for the question!
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Gail JM
Executive-Financial Services
Shelagh,
Love this question. It was a lot of fun to read the answers - wonderful memories for us all during this week of Thanksgiving.
I was an early bloomer - like many of your respondents... One of my leadership forays as a pre-teen was to arrange back-yard musicals. I would gather together all the interested kids on the street, determine a theme for the event then together we would decide on 'acts' and practice for a week or so. A day or so before the musical date I would create invitations and my helpers and I would deliver them around to the mothers on our street.
I recall one such musical quite clearly - I was probably 11 or 12 years old and reserved "I am 16 going on 17" as my solo song. I remember wearing my Sunday best, white knee socks, patent mary janes and belting my song away totally off-key. All the other kids got to do songs they liked or short skits we wrote together - most of which were based on a recently released movie.
My mother shared with me a few years ago that I would get this all going and forget to mention to her that the whole street would be showing up at 2:00 for a show in our back-yard! She was a trouper, came through for us as our caterer (kool-aid and iced cup cakes - yum!). I enjoyed organizing and fostering events that brought us together and gave the kids on the street opportunities to shine. The first time I was President of something I was 12 and it was my local Explorers group, at 13 I was the editor of my public school year-book.
I've had many opportunities arise through-out my life via sports, clubs, organizations, Boards and via my various roles in business to learn the art and science of leadership and to more fulsomely explore the privilege that it provides.
Thank you for this walk down memory lane tonight!
Susan Shwartz, PhD
AVP, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., financial marketing writer.
Greater New York City Area
I think I was 7. My teacher caught me directing other students in assembling pitted chunks of limestone close together on the pavement.
Naturally, she wanted to know what "we children" were doing.
"We're building a meteorite," I told her.
Okay, NOW I know limestone would have incinerated in the atmosphere, but I didn't at the time, neither did she, and neither did my parents, when she called them last night.
Never did build that meteorite. I always regretted it.
Reposted with Permission
Frank Williams,
Product Planner and Derivatives Clearing Mgmt Professional
United States
I think the first act where I felt truly responsible for the well-being of others came when I was about 10 years-old. My younger brother, sister and I were walking home from a movie when the tornado sirens began to blare. Living in the Midwest, we learned early to take such warnings seriously.
We were crossing a bridge that traversed a canal at the time and the wind was really kicking up. I made the decision to lead my siblings to the closest end of the bridge and then around to a spot beneath the bridge where we were sheltered from the wind. We scrunched down on our haunches until the threat passed.
It was pretty scary at the time, but I learned you really don't feel fear when you have to keep those around you calm. I guess I put on what they call a brave face, but I probably performed better under those circumstances than I might have had I been alone.
Reposted with permission
Robin Cook
Organizational Development/Culture Change/Organizational Innovation Thought Leader; Expert on "cultures of innovation"
Washington D.C. Metro Area
There have been so many, but the 1st real, serious episode (which has greatly informed my life ever since):
When I was 7 1/2 we moved into an apartment in San Diego on 1 of the busiest streets in the city. A new Boys Club had opened a couple of blocks away, on that same street. It the first 6 months it was open, 3 kids had gotten hit by cars crossing the street to get there.
All on my own, I decided to spend the summer petitioning for a traffic light on the corner. I wrote the petition, got permission from the 2 local supermarkets to set up a table, & collected something like 2,000 signatures.
The press picked up on a 7 year old doing this & began to give it very heavy play - I was on every TV & radio station & in every newspaper in San Diego. The media made the city look so bad that they had to put in the traffic light.
I was the youngest person ever to make a speech to the City Council & wound up getting the Key to the City.
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