Table of Contents
Predominant Leadership Style
Managerial limitations
Leadership Competencies
Many people dream of being in positions where they can be trusted. They want to be the boss in their chosen field. I’m not one of them. I do not want to be a manager. I don’t consider myself a leader. Although I do have some qualities that make me a leader I have never seen myself as someone I should be following.
My leadership assessment reveals that my five strengths include input, connectivity, intelligence, developer, context, and intellection. These are both in the strategic thinking and relationship building domains. Rath said that those who belong to the relationship domain can bring people together. Those who belong to the strategic thought domain focus more on possibilities. This group is often considered to be an expert on the subject and are able to offer guidance. This is something I can see in myself. Learning and knowledge have been important to me from a young age. While I understand that I cannot know everything, it is something I strive to do. I enjoy learning about the past and history.
The second, connectedness, signifies that I have the ability to create connections between people so that people can come together. It says that I believe in my values and are respectful of all humans. It says that I find commonalities and share those bonds. Rath stated that I might become frustrated if others don’t see my connection. The Gallup StrengthsFinder says that those who possess the Connectedness ability can see the interconnectedness of things and can see the connection between them. I think this is true to some degree. Everything is connected to me. All events and lives have an impact on one another. I value all human beings and can be upset when others don’t. Despite my belief, I don’t think I have the ability to bring people together and help each other see their commonalities. I’m not certain that I’ve tried this. While I’m willing to help others understand connections, it is not my intention to try to create the bonds that would make a group cohesive.
The third, Intellection says it all: I like to think deeply and gather information. This suggests that I tend to spend most of my time reading rather than conversing. This one is also true, I think. I enjoy reading and have done so since childhood. However, my preferences may change. I love learning new things and sharing information with others, both in private and in public. I prefer listening and watching, over speaking.
Developer is the fourth. It states that you are able to see potential and assist others. Developers are able to support others and encourage them. Developers can be great mentors and guides. Yes, I agree. I recognize when someone is gifted or strong in a certain area. I am available to help others who feel stressed, anxious, or exhausted. I am often able to listen and offer support to those who are struggling with their issues. Context, which is the last sentence, states again that I enjoy history and love to study the past in order to understand the present and future. It says that I want to know how past events have shaped our lives. Developers enjoy asking questions and researching historical events. This is true to an extent. History is something I enjoy, and I enjoy researching historical events to find out why they were the way they were. Although I enjoy timelines of events and the ability to ask questions about them when I meet people, I don’t always have the time. Social anxiety keeps me from asking the questions I want to know.
These all indicate that I am an information gatherer who uses the information to help people achieve their potential. Given what I know, I believe I am capable of doing all these things. I believe there are many things that prevent me from doing these things.
As I don’t usually take on leadership positions, I am not certain if these strengths have been used. These strengths are a part of my work. I need to be able to communicate with families and youth on a daily basis. I hold a position of authority in my work with families and help youth to get out of the courts. Although I don’t think this job is a leadership role, it might be.
Predominant leadership styleMy dominant leadership style is participative. Before making a decision, I value the input of others. Although I prefer not to be the final decision maker, I will do so if it is necessary. I prefer to seek input from others before making any decisions that affect no one else. This leadership style can be beneficial because it allows everyone to contribute and get their perspective. This leadership style is believed to reduce complaints in a group because everyone feels like they are part of the decision-making process. This is how I practice it at work. I often ask my family and youth for their opinions and let them know what they would like to see happen. My supervisor and my coworkers are also available for their advice.
Participative leadership is not suited for emergency situations. Sometimes decisions need be made quickly with limited input. I fear that this could cause the decision to be delayed or pushed aside in the pursuit of more perspectives.
Managerial LimitationsThere is a lot I see in my own limitations. Sometimes I am too quiet. I am not decisive. I am not a good decision-maker and fear making the wrong ones. I don’t have patience and find it easy to get frustrated when I see the world differently. Social anxiety is another issue that I have. It prevents me speaking with others in one-on-one settings as well as in groups. This limitation may have its benefits. I can listen more than I speak. I can tell a lot about others by listening. It may help me get to know them better. These limitations are something I work hard to overcome. Sometimes, it is enough to accept them and do the necessary things. However, there are limitations. These things have been dealt with by counseling, but I am not currently seeking it. These limitations are likely to always exist, but I will try my best to recognize them and make progress.
Leadership CompetenciesEmotional intelligence is important when leading others. Some of the aspects I believe I have in my emotional intelligence are self-awareness and self-regulation as well as empathy. I’ve spent many hours looking at my personality and discovering my strengths. To learn more about myself, I also sought out the assistance of others. I can also seek out information and keep my emotions and biases in check. This helps me to move forward. I pride myself on my ability to understand and place myself in others’ shoes.
Other leadership qualities are possible for me. While I would love to have certain leadership qualities, I don’t think I have the right skills. These positions may be for me, but I’m happy helping others in shadows.
