Leadership and Growth

Leadership skills are very important to have as an Entrepreneur. Based on the 8 leadership skills that we have discussed in our course I feel that I have some strong areas in all categories, although I also feel that there is room for improvement in every area. My strengths are as follows:

• Vision: I feel confident in my abilities of demonstrating a team vision. I am good at motivating others and inspiring support for the team vision. I am also a very optimistic person, and I always try to build up the bright side.
• Presence: I have been told that I carry myself in a professional manner, and this is something that I do pride myself in. I always maintain a confident and enthusiastic manner, which is something that I love about myself. I feel that I have a strong power of influence, especially in areas of negotiation. I am capable of negotiating skillfully without damaging relationships. I am very confident that I am approachable, and I exhibit patience, and compassion. One of my values is to maintain confidentiality.
• Adaptability: To me this is one of the most important traits to possess. I am very flexible, and great at managing change. I feel that being optimistic plays a big role in this area, because it helps me stay motivated. I feel that I have a high level of self-awareness. I pay close attention to those around me, and I adjust my communication style accordingly.
• Deep Thinking: Quickens’ culture thrives off of going deep. Prior to this exposure I did not really understand the importance of thinking an idea completely through. I feel that my experience at Bizdom has opened my eyes to the importance of timely decision making. I am strong at brainstorming, problem solving, and applying my creativity. I believe that it is very important to educate those around you, by sharing knowledge.
• Personal Growth: I am constantly looking for ways to improve. I utilize the feedback that I receive, and use it to develop my skills. I think it is always important to have someone else take a look at what you are working on. Others always see things that you may be missing.
• Living the Culture: Being a part of such a great culture is amazing! The ISM’s are not only inspirational, but they are also motivational. I try to reinforce ISMs throughout my daily experiences.
• Talent Development: This is an area that I hold to a high regard. I believe that it is necessary to transfer your skills and abilities to your team. I believe that standing behind your team is one of the biggest ingredients in the recipe for success.
• Communication Expert:I am an active listener, and pay close attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues from those around me.

This section will highlight the areas that I would like to focus on and improve:

• Vision: I would like to drill down on my personal vision, I feel like I need to spend more time on clearly defining my personal goals. I think I can accomplish this by taking some time to myself everyday, and aligning my goals with my core beliefs.
• Presence: I feel that I need to work on communicating directly and with forcefulness. I feel that I am too sympathetic sometimes, and I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes.
• Adaptability: I think it is essential to send clear messages, so I would like to work on this area.
• Deep Thinking: I would like to develop these skills more. I think you can never go too deep.
• Personal Growth: I have taken some great strides forward in the area of time management, but I would like to stay abreast of new strategies and tactics.
• Living the Culture: I would like to focus on internal and external business awareness. It is important for me to consistently raise my level of awareness.
• Talent Development: I am interested in learning new ways to deliver effective training.
• Communication Expert: I feel that this is the area that I need to improve in most. It is important for me to be strong in my speaking, writing, and presentation skills. I will consistently ask for feedback in these areas, and make adjustments accordingly.