How My Leadership View Has Changed?

At first, I thought being a leader was simply stepping up, and taking control of a situation. While that may be considered leadership to some, as I have learned in this class, that is only a microscopic piece of the monster pie that is leadership. Throughout the class I have learned that leadership is not only stepping up, but also involves communication, a vision, and trust.
According to K & P, leadership is an ability that must be learned. It is a practice that must be observed throughout a period of time. One might feel that he or she can walk right into a room and start to lead, which is something I used to believe, however, since joining this class; I have determined that leadership is not something learned overnight. In order to be a successful leader, one must have trust from the group, and trust in himself. The group must have faith in the leader that he will lead them in the right direction, and the leader must have confidence in himself that he can lead with dignity, and will not fail. The leader must have a vision as to where he wants his group to go. If he does not have a vision, then he really has no purpose for leading. Communication is a key for any type of leader. When the leader is able to communicate his vision and thoughts for the group, the group will begin to have more faith in him, but when the leader fails to communicate, his leadership, and the group will fall apart.
For me to be a more successful leader, I feel that I must incorporate these principles into my daily life. For example, during the football season, I was able to lead by example through my effort, behavior, responsibility, etc. but I feel that I was never able to communicate my goals and ambitions that I had set for the team. Although we achieved our ultimate goal, which was to win a state championship, I feel that I never clearly made my goals for the team clear in order to have a more exciting season. As the season began to draw on, and everybody grew tense and began to lose the sense of fun in football, as a leader, I failed to try and get everybody to look at the bright side of the season, and at times, I actually began to show negativity, which was a bad thing for me to show as a leader.

My Leadership Interview With Steve Van Amburgh, CEO of KDC Real Estate Development and Investments

1. In your opinion, what is the most important trait that a leader should had?

He believes that trust is the most important trait a leader should have. From his perspective, he feels that having the trust from his clients, and his employees is one of the keys to his business' success. How do you gain that trust? Mr. Van Amburgh says that trust is gained by doing what you say you will do, and having integrity. Also, to him, a close second is collaboration. Instead of doing the things that he wants to do, he collaborates with the other members of his company so he can do what is best for the project, or the employees. Collaboration is also important because employees like to feel that sense of inclusion in decisions. When they begin each year, since each year is different, Mr. Van Amburgh and his fifty other employees sit down and list all the things that are most important for both them personally, and the company as a whole. Adaptability is also a trait that he feels any leader should have because, to him, any good leader must be able to adapt to certain situations on the fly, and lead the group in the right direction. When the economy was in the ditch, he and his company had to adjust their goals, and find other business opportunities that could still succeed despite the ailing economy. He believes that if he had not made this change, then he might have been forced to let go ten to fifteen people. Even through this tough economy, not one employee has not been let go, in fact his company has actually been quite successful. 

2. Do you believe that leaders are born or made? 

Mr. Van Amburgh believes that it is a little bit of both. He thinks that some people are born with the traits that a good leader has, such as empathy, respect, fairness, etc.; but also he feels that as a person gains experience, like in the business world, the better leader that a person will become. He used a really good example of someone gaining leadership through experience by using the scenario of being with other people on a life raft. He said that the person that will become the leader is the one that has the skills needed to get the group of people to safety, such as paddling, keeping the group calm, etc. He feels that through experience, a person must lead to the best of his abilities in order to be successful, and that over a period of time, a leader is able to work on his abilities. 

3. As a successful CEO, what tactics or methods do you use as a leader?

As a business leader, he uses great discipline and communication. Once a week, or more than once, for two hours, his company has what they call "All Hands" Meetings, like  the term all hands on deck. In these meetings, all the employees meet and communicate and discuss various topics. He described the goal of these meetings as "making sure the left hand knew what the right hand was doing." He believes that these meetings are crucial to the success of his company, and if an employee does not attend these meetings, there are consequences. 

4. During this time in which their still seems to be a bit of economic uncertainty, how have you as a leader worked to keep up the morale of your employees, and the overall company?

His main method to keep the morale up was communication. He communicated with his employees his intentions, and told them that he did not intend to let any of them go. As a leader, he uses the motto "no surprises." He believes that in order to be taken seriously, then he cannot surprise his employees with a certain issue, or conflict, such as suddenly being let go. Also, because his company deals with the real estate market, he adjusted the principles and goals of his company, based on the status of the economy. Before the beginning of every year, he and his other constituents lay out a plan for the year, and their goals, and the steps that they must take as a company to achieve their goals. For example, for next year, they have already planned to expand their marketing because, for the betterment of his company, he feels that they need more people out marketing, and searching for more business opportunities. He says that he will take employees that are really good salespersons or finance people, and put them in a new area to market the company, and find more business. Mr. Van Amburgh believes that if he and his company kept doing the status quo method they have been doing the previous years, then they would not be able to achieve their goals for 2011. 

The following is a list of KDC's keys for success in the year 2011: 

Possible Questions For Leadership Interview

I have decided that I am going to interview my uncle, Steve Van Amburgh. My uncle is the CEO of KDC Real Estate and Development. He has worked very hard to get his company to where it is now. Even through challenging economic times, his company continues to embark on major industrial projects throughout the nation. The following are questions that I plan to ask my uncle during my interview:

1. In your opinion, what is the most important trait that a leader should had?

2. Do you believe that leaders are born, or are they made?

3. As a successful CEO, what tactics or methods do you use as a leader?

4. During this time in which their still seems to be a bit of economic uncertainty, how have you as a leader worked to keep up the morale of your employees, and the overall company?

Leaders Born or Made?

When a person is born, I believe that he or she is born with a “blank slate”, and that their experiences throughout their lives are what shape them. As it pertains to leadership, I believe that it is a trait that is learnable, like being an apprentice to an experienced businessman. One must learn their leadership by observing, and having a desire to lead. Individuals must be willing to sacrifice the effort needed to become a successful leader, but also must be willing to observe those that are already leaders, in order to gain helpful tips. Leadership is not something that comes easy. To attain it, it requires persistence, personal growth, and responsibility. Persistence is learned through failure. Leadership is all about making a difference. It is not only charisma, but also practices, and values that can be learned. 

My Personal Leadership Experience

    This past summer, I served as a group counselor at the Bea's Kids summer camp. Bea's Kids is a community organization that gives children of lower income families a place to hang out, and it works to keep these children off of the streets. At first, I thought this community service opportunity would be a drag, but the moment I saw the kids come rushing through the doors with a great sense of excitement on their faces, I realized that it was going to be an awesome time. 
    As a camp counselor, me and one other volunteer were assigned to lead a group of about thirty children, ranging from grades 7-12. When looking at the group roster, I first thought that it would be easy to get these kids to do what I ask, oh how I was so wrong. All the kids in my group wanted to hang out with their buddies in other groups. As the camp days went on, I realized that in order to get the group to do what I asked, I almost had to stoop down to their level, and become equal, rather than try and be that high and mighty leader guy. 
    With me as a leader, I think the group as a whole took on a whole new attitude, especially towards me. Going into it, my group knew nothing about me, and I knew nothing about my group. Through the many tasks I performed with the kids, I realized how I tend to take the things I have for granted. The kids  that attended this camp were so grateful to just have a place to hang out while their parents worked, and I tend to complain when I can't hang out with friends. 
    I would say that the thing that made my leadership most successful was my ability to communicate with the group. I was able to drop to their level and communicate with them, rather than try and act like I was above the rest of them. Also, during the games we played, I was able to take control, and organize the teams so the game would be played successfully. The hardest part of each day, was usually trying to get the group from one activity to the next. However, because of good communication, and the rapport that I was able to establish with the group, it was not as hard as one might think.