Mid-Term Grade :-)

Hey guys,

Got my midterm grade back and thought I would share. Apparently I am doing SOMETHING right.. LOL! The grade is at the bottom if you dont want to read my ramblings. :-) Love you guys.



Leadership Self-Reflection
Christy Ward

Ward, Christy L
2/15/2009


Abstract: This purpose of this paper is to identify my personal strengths and areas for growth or study. I will be using the Keirsey Style Sorter (David Keirsey, Marilyn Bates- Please Understand Me) and two self-assessment tools taken from a Leadership textbook (Lusseir/Achua- Leadership: Theory, Application & Skill Development). In order to understand where the information of my strengths and growth areas originated I will first explain my personality type, according to the Keirsey Style Sorter, and the results of the two self assessments taken from the textbook. I will then identify personal strengths and growth areas. After these have been identified I will then give examples of how these strengths and growth areas help me achieve or hinder my work in my current job. Finally, I will explain the benefits of understanding other personality styles and how understanding these styles would help in a leadership role.


What does that mean?
ENFP! According to the Keirsey Style Sorter by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates that is my personality type. I scored the same on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test that I took three years ago. In order to understand my strengths and growth areas and from where I received such data you must first understand what the letters ENFP are and why they are indicators that lead to strengths and growth areas. In this section I will explain what they mean and identify general strengths and growth areas for persons of similar styles. I will then focus my attention to my leadership style and my normative leadership style. The results of these two self-assessments will come from Lusseir/Achua Leadership text. Finally, I will combine the measurements and form personal strengths and growth areas about myself.

The Keirsey Style Sorter is very similar to the Myers-Briggs but a much shorter version. The results were the same for both assessments. As stated my results indicated that I am an ENFP. Keirsey/Bates explains that there are four pairs of preferences (what I described as letters). They are E- Extraversion and I- Introversion, S-Sensation and N-Intuition, F-Feeling and T-Thinking, and finally P-Perceiving and J-Judging. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984)

Given the meaning of the letters we can see that my preferences are toward E which means extraversion, N which means intuition, F which means feeling and P which means perceiving. There are cases, which I will not go into detail about, where the subject indicates no clear preference to either indicator. In this situation Keirsey/Bates afford them an X in place of the letter which indicates that the subject could use either preference given the situation. I had no such indication as mine were clearly one way or the other.

According to Keirsey/Bates extraverts need sociability and introverts are territorial. Thus extraverts are pumped up when they are around people and get lonely when they are not. Conversely, introverts may want or not care to be around people but it drains them. They need their space and alone time. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) The E fits me well. I thrive on being around people. I can not be alone for long before I feel lost and alone. This does not mean that I am never comfortable being alone. There are times when it is quite acceptable for me to be alone. Some of those times are when I need to reflect or when I am cleaning. The latter may sound funny, but given that I am sociable, if someone was with me during that time I would be socializing not cleaning.

When studying the N and S of the equation I found that I show the same preference as only 25 percent of the population. Keirsey and Bates state that seventy-five percent of the general population prefers sensation. The S person is fact driven and practical where the N person is driven by “metaphor and imagery”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) This also describes me. I feel restrained and bogged down when given a bunch of facts. I look more toward what could be than what is the actual. This, as I will explain later, can be taxing for the sensible who deals with facts. Most of the time I have a hard time with seeing things black or white- I am forever seeing everything else- the “gray” areas.

“More women than men (6 out of 10) report that they prefer deciding on the basis of personal impact {F}… more men than women (6 out of 10) report that they prefer to make decision on the basis of principles, that is, logically and objectively {T}”. Keirsey/Bates state that this is really not a good indicator of what the preference is going to be, however, it is the only one of the preferences that shows a gender difference. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I found this section to be curiously interesting! Stereotypically women ARE more feeling oriented than men. However, that trend is changing and we can see this by Keirsey/Bates statistical information. I can safely say that I definitely fit the F profile. My decisions are emotionally and not logically driven most of the time which would also compliment my intuitive side.

As I stated above, I would prefer to look at what could be instead of what is, which is somewhat explained my preference to the perceiving type. If I had the J or judging preference I would want things settled. However, having the perceiving preference I like to leave my options open because what “could be”. Keirsy/Bates state that Js will set deadlines and keep them/take them seriously but Ps don’t put much value in a deadline. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I am a procrastinator; in fact, I feel that I am the definition of said person. This particular preference causes me great stress at times and I feel uncomfortable with setting exact times. I find myself telling people with whom I am setting a date/time with to be there on the “ish” (i.e. let’s make it around 11:30 ish- which could be 11:35 or 11:59 – but as my friends know- rarely 11:30).
Of ENFPs: “Nothing occurs which does not have some significance… sees life as an exciting drama… found in only about 5 percent of the general population, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact on others… hard on themselves… considers intense emotional experiences vital… possess a wide range and variety of feelings and afraid of losing touch with them… brilliantly perceptive but makes serious mistakes in judgment … optimistic… people to people work is essential… have difficulty working within the constraints of an institution especially following rules, regulations and SOPs…”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) When we put all the preferences together the above are some of the things that Keirsey/Bates relay about our type. I do, but not all of me, fit within my type’s preferences. I do see life as an adventure and things happen for a reason- the reason of which I am constantly wondering about. My feelings about rules and regulations are true to form. I feel that they are for situations that fit neatly into a little box with no variance. This of course, is impractical and never happens. I also see the importance of rules and regulations – a necessary evil if you will. As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation. This could be a growth opportunity. Inconsistency in this area would lower morale and reduce productivity. This will be discussed later in the paper.

As we move into leadership style as measured by Lussier/Achua in the textbook I will note how my personal preferences connect with my leadership style. I see a direct correlation between the two. In chapter 3 of our text, self-assessment 1, I determined that my leadership style was a high people leadership style (10/10) and a medium task leadership style (6/10). Because of my ENFP preferences, as noted above, people to people work is essential for me. People are my main priority when leading; however, I realize that tasks need to be accomplished in any organization.

My preferred normative leadership style is facilitating. Lussier/Achua state that Facilitate Leadership Style is:
“…includes having a group meeting to get input from members as you attempt to support the group to agree on a decision within boundaries set by you; in other words, you still have the final say on the decision. As a facilitator, you are supportive and encouraging to the group members to both make the decision and implement the decision.” (Lussier/Achua, 2007)
I feel this also feeds back to my preference to work with people. I also have a strong drive to find out what could be and what better way to find that out then from other people’s ideas and perceptions?

Strengths
One of my strengths is working with people. As a leader I want to accomplish tasks through others. I will find this easier because of my strength of working with people. My leadership style and normative leadership style reflect this strength. I am people oriented while maintaining knowledge that tasks need to be accomplished. I run meetings in a facilitative manner including everyone involved in the process. In doing so I get the best of everyone’s knowledge and perceptions while making them feel included in the process and part of the change. At the present my job is not related to a leadership position. I work in a small office with three other women. It is important for me to be able to communicate and work with them. I have struggled in the past with some of the employees because of my laid back personality. Eventually, through persistence, I helped foster a relationship with each of them.

The second strength I wish to highlight is my “talent for seeing life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities…” (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) As a leader I need to have my eye to the future. This brings about innovation and change. I, in my current job, have initiated many changes. This has been part of the struggle aforementioned. Because of my ability working with people I was able to help others through the changes. It was not without their help that the full change was founded. I may have “dreamed” up an idea but others added to and helped with that idea.

Growth Opportunities
As stated above: “As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation”. This is indeed a growth area. I find it hard not to see both sides (and everything in between) to every story. Where this may appear to be a strength, and in many situations it would be, it can also lead to confusion of followers. Inconsistencies of how I deal with my team regarding rules and regulations may lead to views of favoritism. It could also confuse my team and they would not know what “version” of the rule to follow. For people with preferences to “knowing a rule and following it exactly” this would be a cause for great distress. Productivity and morale would suffer in this type of environment. If I were in a leadership position I may bring everyone together to discuss the rules and regulations. If we come up with the rules together everyone, including me, would agree that they were important and needed to be followed. My current job, much to my benefit, has a flexible working environment and we have unspoken rules that we follow. These rules have more to do with respect for the boss than an SOP. For example, I don’t leave work without telling my boss where I am going. This is not because the rule says I will get fired if I do not. I do it because I respect my boss. For now, as a follower, I need to understand the rules were made to protect the company as well as the employee.

Another opportunity for growth lies in the “P”. My perceiving nature leads me to be a procrastinator. I am more comfortable with open ended opportunities. Deadlines have the ability to cause a great deal of stress for me. However, I realize that if I did not have them I would never get a project completed. As a leader it would be vital that I complete items on time so that my followers would have the information they needed to complete their jobs. I lead by example. If I am always late I can’t expect my employees to be on time. I can grow in this area by setting an action plans to follow. Peter Drucker in his book The Effective Executive points out that “time is an executive’s scarcest and most precious resource … the action plan will prove useless unless it’s allowed to determine how the executive spends his or her time”. (Drucker, 2006) The action plan will act as a time management plan and therefore squash procrastination tendencies. It is also flexible enough to allow for new opportunities and this is very comfortable to me. Drucker states that an action plan must not “become a straight jacket” but should “be revised often to create new opportunities”. (Drucker, 2006)

Why is important to understand others preferences/personality tendencies?
As a leader I should understand my individual team member’s individual styles. Everyone is unique and they are motivated by different things. If I don’t understand what motivates them I can’t get them to be productive. I have a recent example of the importance of understanding individual styles. I am a life coach for someone in another state. This person recently had weight loss surgery and was overwhelmed and confused by food choices. I suggested that she go online to look up the food pyramid. To me, this would be an endless supply of information and opportunity. To her it was ok I see the food pyramid- so what. Her preference is to be directed to particular groups of information contained within certain limitations. To her it is easier for me to say look at the food pyramid and tell me how much whole grains you are supposed to have in a day. If this had been in an organization and she was one of my followers it would be beneficial for me to know this about her. I would know when and where to utilize her talents. She would be very task oriented completing a specific task within the boundaries and specifications I gave her without supervision. However, she may not do as well if I asked her to create an idea for future growth.

Conclusion
I have done much work to understand myself in the last three or four years and I have grown considerably. I have found that I have a lot more growing to do. However, this fits well into my preferences too- forever looking toward what could be!

Bibliography

Achua, R. N. (2007). Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development, 3e. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Drucker, P. (2006). The Effective Executive. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Keirsey, D., & Bates, M. (1984). Please Understand Me. Gnosology Books Ltd.



Christy,
This is an excellent, well-written reflection. I hope the materials continue to give you tools for present and future leadership successes.
Score: 100

Hi *blushes*

Hey guys ...

Sorry its been so long since I posted. It's been a crazy week. Anyway. Hope everyone is doing well. I would first like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN (tomorrow)!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) I am on time this year! You should have already got somethin in the mailllllll.. hee hee.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting about the gym and food and what/how I want to work it. Nothing seems to work for me. I have lost inches but not much weight. Now my inches have slowed down to losing nothing or gaining inches. I expected to gain a little bit of the inches when I started developing muscles or being more fit. It is still discouraging.

I think part of my problem is food. I have changed a lot about my food. Here are the things I have changed:

I don't sit and eat at night while on the computer. That was a major change for me. It was a habit that has been hard to break. I still get figity and start looking for something to eat. If I get that way and get too figity I have been just grabbing a handful of Cheerios and eating them and it seems to work.

I eat at work instead of going out. We may go out once a week or we may not.

I eat breakfast every morning. I was not eating before. If I did eat it was because someone brought in donuts or something. Now I eat eggs and toast or toast, peanut butter and banana or just plain toast. But I do eat something every morning.

I have not been eating out as much for supper. Although we have this week.

I have cut out sweets a BUNCH. I used to eat them all the time. Now if I have something sweet it is a mini candy bar or something healthier- like we made a "Eat Right America" recipe made with strawberrys and bananas- it was a tart. Last night I had cheesecake but that hasnt been happening. I have been skipping desert altogether.

What I haven't done that I could/should be doing concerning food:

Cut portion sizes down

Make healthier choices

Start eating different foods when eating out. Try different things that will deal with my metabolism differently

No eating after 8:00 regardless of how "figity" I get! *lol*


Well thats about it for the food issue. I have a lot to write and will do so tonight. I want to go to the doctor and get a complete physical so that I know what I am dealing with and how hard I can push myself. I want to do a week of writing everything down so I can show the dr- SO I will write more on this later.

Love and Hugs,
me

Was waiting for this day....

Well, I was dreadfully waiting for this day to come. The day I had to tell you guys that I either gained or stayed the same in my quest. I have gained this week :-(. The only place I lost was my belt line. I actually lost another inch- must have been those crunches I did Thursday. I expected to gain. I didn't do crap at the gym and my food has been off. I didn't gain much weight I think- .6 of a lb and it really depends on when i weigh... but I haven't went back over 300 all this week. I read in a book to weigh every day so you know where you stand and what you need to do that day. It didn't work for me. I just kept getting scared of going over 300! So, I don't think it is wise to do that to myself until I get more into my program.

But... I am ready to start on my action plan and will post it when I get it completed. Thanks for every ones support.

Love and Hugs,
me

Working on it!

Hey guys... I have had three people give me suggestions so far. Waiting on some OTHERS TO HELP PLEASE!!! But anyway... I need to make a Plan of Action for the next two weeks (which I am going to start this Saturday). I am starting Saturday because this week wont count- I didn't have my plan ready to take on a task as hard as losing 10 lbs. So whatever the weigh in shows on Saturday I will strive to be 10lbs less that. I hope I havent gained weight this week. I havent been to the gym as much as I should have. Saturday we had to get trees up out of mammaws yard so I didnt get to go to my Zumba class (tears because I missed it.. not because I had to help family). Then Sunday we were gonna go.... but never got around to it. Monday was gym day- skipped Tuesday and Wednesday. Went today. Monday was a light day at the gym. Hardly any cardio at all- didnt feel right. I wasnt warmed up so the machines felt unhelpful to me. Today we did cardio and the workout felt better. Plus it got rid of my headache- which just totally freaking amazes me. I need to have the dr explain that! I did 10 minutes on the elliptical on level 15 with an average of 81 strides per minute. Ugggg. I was all yucky and sweaty! But this time was easier on my legs. So I am building endurance a little. At one point I had it up to 181 strides per minute... I held that for 15 seconds and my heart rate got up to 143. Good Cardio workout. And I burned like triple the amount of calories than I would if I did 15 minutes on the treadmill! That is so important. Then I walked around the track picking up Steven along the way (he did the treadmill). I ran the end cap. But he didn't feel like it so we only went all the way around again. Then we hit the machines. We did a lot of machines - that was fun. And from what I am reading those machines do a lot for diet and your heart! So those who haven't send me anything for my action plan.. .PLEEASSSSEEEE help!

Love and BIG hugs!,
me

Charts

Here are the charts for this last week! I gained a few inches in my boobs.. but I actually think its just really hard to measure em... I mean picture me trying to hold them up straight and Steven measuring.. LMAO!!!!! I also gained in some other places but lost another inch in my belt line.... I think I am evening out! Hee Hee... The big accomplishment, however, is that I met my goal! I actually weighed again this morning to make sure it was for real! It was 297.1 - down two more lbs... but I am not counting on that - you are only supposed to weigh once a week. We will see how it goes :-). My major weight goal now is to get down to 289- 10 lbs. I want to give myself two weeks to do so. So over the next two weeks I will be doing things to lose 10 lbs. This week I plan on eating cereal again for dinner. It was so easy last week and felt so good to just be able to go home and eat instead of deciding where to eat and how to get there. I would like to eat at Stevens mom's one day this week though. So I dunno- will have to make an exception that night. Maybe eat cereal for lunch instead. I am going to outline a plan of action for the weight loss that will include mini goals. I am a collaborative person so I AM ENLISTING ALL OF YOU FOR HELP ON WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT!!! So everyone send me two suggestions on exercises or plans to help me achieve my goal and I will implement them into my schedule. After I get all of your suggestions I will post a PLAN OF ACTION!!! I am excited to see what you guys suggest!

LOVE and BIG BIG HUGS!
me

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys.... I MADE MY GOAL THIS WEEK... I am SOOOO happy! I officially broke 300.... I am UNDER 300... and that was my goal. I am 299.2!! Go me .. GO ME!!!

We haven't measured yet... I will put the charts up when we do!

Love and Hugs,
me

Headache gone

HEY COURTNEY..... I did what you suggested and loosened my mask... and I woke up without a headache this morning! Love and Hugs, me

HMM... Awesome workout today

WOW--what I did at the gym was unexpected today. I intended to go and do the treadmill and a few machines. Didn't work out that way. I had to force myself to go because Steven didn't go tonight. In fact- I almost went to Target instead. But told myself I was in the freaking parking lot just go in and do the treadmill. So I went in and people was standing by the group class doors and I wondered to myself what was going on. I put my stuff in a locker and checked the door and it they were having a class called Beat, Drum and Boogie. My kind of class! So I said well if I am still here I will go to it. So I went upstairs and got on the treadmill. I started out at 3 mph and did 15 minutes. No running today. I wanted to go do the elliptical. I am bound and determined that it is not going to get the best of me!!! So I set it on manual -- and set the time for 10 minutes. My goal was to go more than I did with Terri - which was 5 minutes. So at 5 minutes I was dying... sweating like I never sweat before- my heart rate was at 80% and I was only doing an average of 80 strides per minute. Luckily a song came on that I loved and I zoned out for 2 or so minutes!!! I opened my eyes and I had 3 minutes to go. I told myself come on ... you can do it.. only 3 minutes! Yes I know that sounds dorky.... but hey.. I am a 301 lb lady....... That's a lot for me! At two minutes I said you have this beat and started doing 120 strides per minute. My legs burned SO bad... My breathing was labored and my head was saying you are an idiot! :-) ..... At the 1 minute mark I cooled down to 58 strides per minute and said NO way was I stopping now.... and I finished TEN whole minutes on the machine from Hell!!!! Yippeee. Then I wobbled downstairs cuz my legs were wobbly.... and I looked at the clock - 5 minutes until the class so I said what the heck. I got a drink of water and went in. Everyone started grabbing the step risers and a big exercise ball... so I did too.... set it up in the back (ball on top of the risers)... and waited. The instructor came out with drum sticks... asked who was new.... told us to scrunch together because we had to hit our neighbors ball sometimes... and then all hell broke loose. She played this music that had a really good- but fast- beat. And we beat and drummed and did a grapevine where we went over two balls hit that one... came back hit the ball on the other side twice.... and we did squat tap (drum sticks in air) squat tap until I thought I was going to go kick her if I had the strength in my legs! Then we did this thing where you squatted hit the floor with drum sticks and then hit the side of the ball on each side with the drum sticks... we did that twice .. then you stood up and "middle side tap middle" and againnnnnnnnnnnnnn............ And we didn't STOP.... With Zumba you have time for a sip of water between songs.. noooooooooooooo not with this one... this one was 45 minutes of constant moving and banging.... And I thought I would never make it! But I did.. Thank God for the cool down session- it was 5 minutes! Then I put my stuff up and wobbled out the door and drank water and more water and more water! So I turned and looked at the machines and said Okkkkkkkkk just a few of you! I did Leg Lifts, Leg Curls, and this machine where you lay on your tummy...... and kick your leg straight out with the weighted bar... I like that one.. it stretched my legs out. And then there was this machine where you laid on your tummy with your bottom up in the air (oh brother)... and curl your legs up toward you- I did that one. And then I worked on my arms for a few machines like the rower and the chest press and some other ones I don't know the names of. NO AB SOLO today!!! Needless to say I am one tired little girl! I was going to go to Target and the grocery on the way home but Steven needed me home to switch cars before he went to bed so I had to come home.

Food for the day:

Points target 32

Breakfast - 1/2 Banana and 2 pieces of Toast = 2 pts
Snack- rest of the banana = 1 pt

Lunch = 1 cup of spaghetti with 1/2 cup of sauce = 6 pts
2 pieces of home made garlic toast (with regular bread) = 4 pts

Total points = 13 ----- 19 left

Supper= 2 bowls of Frosted Flakes Cereal= 6 pts (actually did the points finder for this and that is how much it is)

So 13 Pts left??? YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Love and Hugs,
ME

What a week!

This week has been rough for Kentucky!!! A big ice and winter storm came our way. We have trees down everywhere and close to 280,000 without power. In Louisville alone we had 1091 power lines down. I will post pics and maybe a video when I get it downloaded on my computer. All of my family, except me, lost power- Stevens mom and brother, my brother and sis(nlaw), my momma and daddy, my mammaw and papa, and various aunts and uncles. To date all of them are still without power! Not only residential areas were without power- but so were businesses. So, unfortunately, due to Steven being sick Sunday and Monday and all heck breaking loose the rest of week- we didn't get to the gym but one day this past week. I also went Saturday of this week. But I watched what I ate and didn't stay stationary long. That with my body still working at high energy levels helped with this weeks weight and inches loss!! Check out my charts!!! I am now down to 301. I want to make this weeks major goal to be to get below 300. My plans are to eat cereal for supper every day this week (except Friday and Saturday). It's not really as drastic as it seems. I am SOOO tired of EVERYTHING to eat!!! I don't even want to think about supper. I love cereal- so I got some cheerios, sugar crisp, frosted flakes and kicks.... All are made with whole grains and have vitamins and minerals. So I will be fine. The rest of my food plan this week will be a bread and fruit or yogurt for breakfast- like toast and banana, then a fruit or veggie for snack (apple w/peanut butter or cauliflower & baby carrots) and a nice lunch. I have already planned to have spaghetti one day for lunch, chicken Caesar salad one day, Beans, potato, and spam or jowl bacon one day <-- have to watch sodium that day because spam and bacon is loaded with sodium, and home made Paninis one day. Then if I have the money I would like to eat out at Shogun one day. We have cut down eating out at lunch during the week and it feels great to eat home cooking for a change. I will attempt to post every day this week on what I ate for lunch. And then cereal for supper- I am SO happy I don't have to figure out "whats for supper" this week!!!! We will see how it goes!

SHOUT OUT to my friend who is on vacation-- HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME!- Love you!!!! Be safe!

Love and Hugs, me