Key Words
Author: Tom Siebold is a writer and consultant in Minneapolis. He is also co-owner of Collegegrazing.com--a site to help college bound teens to learn more about what they need and want in a college.
Objective (s): To write a personal statement of leadership
How the author has used this exercise: This is a good exercise to encourage leaders to think about their daily leadership behavior.
Activity Description: In this exercise leaders think about their daily roles and then quickly write down key words that come to their mind when they think of those roles. These key words should reflect how they perceive of themselves performing each role. Complete the chart below and then use the key words to write a leadership statement that characterizes their approach to leadership.
Leader Roles
Key Words
Problem solver
Referee (settles interpersonal conflict)
Process Manager (ensures that goals are met)
Procurer (finds and manages resources)
Visionary
Crisis Manager (puts out everyday fires)
Motivator
Task Master
Counselor (helps reports with personal issues)
Risk Taker
Expert
Options: You may want to give each participant a blank chart and have the group determine the everyday roles of the leader. Also, you may want the participants to talk about their personal observations rather than write them.
Added thoughts or considerations: This activity is a good springboard to discussing each of the leader roles in more depth.