Ever heard question time in Parliament? Attended any interviews lately?
We often look at politicians and find ourselves disgusted with their conduct , to be fair not all of them,in what should be a professional setting. Many are shouting down others, letting fly with innuendo and mocking comments. Any other work place and they’d be challenged by the courts! They’re role models for us? Aren’t they our great leaders? Where is their dignity and regard for one another? Perhaps, hidden from view.
I read the Queensland Courier Mail on the weekend of August 8-9, 2009. The article appearing in Career One and written by Work blog, Kate Southam, Online Editor recounted an unusal employment interview attended by 'Caitlyn'. I agree with Ms Southam's heading "Creepy interviews aren't acceptable".
Generations are influenced by Politicians, and people they perceive in authority. Will Gen X or Y or the rest of the alphabet vote at all and how will they vote when they do? Someone, may be so put off by the leaders conduct that they elect not to participate in community. Yet, we know that unless individuals DO vote, then in reality we ALL get the government we deserve. That's apathy.
Like Caitlyn I also had an interesting experience recently which at the very least could be described as ‘politically incorrect’. I attended a student intake interview for a particular program. Participation, if deemed a suitable candidate, in the program is multiple thousands of dollars unless a scholarship, partial or full, is awarded.
From the entry to the room through to the conclusion of the interview every aspect resonated as being at odds with best practice and general good manners. It was contrary to professional leadership engagement as I knew it. I was prepared for tough questions that were direct, yes behavioural in kind, but not bullying in their tone.
Under the guise of determining my preparedness to participate in the tough program one of the two interviewers advised that he was going to ask some challenging questions and press me if he saw a potential ‘button’. So, I was forewarned, and believed that professional courtesy was a given. Not so. The questioning was personalized.
The questioning continued aggressively asking me ‘what are you selling?’, ‘what are you trying to sell?’ in reference to my posture (attentive, slight lean forward in my chair). Wording was ambiguous. I was asked what I would need to 'get rid of to be part of the program?' Confident that I could both gain a lot from the program and add value in return, I responded as best as I could even though my eyes leaked!
The interviewer wasn’t scary but it was a very uncomfortable process used by this person who on this occasion was in a position of perceived authority. It was a most extraordinary experience.
One week on and I still don’t think fondly of the experience, but it has benefited me. How:
• Reflection – am I ready for this, when I don’t know what the specific agenda is? How will I feel if I am offered a place or not offered a place?
• Resilience – that my character be shaped by the experience, the elements that I wish to reflect on, change, adapt or incorporate into my life
• Confidence – for people who don’t experience Christianity as a lifestyle this may be hard to appreciate. But there’s a confidence that comes from GOD. It doesn’t rest in man’s perception of who we are, what we do, what qualifications we may have or not have. It rests in HIM and how HE sees us. Check out Psalm 139 Old Testament NIV or NLT or Message Bible
• Leadership style - trust my own style whilst continually reviewing and developing!
• Commitment – my firm decision to keep making a difference where I have influence now! Maybe, just like Esther in the Old Testament, perhaps we have all "come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?"- to make a difference. We do have a choice and both an opportunity AND vitally a responsibility to embrace our gifts and talents and be a blessing not a curse to our community. There's no growth in isolation. Even if we do make each other uncomfortable.
Alan Keith of Genentech said "Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen”. (Wikipedia - Definition of Leadership. I believe each leadership encounter we have should simultaneously encourage, inspire and bring dignity to all the parties even as we roll up our sleeves, ahve tough covnersatiosn and get on with the job.
We won't always be politically correct - even Christ rocked the boat and challenged the status quo. I believe that we can still do that without pushing people around. There's another way to role-model leadership and it's akin to 'loving people to life!', valuing one another and while focusing on getting the job done, we remember to have fun along the way and build relationships with people.
Let’s push on and influence positive change in our community. That's Leadership on the move - "Trafficking Leaders" for social change.
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