1. Where are you now? Describe your status with leadership today. What leadership roles have you been in or currently in? If no leadership roles, explain why. It is ok if you do not want to be a leader however, one must leader yourself. Please explain how you lead yourself.

I’m currently in a leadership role and have been in a few leadership roles in the past. Currently, I’m in a leadership role in my place of work, at Amazon Logistics. I’m currently just an entry level associate, but I’m seen as a leader among the many entry level associates by management due to my experience and tenure. My management looks at me to help train and on-board new employees using various different methods. New employees will shadow me when I work where I walk through various softwares we use and walk through day to day operations and tasks. I will even let the new employees take over for about an hour, so they can learn by doing. Also, when employees are behind on work or struggling to understand a new software tool, I’m the first associate everyone looks to for help. 

A leadership position I previously held was captain of my high school basketball team. As captain I was responsible for team chemistry/unity and communication. To ensure team chemistry and unity I connected with all my teammates and ensured everyone that they are a valuable contribution to the team. I ensured that the team always had an optimistic and competitive mindset, even after hard losses. I was also the middle-man of communication between the other players and coach. When players had thoughts or concerns that they didn’t want to talk to the coach about, I would have a talk with the player than communicate the thoughts or concerns with the coach.

2. Already Always Listening. Look for those already-always listenings that are either there at all times or always there in certain situations this week. And, tell us in what way those listenings are likely to limit your effectiveness in being a leader or being in a relationship. Do this assignment by finishing the following sentence for at least a few of your already-always listenings: “My already-always listening is ....” Or “My already-always listening for … is ….” Finally, what did you learn?

My already-always listening is I always say “I know” or “I already know that” when someone tells how to do something or gives me advice on how to do something, even if I do not know what I am doing. For example, when my friend was attempting to help my golf swing, I found myself constantly saying “I know” when he would give advice and tips on my swing. I do this in order to give off the perception that I know what I’m doing and that I have my life together and that I do not need any help. This can affect my relationships and my effectiveness in being a leader because it gives people the perception that I am very stubborn and not willing to learn or take any advice from fellow colleagues or even friends. Thus, people might not feel the need to share any advice anymore. From this already always listening, I learned that it’s ok to not always know what you’re doing, and you shouldn’t be embarrassed if you don’t know things.

My already-always listening is tuning certain people out in my life when they start going very in depth into a topic. For example, when I ask my Dad about a real estate or finance question, he will go very in depth and I get lost. Instead of asking questions and trying to figure out what he is talking about, I will just tune him out and stop listening. This limits my effectiveness in being a leader as when I’m attempting to understand or get a grasp on a topic, I will just give up on the conversation once I get lost. So, when I’m working with a group on a project, I will never fully understand something if I’m lost. From this already always listening, I learned that it is ok to ask questions and to be lost when you are trying to learn something new. 

3. DISC. Summarize how you respond to problems, and challenges, the pace of the environment, rules and procedures set by others and how you influence others to your point of view. Identify the impact of your strengths and blind spots in a positive way in now and in the future.

According to my DISC report, I respond to problems and challenges by adapting and conforming to either the direction of a power figure in the group or the group direction as a whole. This is due to myself being cooperative by nature and being perceived as an easy going team player. I will also take the traditional route when solving problems, as I tend to avoid risk and unstructured solutions or processes. As for the pace of the environment, I like a steady paced, non hectic, stable environment with little change happening.  I tend to balance rules and results when prioritizing, meaning I’m mindful of the established rules and process while focusing on getting immediate results. I influence others by being able to easily build relationships and connections with others and gaining their trust. An example of this is in my current job at Amazon Logistics, I was able to quickly build a relationship with my superiors and became their right hand man(or women) when they needed help. 

My strengths of being able to build good relationships, having a calm and even head, with the ability to solve team disagreements, always willing to help team members and being dependable on what I’m asked to do makes me a great team player now and in the future. I can get along with everyone on the team and can make sure the team keeps a level head and most importantly my team can depend on me to get my part done. These strengths make me a leader today and will be valuable for my future leadership positions. As I will be able to build meaningful relationships with people and I will be able to lead through tough times due to even temper. 

4. Motivators. Summarize lessons learned from motivators in professional life both positively and modifications. How are your top two motivators effected by your top DISC on the natural side?

My top two motivators are very high economic motivation and very low altruistic motivation and I have learned many lessons in my professional life from them. With these motivators I have learned that I thrive when I am given  tasks that have some element of competition in them. This comes from my economic motivator and can be a good motivator as it allows me to produce great results and makes me result oriented. This motivator does need some modification as I tend to see everything as a competition and always compare myself to others. Another lesson that I have learned is that I’m good at making tough people decisions due to my ability to separate my emotions from the necessary actions that need to take place. This ability comes from my low altruistic motivator and can be seen in a positive light since I’m able to make decisions that others aren’t willing to make.  In order to be an effective leader I will need to modify this as in order to effectively communicate I need to understand and appreciate people's world more. 

My top two motivators of a very high economic motivator and a very low altruistic motivator are affected by my high steadiness natural style by even though I am able to make the tough decisions, I generally still want people to like me. The motivators are also affected by my naturally very high steadiness style by myself wanting a competitive environment but at the same time a steady and secure environment.