Common Leadership Questions

Below are some leadership questions presented to me via this website and my answers:

• How do you grow as a leader? We grow as leaders one experience at a time. This may sound trite, but it is literally how one becomes a great leader given lessons learned (wisdom).

• Can you name a person (mentor) who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader and why? I talk to my immediate mentors in the dedication of my first book.  They were my Father, Mother, Grandfather, and Grandmother. My Father helped me to not be afraid of hard work and sacrifice for others, for he surely worked tirelessly for his family.  My hands will never show the endless toil of manual labor as his.  I trust that my heart, soul, and works have and will capture the essence of his toil. My Mother was the backbone of the family; strong in character, steadfast in faith, rebellious in nature for what was right (especially where her children were concerned), and a true leader in her own right.  She taught me respect for self first, and pushed me to challenge life’s realities at an early age.  Because she planted the seed of excellence and possibility in my mind, I am the man that I have come to be and ever evolving. My Grandfather was a man of little formal education, but possessed a drive and passion for business that gained him respect far beyond his peers.  His capacity for physical labor seemed unmatched, yet he was also blessed with a keen sense for business matters that allowed him to build a legacy in the community at large.  I idolized him as I was growing up around him and even now as a grown man, I marvel at his effort and accomplishments. My Grandmother taught me the power of giving.  She produced 11 children who in turn produced more grandchildren and great grandchildren than I can count.  The fact is that she gave to each of us in our time of need.  She made me smile every time I was in her presence because of her ability to give to so many and keep a little bit of wit and humor for herself.

• How do you encourage creative thinking within your organization? Creative thought is at first an individual endeavor, even if it is done at a table with other colleagues brainstorming an idea.  Accordingly, I first mentor to the boundless creativity that we possess as individuals if we but take the shackles off the possibilities in our minds.  Then I expand on that process organizationally by creating an environment that supports collective creative thought (vision, patience, resources).

• What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today? Creative thoughts for solving tomorrow’s issues.