Kevin Clark's E-portfolio

NASPAA Competency: To Lead and Manage in Public Governance

• Personal Reflection: What does this competency mean to you as a professional and why is it important?

We know that leadership basically defined is the ability to get people to work together within an organization; however leadership provides so much more to the leader and the organization. From a professional point of view, I believe that leadership is directly connected to an organization’s success. Organizational productivity, organizational culture and harmony within the organization is directly tied to leadership. It is the initial spark that allows an organization move on one accord toward a particular goal. It provides vision for the organization because without vision, how do organizations know where they are going?  Most importantly, leadership gets the “idea” people on the same page with the “know how people”, which is very important in trying to find ways to help organizations to be managed efficiently and effectively.

Disk Assessment Paper Final

• How does this artifact demonstrate an enhanced understanding of this competency?

In my opinion, this class and paper has provided me an enhanced understanding of the leadership and management competency. Initially when I first began this class I thought that had an understanding of what leadership was, however I have a completely different understanding regarding leadership now. In my quest to find ways that government agencies and nonprofits can be managed better, I have determined that effective leadership is the best way to make that happen. Effective leaders need to have great communication and organizational skills, be excellent listeners, be able to emphasize with people and adapt to different situations; in addition to being able to lead people in general.  As I think back, I considered myself to be a leader that closely mirrored my personality as a nice, people-person that wants to work with people. I found out that I am really the opposite when it comes to my leadership style.  What was revealed to me is that leadership and personality are not always the same.  Dr. H-M characterizes this concept as a person’s leadership default setting.  According to the DISC assessment my leadership style is commanding. This style tends to more effective in times of crises and urgent situations, but very ineffective with people. That describes me very well.  The assessment provided an explanation of what my leadership style was, but most importantly, it showed me what other attributes I could  work on to help me be a better leader. Nevertheless, no matter what the DISC assessment says; I understand now that one leadership style does not fit all situations.   I realize that effective leaders are the initial spark that help the organization/team sustain long term success. I understand that I may not be right all the time, but if I learn to be an effective leader by empowering my team to be an apart of process there is a higher probability that my team/organization will be successful.

• Application: How would you use what you learned about this competency in the workplace or in your career?

In accessing my career goals, it is important to me place myself in a position that can have maximum positive impact on the department as a whole. So being the Commissioner of Human Services or the director over District 8 (Shelby County) is really not for me. Those positions tend to be more political which I am not interested in. I believe that being a program director over a specific program like our benefits delivery computer program is something that I could do well and really make my mark in the department. That type of opportunity allows me to work in two fields that I am competent in: computers and government management.  I believe that this position is well suited for an administrator with a commanding leadership style because redesigning the state’s benefits delivery system requires a leader that understands people relationships but at the same time knows how to motivate people to get a job done. If I was given this opportunity there would have been new a computer system designed and implemented that was efficient and effective for all of the Tennessee Department of Human Services internal and external clients.

• Lifelong learning:  What areas will you seek to gain greater knowledge in to further your mastery of this competency throughout your career? Describe some specific resources or materials that you would use to further your knowledge .

According to the DISC profile, my greatest weakness is that I need to show more empathy to people while in a leadership situation. I identified a specific book that helps me begin to understand and to help me overcome that weakness. The Empathy Effect: Build Your Business — and Your Wealth — By Putting Yourself in Other People’s shoes.  Tom Ward states in The Empathy Effect that “Empathy minimizes conflicts and promotes prosperity…it creates a better experience for everyone involved… efficient, strengthening the company and making it more profitable. (2005)” I believe that this concept of empathy can have a positive effect to the organization if managed correctly. After reading the book, I like how empathy forces a leader to empower the people around to be a part of the process. Listening and understanding other people’s concerns and needs can only develop into positive relationships between the leader and the organization. That one specific concept can help foster long termed success throughout the organization.