We want to hear from the wonderful individuals that make up this outstanding community!
The majority of our Wednesday content will feature different individuals and share some of their experiences and thoughts on being a leader.
This Week’s Featured Leader is
Dottie Gandy!
Leadership Style:
My leadership style is one of inclusivity, based on creating high-trust relationships. This style was first supported when, right out of college, I had the privilege of working for a U. S. Senator from Texas. He was scrupulously honest and a person of high integrity – and he demanded the same from his staff. Because we had constituents with different perspectives on different issues, we were taught how to listen to all points of view – and find a way to validate each one.
I was also fortunate enough to have an 11-year career with the late Stephen R. Covey, whose books, “Principle-Centered Leadership” and “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” reinforced and strengthened what I had learned from Senator Yarborough almost 25 years earlier. I also had the joy of working with Stephen M.R. Covey, son of Covey, Sr., and the author of “The Speed of Trust.”
Most Valuable Feedback received:
The most valuable feedback came in the form of learning to extend “smart trust” and make certain that what I said I stood for – and how I behaved – were in alignment. Stephen M. R. Covey especially stressed that our trust as a leader was eroded when our character (who we say we are) and our competence (our ability to delivery promised results) were not a match. SRC, Sr., reminded us that as leaders we are here “to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy.”
Most Important Attributes of a Leader:
A leader encourages people to dream big, and value the learning that comes from mistakes. A leader is a visionary who never loses site of the horizon – and then surrounds herself with people who can deliver what it needed to accomplish that vision. A leader has to inspire trust, provide a climate of warm comradery, and understand the balanced roles of humor and understanding in the delivery of results.
If you are interested in being featured please email tara@mentoringwomensnetwork.com for more information!
