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Leadership may be what you are
As a reporter for the Banner Graphic, I often get to interact with some of the movers and shakers in our community, as well as those leading our school systems and businesses.
For about the next three months, I will get to learn more about how I can become an influencer, as well as what it takes to promote growth throughout Putnam County.
Tami VanRensselaer, who is the deputy director of the Greencastle/Putnam County Economic Development Center, reached out to the Banner Graphic asking if one of us was interested in participating in the 2020 Putnam County Leadership Academy.
Jared pitched it to me, and I accepted. A scholarship -- extended to those asked to participate -- from the development center will cover expenses, in exchange for me devoting some writing about the program. As such, I will be producing a series about what we’ve been doing as we go along in the academy.
Thanks to a renewed focus on encouraging local leadership development in variety of fields and businesses, the Putnam County Leadership Academy got the financial boost with a generous grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation.
The Putnam County Leadership Academy is getting off the ground with the help of Lynn Ringis, who actually heads the Montgomery County Leadership Academy. I think it is awesome for different development efforts to collaborate in this way.
As a journalist and as a community member, I am excited to have this opportunity. I will get to interact with leaders like Paul Jedele of McDonald’s/Jedele Industries, PCCF Communications Director Neysa Meyer, Jared Grable of Global Construction Management, Greencastle City Councilor Jake Widner and others.
The group will meet every Wednesday afternoon and focus on topics such as local government, education and nonprofits, and what roles they all play.
This is a start of what I hope will be a fruitful exploration about what makes the Greencastle community tick. I also hope to better figure out how we can go out into the rural communities and also encourage their growth and civic participation.
The academy got under way last Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 16). This session was an opportunity for us to become acquainted with one other -- as well as with ourselves.
The main objective was helping all of us begin to think with each other about what our behavioral tendencies and priorities are -- both as individuals as well as professionals.
Prior to the session, we were asked to complete the DISC personality assessment. For those who may already be familiar with them, DISC more or less considers the same ideas as those with the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator or the Clifton StrengthsFinder.
My results indicated that I am predominantly an “S” and a “C,” but still have hints of the other two behavioral styles. It is important to understand that no person will only show those which go with this or that style.
Those of the “S” style tend to exhibit behavior that is seen as even-tempered, accommodating to others, patient, humble and tactful. Those with a “C” style are analytical, reserved, precise and systematic in their actions and interactions.
The “D’s” are results-oriented, strong-willed and will pull no punches in their desire to overcome. The “C’s” will tend to be very optimistic, bubbly and the life of the party.
Lynn told us that DISC is a tool that would help us communicate better with co-workers and people in general. But while recognizing these patterns is helpful, it’s not fool-proof. We should show grace toward others, and try to think outside of the box.
The writer Anaïs Nin said, “We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are.” She suggests that our behaviors not only reflect us, but influence our perspectives.
If we could put DISC into dichotomies, we can see people as being more task-oriented versus people-oriented, as well as being more outgoing as opposed to more reserved. The task-oriented individual is more likely to say “I think ...,” while those who are more people-oriented will say “I feel ...” Ultimately, this is about shifting perspectives.
The point is to recognize the strengths and weaknesses in yourself as much as you might see them in others. If we can do this, all of us have the capability to organize, lead and inspire. It is about encouraging other people’s best, not simply labeling them.
Lynn suggested to us that the DISC personalities -- and what makes them tick -- will remain a key theme behind all of our activities as we move forward in the academy. As I will talk about next week, it most definitely applies to people and public speaking.
At the end of the day, this is still all about establishing meaningful connections with others. In my line of work as a reporter, this is certainly not a new objective for me.