Nma Leads Reaction Journal

NMA LEADS Reaction Journal

Background

I believe my first leadership role was when I was put in charge of our farm’s crops and livestock. Of the five children in our family, I was raised with the most farm training and was provided the resources to successfully manage the farm. It was great responsibility when I was seventeen years old and my parents put me in charge of most all of the farm activities. I started right off by managing four farm hands and my siblings. I learned early on that you needed to gain the respect and trust of your subordinates to be effective in a management role. This was definitely the case when I was managing my sibling, in which two of them were three years older than me. I believe I learned my first leadership skills while working in the diverse farm market. After my parents sold the farm, I obtained a job with a company that refurbished public seating and performed industrial finishing. This was a whole new world to me, but I am one that never settles for any one position. I was hired as a line worker, and within six years, was promoted to line leader, assistant supervisor, supervisor, floor superintendant, assistant to the quality manager, and finally quality manager. In many positions within my career I have lead teams in problem solving, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing efforts. As operations manager, I managed all aspects of manufacturing, including molding, painting, laser etching, assembly, maintenance, shipping & receiving, and materials. I have always liked to be in a management position, where I could make a difference in the outcome of certain things. I have been told by many peers and superiors that my management and leadership skills are at a level above average. There are many of my past employers that continue to try and persuade me back to their company to be a leader in their organization. I am normally drawn back by superiors that do not contain strong ethical beliefs or by those that do not lead by example.

Leadership Aspirations  

My career goal is to become general manager in a global manufacturing company. I am currently in an organization that will provide me the opportunity to achieve this without seeking optional employment. Our company is well structured with five companies run by an umbrella company. We just recently purchased a sixth company which will give me the opportunity to strengthen my start-up skills. Working in such a company gives me many options to move parallel and upward throughout the organization. The President/CEO (owner) of the company is excited about what I bring to his company and has told me that I have the ability to move up as high as I desire in his company. For now, I will continue to strategically plan for the company’s future and I am sure I will advance in due time.

Ability

I have many abilities which are very useful in a manufacturing organization. I have extensive training in quality assurance management, in that I’ve been in a quality management role for over eighteen years. My role as operations manager taught me how to manage people and complex operations. I also have extensive training in informational technology and environmental health & safety. My LEADS assessment scored me at 14.4 of 20. I scored the highest in “Set Direction” meaning that I have a good understanding of focus and change control. I averaged 3.5 in the remaining three categories meaning that I have to work on my communication within the organization, mentoring and visualizing opportunities, and improve my actions for accountability. It seems that I have good vision and I am one to well organize the beginnings to success, but I need to work on my continual focus until end results are achieved. I have been told that I take on too much responsibility and do not involve other members of the organization in completing tasks. I know that this one of my main areas which needs improvement. I need to shift from an individual attitude towards team orientation.

Change

As stated in the previous section, my biggest desire is to become more of a team building leader and not rely on only my ability to problem solve, complete tasks, and carry the sole burden of moving the company in the right direction. I also have above average analytical skills that are very useful in a manufacturing setting where” if something can go wrong, usually does.” I have mastered three problem solving skills, including 8-D corrective action, 5-whys, and fishbone diagram. These are very useful tools when there is a problem and you have to find root cause, corrective action, and verification of the corrective action. There are many other problem solving skills that would be very useful to add to my skill set. This is an area that, if greatly improved on, would help me became a better manager and leader. They all involve the team concept which will aid in my goal of becoming more of a team oriented manager rather than an individualist. Another area that I want to build into a greater strength is in strategic planning and having better vision of opportunity. I have been involved in many strategic planning sessions, but am not to the point where it is one of my strengths. This would be very beneficial for me to master as I desire to lead the company as general manager.