12. What leadership qualities do you most admire in effective leaders that you have known? Which of these qualities do you believe best describe your leadership?
To be able to listen to others and then articulate their thoughts succinctly, which is hard to do. Generating enthusiasm that culminates in positive action, and giving people a good sense that they are genuinely involved in something important. I do not know if I am as articulate in taking people’s thoughts and synthesizing them, rather than just giving my own opinions. I am gradually learning that art. I feel that I am now becoming a good listener.
13. What, if any, spiritual traditions or practices do you most draw upon in exercising leadership?
I draw upon honesty and kindness.
14. How has your leadership style changed as you have progressed in life?
I am just not as bossy as I used to be!
15. What is the one mistake you see leaders making more frequently than others?
Talking too much – which is a trait of mine.
16. What are you doing to continue growing and developing as a leader?
That is not the goal I am aiming for. In fact, I am withdrawing from being a leader.
17. The two characteristics most often associated with sage leader wisdom are unusual experience and the exercise of sound judgment. What does having wisdom mean to you?
It is being knowledgeable about what you are involved with, including pitfalls.
18. What are the one or two peak experiences in your life that set you on the path you’re on today?
My going to boarding school at a very young age and being put in a role of having to survive away from home. Also being a little leader in the sense of taking care of my mother at that very early age. I think landing in NYC with maybe $200 in my pocket at the age of 21 set me up to be both independent and careful.
Later, in Moraga, I was asked to chair a major community event that involved coordinating a large committee and holding public meetings with all of the service organizations. My good friend talked me into this. It was very nerve-racking for me, but I learned a lot. I think that was probably the biggest undertaking I had ever done up to that point, and probably still is. It gave me good experience.
Another peak experience was being elected chair of the Moraga Park’s & Recreational Authority. William Penn Mott Jr. was a great mentor to me. Being asked to take on this responsibility taught me a lot – especially to depend on other people who were much more knowledgeable than I was at the same time that they looked to me to keep them together.
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