1. What tactics or strategy do you use while leading other people?
- Mr. Owens believes that the most effect strategy is leading by example. He also believes that you can not lead by example unless you have had years of experience and built up a reputation of honesty and integrity. Lastly, the company is the number one priority, so when leading, he makes sure that this message is clear.
2. In your opinion, are leaders born or made?
- Mr. Owens believes that the answer is both because people have to be born with certain qualities of a leader, but unless the traits are hoaned at a later time, then they will never become a leader.
3. What struggles have you come across when having a role of leadership?
- A few struggles Mr. Owens has run into is inertia, resistance to change, and quickness to criticize. Inertia is one because when people don't know how to start a project, he has to help them along the way. Resistance to change is another because people become comfortable in the situation that they are in and as a leader, Mr. owens finds it very hard to try to get them to change because there is no certainty that change will be for better or worse. Lastly, quickness to criticize is a problem because when people hear new ideas, they all like to fire bullets at it, but as a leader Mr. Owens tries to figure out what the rest want and usually they have no ideas.
4. What has been your greatest accomplishment as someone who leads others?
- What Mr. Owens believes is his greatest accomplishment is just growing individuals into new leaders, including his children. By just enstiling values in the ones that look up to him, he feels like that is the greatest thing he can do.
5. What traits do you believe make a good leader?
- The traits Mr. Owens believe you must have to be a good leader are: honesty, integrity (the most important), thoughtfulness, inspirational, commitment, and consistency while being able to change.
6. What do you consider your greatest leadership quality?
- He believes that his greatest quality as a leader is his honest good intentions that help the advance the organization as a whole. Even though he believes this is his best quality, he also believes that unless you have many good leadership qualities, you can not be a successful leader.
7. Can you explain how leadership got you into the position or role that you are in today?
- At a young age Mr. Owens always wanted to succeed to the best of his ability. From kindergarten to his senior year of high school, Mr. Owens made straight a's every semester of every year. Even though he was a little bit of a trouble maker while growing up. He always understood that when he needed to step up and do something to the best of his ability, he always buckeled down ad got the a he was looking for. Plus, he credits many of the older lawyers that he was able to look up to when he first entered the law firm.
8. What advice would you give to kids looking to be future leaders?
- Mr. Owens said that first you need to have most of the traits that he said make most leaders. Another thing is that you must remember that it takes years to get the respect of others and only seconds to destroy that respect. Lastly, don't be scared to listen or to ask questions, when you are able to hear other ideas and gain new knowledge, it will help you become a better leader in the future.
Mr. Owens seems like an interesting guy. It definitely seems like he knows what he's talking about. He sounds a lot like Mr. MacDowell when he talks about his greatest accoplishment.
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ReplyDeleteHallway,
ReplyDeleteI think you did a fantastic job with your interview. I think it is really interesting how Mr. Owens feels that a person is unable to lead by example, unless a person has experience and solid reputation, which is one of the K & P principles. I also like Mr. Owen's quote on how it takes years to get respect, and seconds to destroy the respect gained. Fantastic job my friend. :P
Will, this is a comprehensive interview. What struck me most about the opinion Mr. Owens' shared was his perspective on change. I know from my perspective, leading change in any organization -- and especially a school -- can be really hard. I try to incorporate the voices of those I lead in shaping the direction we will take. At the end of the day, the biggest challenge is communication: how do you inspire those you lead with the vision you will follow and the need for change while at the same time allaying their anxiety? This is a hard thing to do.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Hall,
ReplyDeleteI personally found Mr.Owens response to your question about certain struggles very interesting. His answer was different from any other answer we have heard in class to that question, but I understood exactly what he was talking about and I was impressed by his different way of thinking. I agree with him, at times it is very hard to get people going and out of their comfort zone and also getting people to consider ideas before criticizing them.