Coaching Corner: What are your leadership qualities?
By "Coach" Marilou Butcher Roth
Recently the Ohio Association of REALTORS launched The Leadership Academy with 12 participants beginning a year-long study of leadership, impacting their participation within the REALTOR organization as well as their communities and their individual lives.
The very first module was specific to learning about themselves. The facilitator sent each participant an assessment -- “The Work of Leaders†-- which is part of the DISC family assessments. This is such an awesome tool because it not only looks at your basic style, it also breaks down leadership qualities into three categories: vision, alignment and execution; gauging what comes naturally, and what may need some more focus. As a REALTOR, your leadership skills come into play on a daily basis -- it's not just about chairing a committee!
This is the assessment that I use regularly with clients and its benefits are vast. Today, I want to give you a bit of the tool, to be able to rate yourself on your qualities of leadership -- look at each of these and determine your typical behavior.
Let's start with VISION:
- Do you seek closure OR remain open?
- Do you prioritize details OR prioritize big picture?
- Are you cautious OR adventurous?
- Do you hold back OR speak out?
- Do you decide independently OR seek counsel?
- Do you push forward OR explore implications?
Next up is ALIGNMENT:
- Do you offer intuition OR explain rationale?
- Do you give impromptu messaging OR give a structured message?
- Do you present information OR exchange perspectives?
- Are you challenging OR receptive?
- Are you reserved OR expressive?
- Are you matter-of-fact OR encouraging?
Last is EXECUTION:
- Are you low key OR driven?
- Are you reactive OR initiating?
- Do you improvise OR plan?
- Do you follow first impressions OR analyze in-depth?
- Do you maintain harmony OR address problems?
- Do you offer less praise OR offer more praise?
As you can see, these are qualities that will play out not just within your business or any involvement with your associations, but also in your life overall. Each of us will find that some qualities come more naturally to us while the others will require some focus. The "best practices" are the qualities on the right side. See how you do and what you might want to put some attention on.
If you are drawn to this type of work, watch for the upcoming notifications regarding next year's Leadership Academy!
Marilou Butcher Roth
Marilou Butcher Roth is the owner of The MBR Group, a coaching and training company working primarily with REALTORS who have a desire to work and live from a more inspired place. She is also the Broker/Owner of Group REALTORS in Cincinnati.
Marilou is a member of the Ohio REALTORS Board of Directors and past chairman of the organization’s Communications Committee.
