This list provides selected reflection questions for Chapters 2 through 17 of the book. Use these to help understand more thoroughly in your own terms what the chapters have to teach.
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Let’s Talk Story
Let’s Talk Story builds on the notion that “wisdom is in the ordinary if you know how to look.” Arnie Weimerskirch and John Fechter have extensive experience in industry at Honeywell and Medtronic, and are keen observers of their surroundings. As with the interviews in The Engineer’s Guide to Authentic Leadership, you will find many nuggets of wisdom told in a very engaging and readable manner.
Social Style Self-Profile
Building relationships requires understanding yourself and other people. How do you build trust, understand others’ needs, and learn how you can help? An essential element is understanding social style, as discussed in Chapter 13 on Relationships are key. This evaluation tool provides a way for you to better understand your social style, and to understand the social styles of others.
Ron Bennett on Advanced Manufacturing Now
Host Steve Plumb interviews Ronald J. Bennett on the podcast Advanced Manufacturing Now. They discuss Bennett’s interest in leadership development over his manufacturing career and his focus and approach to teaching leadership in engineering and other STEM programs as an education leader himself.
“Timeless truths and good practices”
John Fechter, Professor, School of Engineering, University of St. Thomas
I’ve known Ron Bennett for over 30 years. He’s got an engineer’s mindset—watching things happening and asking himself “how is that happening? What’s the process?” Once the process is known and understood, he can’t help asking “could it be improved?”
Ron seeks every opportunity to share how a process works with anyone who can benefit by applying that understanding to their own circumstances. He especially wants to share with current leaders and up-and-coming new leaders. Imagine what they—you—can accomplish by learning from these stories without the pain, delay, and effort required to acquire that knowledge through personal experience in the school of hard knocks.
This book is a delight. Real stories, real people.
“Proven career self-assessment tools and processes”
Eugene J. Audette, PhD
The Engineer’s Guide to Authentic Leadership, by Bennett and Millam, follows in the 50+ year tradition of the classic but still current career development guide, What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles,* but speaks more directly to the engineer and to others who work in science-technology based organizations by using language and workplace examples that directly resonate with their experiences and outlook. This guide can be just as beneficial to the independent entrepreneur who seeks to be a leader in the technical world. The guide offers proven career self-assessment tools and processes and planning models and then puts the outcomes of those processes squarely within the world milieux in which the technical professional can have crucial positive impact.
Continue reading ““Proven career self-assessment tools and processes””
The Noble Cause of Manufacturing
Imagine the world without modern manufacturing and how less pleasant it would be: The Noble Cause of Manufacturing.
Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime
The original graduate leadership course was taught in three installments spread over three years; the normal time that working adult students spent in the Master’s program. Having time between installments allowed students to let the material sink in and to do projects using the new learning. It proved to be a very effective method for learning. These can also be condensed into one semester. Here is a syllabus for each of the three segments:
Syllabus: Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime I
Syllabus: Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime II
Syllabus: Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime III
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Chapters 2 through 5, Exploding the Myths, discusses how our beliefs affect our behaviors, and that some of our beliefs are truths while others are myths. This article by Phil Bilzon can help you sort out your beliefs and allow you to discard those that are not true for you.
Tips for Successful Mentoring
Chapter 11 on Mentoring discusses the value of having a mentor and of being a mentee, as well as developing a broader Board of Directors. The article Tips for a Successful Mentoring Relationship is based on years of experimentation. It provides a simple, clear and direct guide to the expectations of mentors and mentees.