When interviewing the leaders featured in our book and on the website, we wanted to learn how they developed their attitudes and skills. We created a series of questions to help identify their beliefs, behaviors, and experiences. What events, people, and life-changing moments had major impacts on their development? Those questions follow this discussion.
We also believe that you, the reader, can learn more about yourself by identifying your own life experiences. Use these questions as a starting point for knowing yourself better. We encourage you to add questions of your own.
You may choose to do this alone, or to interview others and share your responses. Others often see in us things we do not see in ourselves.What you learn about yourself will provide a solid basis for ongoing reflection, development, and growth.
George Buckley, former CEO of 3M, said “It’s better to have your shadow on results rather than your fingerprints.” While lights shine on a team and its work, that kind of leader stays behind the scenes. These interviews brought some of them into the light to show the knowledge and skills and experiences that made them successful. We hope they will do the same for you.
The questions:
- There are said to be five major forces that form our beliefs: family, religion, education, friends and media. Which of these has been most influential on your beliefs?
- What childhood experiences formed your early values and beliefs?
- How did your education influence your thinking?
- What early work experiences motivated you to pursue the path you chose?
- How did you lead your organization(s)? What were the characteristics you demonstrated that made you effective?
- What did you accomplish? Of what accomplishment are you most proud?
- How did you enable people to exercise their personal power and leadership?
- What are your management philosophies?
- Tell me your views on innovation.
- What crucial experiences transformed your thinking about yourself and your role in your family? Your professional life? Your role in any organization?
- Who do you consider examples of great leaders, and what are the characteristics that make them exceptional leaders?
- Talk about how your thinking has evolved over the years.
- How do you see the world now compared to when you began your career?
- Did it evolve gradually so that you hardly noticed, or were there “aha” moments that caused you to change? Describe those incidents and what resulted.
- How has the work environment today changed from when you began your career?
- Would those changes affect the way your thinking developed?
- What one message would you want readers to learn from your experience?
Please feel free to modify these questions, or add others of your own, to more fully develop your own story.