A520.9.5.RB_Kesler, Kelley

Power

“Are you comfortable developing sources of personal influence to gain power?” is one of the questions we are to address in our blog this week, when I read this question the initial thought I had was sucking up or brown nosing...  Personally, I have a problem with individuals who do this, I want to be known and respected for my values and work ethic. People who suck up or brown nose are fake and you will not know their true values and qualities as an individual. That being said I fully believe that most work environments are very political.  I will not alter my beliefs, but in a very politically charged environment, I also will not share my opinion with others if I know my beliefs are different that theirs.  My last position at the college was very difficult, because the college was extremely political.  From my viewpoint and other colleagues I have spoken with, it seemed as if the only individuals that were promoted were the ones that sucked up and brown nosed to upper administration.  This might be why I was not passed over for promotion twice, this is also why I choose to leave the college.  I do not like working in an environment that encourages this type of behavior.  In my new position, I fully believe that I will be able to be myself and not have to hide my personal view points and ideas.   I’m very excited to work in this new environment. 

Do you embody the characteristics of likeable people depicted in Table 5.4 (p. 290)? Is the second question in our blog assignment to answer this week. The qualities of a likeble person are:

• Support an open, honest and loyal relationship
• Foster intimacy by being emotionally accessible
• Provide unconditional, positive regard and acceptance
• Endure some sacrifices if the relationship should demand them
• Provide social reinforcement in the form of sympathy and empathy
• Engage in the social exchanges necessary to sustain a relationship

I believe that I do embody and embrace the qualities of a likeable person.  I have had many life long friendships, I truly believe that my friends can call at any time and ask me anything and I would drop what I’m doing to help them in anyway I can even if they just need someone to vent to or just go to a movie.  I also know that my great friends we will always be friends, we cannot talk for a long period of time due to life events, but always pick up right where we left off and it’s like we’ve talking everyday.   I believe I bring these qualities to the table in my work environment also.  I enjoy being around people and like to see them succeed in anything they put their mind to, I want to support them in their endeavor's in anyway possible, as a friend, mentor, supervisor etc.  I believe that my qualities as a likeable person will help to accomplish this.

Are you able to use influence both up and down your organization considering the information in Table 5.5?  Is the final question of our blog this week, I believe that in my new position I will be able to influence from both the top up and down in my organization.  A few weeks ago in my previous position, I would have answered this question very differently.  But in my new position, I work very closely with the CEO and have already began to build a relationship with her.  I believe that I can bring my ideas, thoughts, concerns etc. to her and she will listen and give feedback accordingly.  I will admit, I’m very excited about this relationship, I feel that I have a purpose within this organization, where I didn’t feel that support before.  Because of this support, I believe that I will be able to influence the organization both up and down.

Whetton, D., & Cameron, K. (2011). Developing management skills. (Eighth ed.). Boston: Prentice Hall.

A520.7.3.RB_Kesler, Kelley

Mentors

      I truly believe in having a mentor in ones life and professional career.  To be honest, I have not had a true mentor in my professional career, but not as an individual in my professional environment that I can call a mentor.  The closest persons, that I can my mentors is my brother and father.  These two people have been the influences in my life, that I strive to be like.  My father showed me everyday through his actions how to be a professional.  He got up every morning and went to work. Dressed in a suit and tie, never complaining.. Most days, he was short on sleep, because he was on call every other night and weekends as an OBGYN in a small town.  My brother is an amazing family man, that works incredibly hard to support his family, but is also an extremely successful business man.  I truly look up to these two individuals in my life. They are my mentors!!! They have shown me what professionalism is and the standards required to achieve it.  

     I work with many individuals that do not have the mentors that I was extremely fortunate to have in my life, these individuals need mentors to show them how to be successful.  I see this as my role in their lives.  I often preach to my work study supervisors when I train them that we must not only be mentors but also examples to our students. I truly believe that the first job of a mentor is to be a good example of what to do... Not to provide an example of what not to do.... We must show our mentees how to do this!

For myself, I’m a visual learner, I need to be able to visualize to completely understand the concept.  As a flight instructor I have also found this to be true, because of this I try to live and breathe professionalism to teach my students how to be a professional by my example.