Details:

NOTE: Please review the attached document Leadership Reflection, located under course materials, before beginning this assignment.

In 750 words reflect on what you learned from your leadership interview.

1. Describe what you learned from your interview.
2. Describe how you will use the information in your own leadership experiences.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide and Typing Template, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies: 2.4: Evaluate intrapersonal skills.

Attachment #1:

PSY-693 Professional Capstone

Benchmark Assignment – Leadership Reflection Paper

Step 1:Chose a leader in your prospective career field to interview. He or she should be someone who is respected and viewed as an effective and/or exemplary leader in their organization or field. The leader must be preapproved by your instructor.

Step 2:Set a date and time for the interview. This should be, preferably, a face-to-face interview. A phone interview will suffice if your leader lives out of state. Be sure to organize the interview well in advance. An email interview is not acceptable.

Step 3:From the list below, choose at least four questions you would like to ask your leader. You are also required to create three of your own questions, specific to that leader or field. Make sure your questions are open-ended and address the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership

·  How did you enter your career field?

·  What were some of the biggest challenges?

·  What is your educational background?

·  How important is networking?

·  What steps/advice do you recommend for those entering the field?

·  What strengths do you believe you possess as a leader? Weaknesses?

·  What are three to four actions you believe are essential to enable others to be successful?

·  What advice do you have for building relationships and trust in an organization?

Step 4:Conduct your interview using a recording device or taking effective notes. Include the date, time, and location of your interview.

What you will turn in:three original questions, notes from interview (questions and answers), and reflection assignment. Also, be prepared to share your interview and reflection with other learners in this class.

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies: 2.4: Evaluate intrapersonal skills

Attachment #2: This is the interview

Leadership Reflection Paper

Step 1:Chose a leader in your prospective career field to interview. He or she should be someone who is respected and viewed as an effective and/or exemplary leader in their organization or field. The leader must be preapproved by your instructor.

Step 2:Set a date and time for the interview. This should be, preferably, a face-to-face interview. A phone interview will suffice if your leader lives out of state. Be sure to organize the interview well in advance. An email interview is not acceptable.

Step 3:From the list below, choose at least four questions you would like to ask your leader. You are also required to create three of your own questions, specific to that leader or field. Make sure your questions are open-ended and address the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership  

·  How did you enter your career field? 

I’ve always know that I was called to help people and I’ve always worked in some form of counselor or advocacy role.  However, it was not until I volunteered with a local transitional housing program in 2003 that I fully began to understand the overwhelming desire to help others.  From there I begin to work toward the education that would not only qualify me to succeed in counseling and social work, but give me the direct tools help.

·  What were some of the biggest challenges? 

Two of the biggest challenges I have found in this field are remembering to push back that your client will help themselves and not become a crutch; and the fact that funding or the lack of can be an issue when attempting to assist clients.

·  What is your educational background?

I have a BS in Psychology & Social Services, a Masters in Divinity & Biblical Counseling, a Masters in Social Work (with a concentration in Clinical Practice/Mental Health), a Doctoral in Ministry & Biblical Counseling and I am currently working on a PhD in Social Work (Family Studies & Intervention)

·  How important is networking?
Networking opens doors to community relationships and resources.  Networking should not be looked at as an ultimate personal gain, but one that will bring significant outcome for your agency and the population that your agency serves.  Networking is important because we don’t and can’t hold all the answers, but networking allows us access to each other and ultimately brings all answers together. 

·  What steps/advice do you recommend for those entering the field? 

Examine your heart, examine your intentions, and always remember that this field is about others.  I would suggest to them to remember that you may have clients that have similar situations and circumstances, but every client is different and that they should be received and treated different. I also would say “please, please do your best to take care of yourself”, self-care is vital to endurance in this field.

·  What strengths do you believe you possess as a leader? Weaknesses? 

I am a woman of great faith and I know that is a strength that continues to pull me through to accomplish what I have and what I will in the future. I would say that another strength is my love for God’s people and my drive to be a help to them.  My weakness I would have to say is that as much as much as I preach self-care, I am the worst at self-care.

·  What are three to four actions you believe are essential to enable others to be successful? 

1). Believe in what God said you can do.

2). Education and the desire to remain teachable.

3). Never give up and never underestimate your ability.

·  What advice do you have for building relationships and trust in an organization? 

I firmly believe in team building activities and setting aside time for team retreats.  I also believe that the more an agency pulls together in studying the word of God, that agency will work together as a unit more.  However, most agencies don’t allow for such things, so I would have to say that an organization must be proactive in the pursuit of building relationships with each other.  Trust takes time and that time is found in following through and being consistent.

Step 4:Conduct your interview using a recording device or taking effective notes. Include the date, time, and location of your interview.

What you will turn in:three original questions, notes from interview (questions and answers), and reflection assignment. Also, be prepared to share your interview and reflection with other learners in this class.

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies: 2.4: Evaluate intrapersonal skills