Leadership Project:
• Interview (in person or by phone) a person who you admire and respect (and someone who is outside of your family) who you see as a leader. Your goal is to learn everything about their perspective on leadership. It is recommended that you tape the interview so that you can refer to and extract exact quotations from it. Be sure to clear the recording with your interviewee.
Some sample questions to help you focus on the data you need to collect:
1) Life’s story – How did you get to where you are today?
2) Leadership definition – What’s your definition of leadership?
3) Life’s dream – How do you feel on your “best” days?
4) Leadership model – What elements are essential in good leadership? What are the characteristics of a good leader? (Does the person’s responses seem to fit with some of the leadership theories we have discussed in class?)
5) Leadership principles – What are your core leadership principles—that is, what have you learned over the course of your life about what it means to be a good leader? What should a leader NOT do?
6) Life’s mission – Have you selected or settled on a mission or purpose in life? If so, what is it?
7) How did you develop your leadership style? Did you have any role models or mentors?
8) What is your education / military experience? In hindsight, was it helpful? In what specific ways?
9) What was your previous work experience? How/why did you end up joining your current organization?
10) Were there any particular experiences that happened to shape your leadership style?
11) How do you motivate people?
12) Do you change your leadership style based on the needs of the group or individuals you are working with?
13) What are the most common mistakes that you see today’s managers make?
14) What are the things that you find most personally rewarding and satisfying?
15) What are the three most important leadership lessons you have learned?
16) Do you believe leaders are “born” or “made”?
17) Advice – What advice would you give to people just beginning their careers with regard to developing their leadership skills?