From the research and reading you have done on your great leader you will now identify three leadership characteristics that your person has demonstrated in their leadership role. Then give two detailed examples of some event that occurred in their life that demonstrates each of the leadership characteristics you identified.
1. Characteristic: Social Awareness
Definition of characteristic: Understanding social networks and key influencers in that social network is another key part of leadership. Who in the organization has the most clout, both officially and unofficially? Who moves the hearts of the group?
Give an event in your person’s life or a quote from someone that demonstrates that your person possesses that leadership characteristic. Then explain how that event or quote demonstrates that characteristic.
Example 1
Michelle Simard from Saco is very grateful for the support and treatment for her son, Jacob who is nine years old had to spend a long time at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital over the course of several years. He had a rare form of cancer and he became more well known when one year he asked for Christmas cards. He got thousands of cards including one from Barbara Bush. This is a good example of social awareness because by sending a card to him, not only did she influence more people to send cards, but she also really made him feel good by sending him a card from her specifically because she was a greatly appreciated woman and she did so much for everyone in that hospital, and to get a card from her specifically was an amazing feeling.
Example 2
“Mrs. Bush believed that tackling illiteracy would also solve social issues that went unaddressed, such as AIDS, homelessness and teenage pregnancy. Her crusade against illiteracy and learning disabilities stemmed from her tireless efforts with her son Neil’s dyslexia.” (4) This is a good example because she was trying to help problems of other people, she was trying to help people who don’t always get the help they need. she made the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy which helped all kinds of families that helped them read and she believed if we could all read it would solve social issues. “The mission of the Barbara Bush Foundation is to advocate for and establish literacy as a value in every home.” It is throughout the entire country.
Example 3
“Although she took her husband’s loss of the White House in 1992 as a personal blow, Barbara Bush immediately involved herself in a new life of public service activity, helping to plan her husband’s presidential library and staying in close touch with her large family. Today, she continues her service as AmeriCares ambassador-at-large; Mayo Clinic Foundation board member” this is a good example of social awareness because although she was upset about something happening in her personal life, she continued with helping others throughout her tough times.
2. Characteristic: Vision
Definition of characteristic: You’re working towards a goal that’s greater than yourself. It could be something small, like the success of the team, or a larger vision like world peace. Working towards a vision is far more inspiring than working towards personal gain.
Give an event in your person’s life or a quote from someone that demonstrates that your person possesses that leadership characteristic. Then explain how that event or quote demonstrates that characteristic.
Example 1
She founded Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, which encourages parents to read to their children. The greater goals that she had was to make sure that all children and families have the ability to read to/with their children.
She had said, “The American Dream is about equal opportunity for everyone who works hard. If we don’t give everyone the ability to simply read and write, then we aren’t giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.” Mrs. Barbara Bush.
Example 2
She started in cancer research in October 1953 after her daughter Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush died of leukemia at age 3. She had even said “Because of Robin, George and I love every living human more,” she was increasingly active in her cancer research. This is a good example of vision because by looking for research in cancer she was trying to achieve a goal that is bigger than herself because cancer is a big problem and by trying to help solve it she is trying to achieve a good goal.
Example 3
She let the hospital (Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital) use her name, this is a good example of vision since her greater goal was to help the hospital and the children in it. She knew that by putting her name into the hospital she would make the hospital more well known and it did, therefore helping the greater goal of getting help to more kids who need it.
3. Characteristic: A good communicator
Definition of characteristic: As a leader, one must listen…a lot! You must be willing to work to understand the needs and desires of others. A good leader asks many questions, considers all options, and leads in the right direction.
Give an event in your person’s life or a quote from someone that demonstrates that your person possesses that leadership characteristic. Then explain how that event or quote demonstrates that characteristic.
Example 1
Barbara Bush would read to kids, and teach them how to read, in one case she even figured out that one child had dyslexia when back then people barely knew what dyslexia was at that time. She was good at teaching kids to read and write along with other things related to literacy. She made sure that she was able to help all children learn to read and write. This is because she saw that it is only fair if all families especially children had the opportunity to learn to read and write. She was able to teach them. This is a good example for her being a good communicator because she was able to help the children learn to read and write which is what they need, especially the children in the hospital who don’t get to go to public school to learn that kind of stuff, so by teaching them, she was understanding their needs and wants and helping them achieve them.
Example 2
“She was the first Secret Service protectee I had ever spoken to. That encounter is only one of scores of examples my fellow agents could give of the genuine admiration and respect Barbara Bush showed to the people who protected her and her family — and her recognition of the sacrifices the agents made for the presidential security operation. I can report that this ethos and gratitude resonates within the entire Bush family.” (6) This is a good Example of good communicator because having respect is very important when you are interacting with others, especially when you are someone that a lot of people look to for guidance and inspiration