Thoughts on Leadership and Teamwork 
President's Report
Leadership is an ever-present topic in the news and social media. There are many forms of leadership – good and bad. Everyone has their successes and failures – that is the only way you grow – to learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them. We can learn from other’s successes and failures as well.
My management style is based on experiencing a long list of leaders that I have encountered during my career, and I encourage everyone to do the same. This list includes more than my direct superiors – I continue to observe all leaders so that I may grow as a team member as well as a leader. I take the characteristics that made me feel good/energized/successful and I avoid the ones that did the opposite. I have learned from the toughest of leaders, but also from those that were caring. I admire those leaders that were able to pull a team that has endured hardships and lead them across the finish line and to victory.
I also strive to be a good team member – willing to do anything to ensure that the team succeeds. Each person on the team must pull their own weight, must take ownership of their specific duties and responsibilities and able to fill any gaps that may occur ensuring the team does not miss a beat. Each person must be dependable, accountable and take ownership of their actions. The Team needs everyone working together as a well-oiled machine. This is each person’s responsibility, and each team needs a leader to make sure it is humming smoothly.
My style can be summed up through a couple of quotes from Bo Schembechler (Head Coach for Michigan Football) who stated - The Team, The Team, The Team.
My actions are for the team’s success, any success I achieve is through the team’s success, I am nothing without the team.
With the second quote, the theme pushes down to each person to do the best they can with the job they are assigned and be ready when your name is called. This means practice, learn, train, and shadow others. It is up to the leaders to make sure that they are prepared, ready to take charge. You don’t know when you are going to have to call their name to fill a gap. Life happens and we must be ready when the call comes in.
I also believe that it is my responsibility to raise others to their highest, to flow praise to those that earned it (they did it - not you) and to protect them from outside attacks. As leaders you are in your position to ensure your project is successful – not only with the customer but within your team – teamwork and individual growth.
A big part of leadership is the growth of your team. I love it when I see team members step up and take on a new challenge. When someone comes in and states “thank you for providing me with this opportunity”, seeing how they light up when making the statement, and then watching them prove to themselves that they can do the job. Mentorship is a large part of growing future leaders. Mentorship takes many shapes and forms, but its main role is to provide guidance to someone, so they are ready for the next challenge – for their growth. We need to build the individual up, encourage them, to overcome their fears and doubts. This does not happen overnight – it is a very slow process.
The 10 examples of employee motivation highlight a lot of what/who I am - it is nice to see it in print. I encourage everyone to adhere to these tenants as well.
While fads will come and go, leadership by example will never go out of style. Emotionally intelligent leaders model the behavior they want their team members to show. They have a great work ethic and positive attitude. People watch you, they see the real you – the version of you that you unintentionally present through your actions.
It begins with a positive, culturally minded approach toward recognition, growth, and fairness, mixed with a strategically oriented approach toward establishing clear vision and goals. Together, we can continue to build this culture to ensure that everyone is successful and prosperous.
There is nothing better than to see your team succeed and to see them take the reins on leadership.
David A Jones, PMP, BMRP
President - PMI Dayton/Miami Valley Chapter
[email protected]
Welcome New Members
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