The CLT Alliance Emerging Business Leaders program’s opening lesson led by John Bennett, Elizabeth Rohan, and Laura Foor was like opening a book you can’t put down. The lessons?
A vibrant confluence of leadership traits resonating deeply with Grant Thornton’s core values: collaboration, leadership, excellence, agility, respect, and responsibility (CLEARR). The journey unveiled a rich tapestry of traits essential for today’s dynamic leaders. Emphasizing the importance of individuality in leadership, realizing that leadership is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It’s about harnessing one’s unique traits to inspire and lead effectively.
Key learnings from the Big Five Trait Report:
- Need for Stability: To what degree do you respond to stress?
- Extraversion: What is your tolerance for sensory stimulation from people/ environments?
- Originality: How open are you to new experiences/new ways of doing things.
- Accommodation: How much do you defer to others?
- Consolidation: Are you flexible or focused on pushing your goals forward?
Self-reflection on my leadership traits
- Resiliency: My calm, strategic response to stress mirrors our firm’s value of composed leadership in challenging scenarios.
- Ambivert: I fluidly transition between teamwork and solitary work, a trait that enhances our firm’s collaborative yet independent work culture.
- Preserver: My preference for proven methods reflects our firm’s balance between time-tested and innovative strategies.
- Challenger: Being expressive and competitive, I embody the firm’s ethos of fostering leadership that’s not afraid to question and innovate.
- Focused: My disciplined approach aligns with both EBL’s goal-driven philosophy and our firm’s emphasis on achieving results through dedicated effort.
The first day at EBL was not just an educational experience; it was a reaffirmation of our firm’s values in a broader leadership context. The program’s emphasis on leading with personality aligns seamlessly with our ethos, promising to shape leaders who are as versatile as the challenges they will navigate. In essence, EBL isn’t just sculpting leaders for tomorrow; it’s amplifying the core values that define us today.
In conclusion, heartfelt thanks to my working group and fellow challenger, Josh, for their reflections and pointers, brightening our business journey with wit and wisdom. Also, special thanks to Laura Foor and the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance for coordinating and Queens University for providing the collaboration space.
Lawrence Watkins is a data analytics leader and specialist in the intricacies of mergers & acquisition transaction analytics at Grant Thornton. Connect with Lawrence here.
EBL is a talent development program designed to enhance the leadership capability of high-potential, diverse professionals who will ultimately create competitive advantage for Charlotte’s workforce and economy. Learn more about the program and how to get involved.
