Creating Leaders Of Character!

Chief poses a question to Ms Dava: What would you do if you spotted one of your workers sitting under a tree doing nothing? Throughout the discussion, Chief emphasizes the importance of practicing "empathic curiosity" rather than assuming negative intentions. Ms Dava shares some specific examples from camp that illustrate the situation Chief describes and how to deal with it.

Chief and Ms Dava discuss Ms Dava's use of WDEP (Wants, Doing, Evaluation, Planning) therapy, a counseling approach developed by William Glasser, in her work with autistic children. Ms Dava shares a specific example of how using the WDEP approach helped her understand a young camper's wants and needs, ultimately leading to a positive resolution. Chief  provides feedback on the importance of understanding others' values and wants as a leadership principle, emphasizing the flexibility needed in leadership approaches. 

Chief and Ms Dava discuss the importance of initiative, particularly among followers, and explore ways leaders can encourage and develop this quality. They examine the challenges of instilling initiative, including the need for clear communication, showing rather than telling, and providing opportunities for followers to take action. 

What does a Leader of Character do when a follower crosses the line, by being rude, unprofessional, or doesn't want to be part of the team and brings down the entire team with them? Ms Dava and Chief discuss possible reasons for the behavior and possible ways to help them become effective team members. 

Chief and Ms Dava discuss preparing for an upcoming summer camp program, focusing on leadership strategies and team management. They explore the implementation of a new organizational structure with four levels of leadership to support 30 team members, with Ms Dava sharing her experience convincing team members to adopt this approach. Chief emphasizes the importance of giving new leadership methods sufficient time to prove effective and using questions rather than directives to empower team members. 

Chief and Ms Dava discuss the difference between core values and corps values, and how they affect each other in organizations, with Chief explaining that core values come from the heart and are emotional/spiritual in nature, while corps values are applied by the organization based on its core values.  Chief suggests that organizations should regularly revisit their core values at least once a year to ensure they remain relevant. 

Ms Dava shares some GREAT news before she and Chief discuss the possible issues that personality tests can have if they lead to developing stereotypes. Chief shares an exercise about stereotyping using cadets at the Air Force Academy to demonstrate how personality tests and stereotypes can lead to unfair treatment of individuals. They discuss the importance of treating people as unique individuals rather than fitting them into personality types, with Chief emphasizing that effective leaders lead persons rather than people. 

Chief and Ms Dava discuss personality types and leadership, with Chief sharing his experience as a certified MBTI practitioner. They explore how personality tests like MBTI can help leaders understand individual preferences, but warn against stereotyping people based on their results. Ms Dava shares examples from her work at a camp where she uses personality tests to better understand and manage her diverse staff. Chief emphasizes the importance of treating each person as an individual rather than fitting them into stereotypes, and discusses how effective leaders need to be flexible and adapt their leadership styles to different personalities. 

Chief poses the question, "As a Leader, what would you like your Followers to do more of that would make your life better?" Ms Dava shares her perspective, and both discuss what her answer means and how her Followers might apply it.

Chief poses the question, "As a Follower, what would you like your Leader to do more of that would make your life better?" Ms Dava shares her perspective and both discuss what her answer means and how to apply it. 

People learn best by watching. And they learn more about us by watching us. AND they're always watching, especially the leader(s). You will never lead by policy. You'll lead by behaving the way you should. Are you doing what you should be doing? The way you should be doing it? You might be surprised!

Chief and Ms Dava discuss leadership principles from Ken Blanchard's "One Minute Manager" book, focusing on the shift toward side-by-side leadership relationships. They explore the balance between "being" and "doing" in leadership, with Chief emphasizing that effective leaders inspire others to be their best selves rather than just managing tasks. 

This episode focuses on managing employee attendance issues, particularly when a critical employee frequently calls in sick. Chief shares his daughter's dilemma regarding an employee who is absent due to caring for a sick grandfather, creating a ratio violation in the child development program. Dava suggests setting clear expectations about PTO usage and having open conversations with employees about their absences. They discuss the importance of balancing empathy for employees' personal situations with the operational needs of the business. 

If you enjoy giving or receiving feedback, you're a saint! If you're like most of us, feedback stinks! Mostly because we don't know how to give or take it. Most leaders, AND followers, are not trained to give or receive it. But WAIT! Chief has a different term that suits the purpose better! You'll have to listen to this episode to hear Chief's solution.

Chief and Ms Dava discuss various personal and professional topics, including work-life balance, identity, and leadership principles. They explore themes of conflict resolution, trust, and organizational effectiveness through shared experiences and insights about managing teams and maintaining core values. The conversation concludes with reflections on societal changes and the importance of modeling unified purpose in both personal and professional relationships.

Chief and Ms Dava discuss managing overwhelming workloads and prioritization strategies, with Chief providing guidance to Ms Dava on time management techniques and resource allocation. They discuss Stephen Covey's time management principles and the importance of creating a master task list, with Chief recommending Todoist as a helpful app for organizing tasks. The conversation concludes with Chief offering advice on delegation and empowerment, emphasizing the importance of giving team members appropriate responsibilities while maintaining trust and clear communication. 

WHAT?! DRAMA in the workplace?! Oh, NO! Say it isn't so! Well, it IS so! Ms Dava, the new leader, is dealing with that. So she asks the sage advice of a seasoned leader, Chief, for advice. The Wise Man provides Ms Dava with ideas that MAY, or may not, help her get out of her dilemma. 

Ms Dava and Chief welcome you back to a new season! Most people create New Year resolutions that are based on doing. But what about creating resolutions based on being? How about creating Character resolutions? Who, or what kind of a person, will you be by the end of 2026? A lot of things to consider, as Chief and Ms Dava share their thoughts with you on how to BE a better person, a Leader of Character!

Chief Vásquez and Ms Dava close out the season sharing their thoughts on things that they're grateful for, including YOU! THANK YOU for listening to us! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays! All of them!

What do you do when someone gets angry at you? You tell them to calm down and move on, right?! WRONG! That never works! So what does? Chief shares four things, or more, with Ms Dava that can help the situation. Oh, the situation is one of those four things. You'll have to listen in.

Chief and Ms Dava attempt to analyze what "Adulting" is. Chief proposes that it's sometimes simply being there. Their discussion includes examples and perspectives. 

How do you recover from the Dip? Following up on last week's discussion, Chief offers Ms Dava some suggestions on how to recover and continue to grow. They discuss Ms Dava's 75 Hard Challenge progress and how to be effective in using it. She's found an Accountability Partner!

Ms Dava and Chief discuss “the dip” in this episode. After continuous success, it’s not unusual to go through a period of less success, often referred to as the dip. Ms Dava is in the dip and asks Chief how to recover from it. Chief, of course, has some suggestions that may help Ms Dava, but the bottom line is that it’s an internal choice. You’ll have to listen to get the gist of Chief’s perspective.

What do you do when new rules are sent down from above? The first thing is to panic. Then, maybe figure out the good in the new. When there's a good reason, we shouldn't fight the new.

Ms Dava practices two traits that Effective Leaders practice, the trait of transparency and the trait of authenticity, as she shares some of her recent experience with dealing with life and leading. She and Chief discuss what to do when your teammates become complacent and apathetic. Sometimes, there are no answers, only questions…. 

There are some aspects of leading that are difficult to deal with. What does a leader do when someone in their organization dies? Worse, when someone dies from suicide? This is a tough subject to discuss, but Ms Dava and Chief share some thoughts on how to get through those hard times. Their best advice is SEEK HELP!

Dr Stephen Covey used to say that our national paradigm is fire, aim, ready. We do before we consider the consequences of our decisions. Probably NOT the best process for succeeding in business and in life. Ms Dava and Chief have a great discussion on how the best process is thinking before doing. 

One of the most important things a Leader of Character knows how to do and practices doing so is the art of SLOWING DOWN! Why?! Because there's huge value in knowing when to stop letting external forces influence us. There's huge strength and power in slowing down. SLOW DOWN! That's HUGE!

Chief and Ms Dava discuss the concept of "Tired." What does that mean? As Chief suggests, there's a GOOD Tired and a Not-So-Good Tired. There's value in being GOOD Tired. They share thoughts on Accountability Partners, especially a spouse, as well as the importance of rest and sleep. Gotta maintain a balance!

Since this is a learning environment, the student, otherwise known as Ms Dava, can't get away without some kind of assessment. While many of y'all were enjoying the Summer, Ms Dava was experiencing her first leadership experience as a Boss! How did it go, you ask? Listen in to find out!

As Chief has suggested a few times to Ms Dava, assessing what we've learned is critical to becoming a Leader of Character. So, Chief guides Ms Dava through an assessment of what she's learned from her experience as a leader the past few months. Ms Dava shares her thoughts and experiences on the topics of assessment, empathy, confrontation, and win-win agreements to name a few. Chief constantly reminds Ms Dava that leaders have to take a break once in a while to regenerate their energy, so they'll be taking a hiatus during the month of July. Happy Summer, Everyone! And THANK YOU for listening to our bantering!

Can a leader, especially a Leader of Character, have too much patience? Is that even possible? Is there a difference between policy and philosophy in the workplace? Is Chief right again? What is one to do? Here's another episode of Boots on the Ground Leadership, where Ms Dava shares her real-life experiences as a young boss as she strives to be a Leader of Character. 

Ms Dava is having a great run as a boss! Things are going so well that she's bored. Being the experienced teacher, Chief warns her not to become complacent. Things can change drastically very quickly. He reminds her to keep striving for improvements, especially when it comes to serving her workers. And since Fathers' Day is right around the corner, Chief takes some time to share what dads REALLY want. Oh, NO! ANOTHER TIE?!

The best way to learn anything is by doing it! Ms Dava has experienced what it's like to be a professional leader in her position as director of her summer camp. This is boots-on-the-grounds stuff, folks! In this episode she shares her most recent experiences as a leader, what she's learned, and how it's tested her character. Chief advises and guides her. That's what Chiefs do.....

Here's a throwback episode from Jan 2023. A Leader of Character does what's right! But what does that mean? By who's measure and perspective?

As a new leader, Ms Dava is learning how hectic things can get when you're trying to herd cats! Chief suggests that she delegate more. She agrees. But how? Cheif suggests four areas to consider: Trust, Competence, Observation, and Agreement. They share some thoughts on what those terms mean and how to apply them. Chief challenges Ms Dava to assess how she does in each of those areas to continue to grow as a leader.

Ms Dava and Chief discuss the merits of cursing in public. THERE ARE NONE! But why do people do it? Do they not have better words? Are there better words? Yeah, it's a choice. Life is a choice. Character is a choice. Just don't do it around Chief! Better yet, just don't do it at all!

What IS success to you? Is it the same for all of us? SOME of us? Maybe. Ms Dava and Chief discuss the path toward success and what guides us toward it.

How does one create hope? Where does it come from? You've heard that hope is not a strategy, but it's a powerful energy to help propel us toward success. Chief and Ms Dava share their perspectives on hope.

Do you have favorites? Are you human? If the answer to the second question is yes, then the answer to the first is too. We ALL have favorites! But how do you deal with that as a Leader of Character. Listen to Chief's and Ms Dava's thoughts.

You've heard the adage, that honesty is the best policy. But IS It? Are there times when it's not? Are there times when you should speak the truth and nothing but the truth? When is that appropriate? Are there different consequences for being honest and for not being honest? Chief and Ms Dava ponder these questions a provide their unique perspectives on the topic. 

As Simon Sinek says, "We're better together." There are few, if any, things that we can do by ourselves. Most of our successes will be driven by the strength of our relationships with others. Maintaining relationships can be one of the most difficult parts of leading but incredibly fulfilling when they're in sync with our purpose. Ms Dava shares some of her success in developing and maintaining relationships as a boss, even as young and new to leading as she is.

WOW! What a powerful thought! Instead of judging someone immediately, maybe we should get to know about them, even get to know them, first. Sounds like something a Leader of Character might do. Chief and Ms Dava share some thoughts on the subject based on their personal experiences. Don't judge!  

Chief and Ms Dava have a VERY interesting conversation on the topic of fear. What do we fear? Why? How does one deal with it? A lot of questions and a very interesting scenario.

You've heard of tough conversations. Ms Dava and Chief have one on this episode. It's not confrontational, but it's a contemporary topic that needs discussing, that of RESPECT, or lack thereof. Ms Dava and Chief discussed this topic a few years ago but have some specific examples in this discussion. Please, understand that there's no intent to disrespect anyone, just to discuss the topic.

Ms Dava has a new topic in mind as she and Chief discuss the idea of Comfort Zones. What IS a Comfort Zone? Do you really HAVE to get out of it to succeed? You may be surprised by the discussion and the answers.

Ms Dava and Chief cuss and discuss what discipline is about and how to develop it. Chief has some pet peeves! Yes, he does! And Ms Dava agrees with them. Together, they'll make the world better!

When does a person become and adult? When does that person become a mature adult? Is there a difference? Why is the sky blue? Ms Dava and Chief ponder the universe's most powerful questions in this episode. But do they discover answers? You'll have to listen to find out. Join us now!

Chief answers the question that he asked Ms Dava at the conclusion of  last episode, "What is the most important thing an Effective Leader does?" And the answer is.... You'll have to listen to this episode. Sorry....