1.Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe some one who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
I had the privilege of working with my father for 15 years. He showed me how to run a business with integrity and putting people first. He always showed God was first and family was second. He always kept his priorities straight and this had a great impact on my life.
2.What are the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization?
Everyday operations making sure our company is heading in the right direction. Keeping up to date on the market place making sure we are equipped to provide the best service as possible.
3.Where do the great ideas come from in your organization?
Team members and insured’s.
4.Which is most important to your organization—mission, core values or vision?
Core Values. If we do not do our job with integrity, we will devalue what we say as we try to educate our insured’s on what product they are purchasing.
5.How do you ensure your organization and its activities are aligned with your “core values”?
It starts with hiring people with integrity and strong work ethic. If you hire well up front, then the rest will fall into place.
6.How do you help a new employee understand the culture of your organization?
Explaining up front during the hiring process what our values are, helping them to understand not everyone is a perfect fit and that is ok. I believe there is a right place for everyone. The difficult part is finding the right person to fit your culture.
7.When faced with two equally-qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
Quality and work environment are two different things. I have learned the hard way to make sure the new employee needs to be interviewed by your staff also. These are the people they will spend the most time with and if there personalities cannot get along then it will never work.
8.What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Integrity
9.What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
Commitment. I feel everyone is always looking for something more and something better. You do not find employees staying for 20 or 30 years at one company like they use to. It is hard to build a company with heavy turnover. Loyalty is a key element to success.
10.What is one mistake you witness leaders making more frequently than others?
Valuing profit over integrity.
11.What is the one behavior or trait that you have seen derail more leaders’ careers?
Integrity
12.What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader?
There are great books out there by people who have gone through the battle before you. Learn from their mistakes and maybe it will keep you from making the same mistakes.
13.What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Keep your priorities straight in life. Follow the example of God, Family and then business.
14.What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
I believe in education. I constantly read books on business and management to learn from others what is working and not working in their business.
*questions from www.michaelhyatt.com