I’m Thankful For Your Comments
Steve Adubato, Ph.D.

On a weekend such as this, we are always thankful to have so many readers write in with thoughtful, provocative questions and comments. With that in mind, consider the following:

Melissa Powers (a pseudonym), founder and owner of a small cosmetics company, responded to my column on risk-taking by saying, “There is little to no risk-taking in a corporate environment. I believe it is because upper management has fears of being made to look bad by underlings. No one wants the new guy to innovate. This is why I am self-employed. If big companies are looking for innovation, risk-taking and creative ideas in their workplace, they ought to hire an entrepreneur for a week.”

Great point, Melissa. Even though a lot of big corporations talk about wanting their people to “take risks” the leaders of such organizations are often oblivious to the suffocating effect bureaucracy and layers upon layers of management have on individual employees. That’s why so many entrepreneurially driven people like yourself would go crazy in such an environment.

Rich Biddulph works for Siemens and is also a substitute teacher at St. Joseph the Carpenter Grammar School in Roselle. Biddulph offers this perspective to his students when they have to stand and deliver; “It is truly amazing how much more relaxed students are when they know their stuff and have a passion for it. I also recommend that students try to remember the attributes of successful presenters they have seen and then use those attributes in their presentations.” Biddulph also says that it is okay to be a bit nervous, since there is real value to what you are talking about and you want it to be effective. According to Biddulph, “If you do find yourself sweating bullets, ask yourself, ‘What’s the worse thing that can happen to me if I blow this? Is the audience going to kill me? Will they run me out of town?’ The answers are a resounding, ‘NO!’”

You are right, Rich. Have you ever considered creating a “mini-manual” for your teaching colleagues who often struggle with how to coach their students on the art of public speaking? Such a tool would be a tremendous help and is sorely needed. If you do, send a copy and we will post it on our Web site for educators and others.

Chip Horner, Senior Director of Consumer Affairs at Pfizer, says that often times the biggest leadership challenge for children and adults is managing oneself. According to Horner, “While many schools help equip young adults with useful knowledge and skills for the workplace…many schools could do much better to help reveal to their students their true nature ‘inside’ as people and leaders. For example, does the student understand if he or she is task-oriented or people-oriented, introverted or extraverted, etc.?”

The best managers and leaders are the ones who really understand who they are as well as what their strengths and weaknesses are. It sounds so simple. So obvious. Yet, too often in the workplace we get caught up in putting people in positions for the wrong reasons without really matching up the job that must be done with the person who has to do. But to do that requires a genuine commitment of time, energy and insight. Some managers say they can’t afford such a luxury. I say, to ignore this is to invite serious, long-term problems. The schools that invest in the effort to identify the leadership traits of their students will be doing a tremendous service not only to those students, but to society as a whole.

Dr. Steve Adubato coaches and speaks on the subjects of communication and leadership and is the author of the book "Speak from the Heart." Write to him at The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102, visit his Web site at www.stand-deliver.com, or e-mail him at sadubato@aol.com.

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