Texas Business Honors Program

Presented by Iris Hsu, BHP AlumnusMarch 24, 2014

Authentic Leadership: Creating an Impactful Career

“Intelligence is not a privilege.It's a gift, to be used

for the good of mankind.”Dr. Otto Octavius to Spider-Man

Agenda

Authentic Leadership• Personal Introduction• Learning from Others• Creating Impactful Careers

Bonus Material• Interviewing with Confidence• Transformative Leadership Cycle

Personal Introduction

Personal Introduction

Education• University of Texas at Austin, BBA Honors Plan & MIS• Fuller Theological Seminary, MA Global Leadership (In Progress)• Various Courses in Positive & Developmental Psychology

Information Technology Industry Careers• 2000-2012: Hewlett-Packard Company• 2012-2014: Quinnox, Inc. & Consultant to Waste Management, Inc.

Current Global Leadership & Involvement• Quinnox, Inc. – Regional GM and Head of Leadership Development• Naturholic, Inc. – President and Owner• Oil Chem Technologies, LLC – Board Member and Director• BIGCO, LLP – Partner• Berger Hsu, LLC – Owner

Personal Introduction

US Patents• Patent 6,043,391: Anionic Surfactants Based on Alkene

Sulfonic Acid • Patent Pending: Water Based Nail Polish Remover

Passion for Human Flourishing • Scientifically-Based Branch of Psychology Seeking to Enable

Human Thriving at Individual, Organizational, Societal and Global Levels

• International Positive Psychology Association – Donor and Member

Integrating BHP Experience with Vocation• Impactful Educational Experience & Lifetime Relationships• Business Preparation• Transition from School to Work Life

Positive potential operates best in the innovative tension between the today’s

reality and tomorrow’s vision.

Learning from Others

“Insanity: Doing the same thingover and over again and expecting different

results.”Albert Einstein

What Patterns Have We Seen?

Think of people that have been working for 15-20 years.

1. How many of them would tell you that they have their dream jobs, fulfilling their childhood visions and full capabilities?• Generally a rare find• Those that have it are leading focused lives

2. What have most of them been chasing as goals?• Money• Power • Fame

3. Why do you think motivates these goals?• Proving something to themselves or the world • From a psychological perspective, indicative of unresolved inner issues

Interesting Facts about Money

We talk about it, but can we really buy happiness?• Studies show that people at every income level felt they

would be happier if they were in the next higher income level.

Does happiness really increase with income?• Time Magazine study conducted in the US found that happiness

and income increased until an annual income of $50k. After $50k, increased income resulted in no appreciable effect on happiness.

• A 50 year study by Diener and Seligman analyzed a 50-year trend in American GNP and our average life satisfaction. GNP tripled, while average life satisfaction stayed constant - flat line.

Reference: Baumgardner & Crothers 2009, Positive Psychology

Key Takeaways on Mistakes to Avoid

• Money in and of itself is not a bad thing. We need it for daily living and to drive positive change. In fact, we often need large quantities to drive large changes. The point is how you think about or utilize money.

• By the way, money is almost never an issue if you create an impactful career. It either comes as a natural by-product, or it is decided to be a non-priority.

• Neither money, nor power, nor fame will bring you fulfillment in a career … or in life.

Reference: Baumgardner & Crothers 2009, Positive Psychology

Authentic leaders ultimately need to bring something of themselves into

their context.

It’s not just about following a formula or someone else’s footsteps.

Beyond profit and promotions,there must be a vision for the people

and the world.

Creating Impactful Careers

Your impactful career, and evenlife purpose, is found where your

greatest gifts meet the world’sgreatest needs.

Identity Resonance

GENERAL CATEGORIES OF ABILITIESCreative Cognitive Physical RelationalArtistic Attitude Athletic Leadership

Organizational Intellect Strength CommunicationResilience Logic & Analysis Stamina Interpersonal

• Key to Vocational Fulfillment is Identity Resonance

• Does My Career Align to Who I Am?

Your Unique Set of Abilities

Innate Qualities(Natural Abilities)

Chosen Responses to

Life Experiences(Acquired Abilities)

Natural & Acquired Abilities

NATURAL ABILITIESCreative Cognitive Physical RelationalActing Achievement Orientation Determination Ability to Inspire Others

Creating Characters Appreciation of Diversity Resilience Building TeamworkCommunication through Drama Desire for Excellence Individual Sports Sense of Responsibility

Ability to Memorize Entrepreneurial Mindset Group Sports Organizing & Planning EventsUninhibited around People Commitment & Loyalty Dance & Movement Building Teamwork

Good Voice Sense of Optimism Building & Constructing CommunicationMusical Abilities Tolerant View of Others Ability to Create Models Ability to Identify with Others

Visualization Reflective Thinking Stamina Ability to Make Friends Easily

ACQUIRED ABILITIESCreative Cognitive Physical Relational

Graphics Design Self-Discipline Goal Setting & Finishing Motivating OthersPresentation Design Studying & Research Perseverance Managing Group Dynamics

Public Speaking Interpretation Concentration Vision & Pace SettingWriting Analysis Adaptation Vision & Pace Setting

Organizational Design Pattern Recognition Construction/Repairs Planning & OrganizationAbility to Handle Criticism Critical Strategic Thinking Individual Sports Public Speaking

Sense of Integrity Developing Others Group Sports Facilitating MeetingsCreative Design for Projects Financial Management Discipline Building Relationships

Visualizing Designs Strategic Thinking Time Management Coaching & Counseling Others

Reference: Clinton 1998, Unlocking Your Giftedness

Workshop Exercise: Directions

For this exercise, please use the MS Word handout. An example is provided in slide 19 for your reference.

I. List of Natural and Acquired Abilities• Look at the list of abilities on slide 17 (or think of your own)• List at least 3 of your natural abilities and 3 acquired abilities

II. Integration of Natural and Acquired Abilities• Utilizing the shapes next to each ability, draw a diagram of how

your abilities intersect with one another, or how they can interact in scenarios. This will be similar to a complex Venn diagram.

Reference: Baumgardner & Crothers 2009, Positive Psychology

Workshop Exercise: Personal Example

I. List of Natural and Acquired Abilities

II. Integration of Natural and Acquired Abilities

Natural Abilities Acquired Abilities

Leadership Management & Motivation

Communication Interpersonal Skills

Intellect Perseverance

LeadershipCommunication

Interpersonal Skills

Management & Motivation

Perseverance

Intellect

Main Convergence Point

Innovation Efforts

Workshop Exercise: Takeaways

Earlier, we talked about how authentic leaders bring something of themselves into their context.

After you have completed the exercise, step back and look at your drawing.

Main Convergence Point• Look at the areas where many/all of your abilities converge. These are key

areas that will likely bring Identity Resonance into your career. • Consider/Create career paths where your greatest gifts meet the world’s

greatest needs.

Never Limit Yourself• Any strengths you have can be utilized to bring fulfillment in your career/life

and the world around you.• Consider any areas in which you have innovative ideas, drive, and visions.

Reference: Baumgardner & Crothers 2009, Positive Psychology

Summary: Where Should “I” Focus?

How to Hit the Ground Running & Sustain

Integration: Find the intersection points for your abilities

Innovation: Focus on Completing, Not Competing

Intentional Investments: Envision Long-Term Goals Everyday

Time EnergyResources

We have a beautiful journey ahead of us. It is about maximizing our potential as individuals, as teams, as companies, as societies, and as a driving force for humanity’s future. This is a lofty goal, and it is those that dream big that achieve it.

When we seek to drive positive change, there will be some resistance because it is shifting the status quo. There will be a tension that exists between the current state and the envisioned state. Make the most of that. Embrace it.

Transformational leadership finds its full potential in tension, existing in the paradox of both the current reality and the inspired vision of what ought to be in its place.

Those that feel and live within this tension will come across challenges, but they are destined for a fulfilling and purposeful career, and even, life.

Your Friend and Colleague,Iris

Closing Remarks

Thank You

Interviewing with Confidence:

Template of Questions & Tips

Advanced Preparation

Company •Read the company website in advance•Understand the history, business, recent events, and financial overview

Organization •Learn about the organization with information available in advance•Understand the organization name, structure, goals, and key players

Interviewers •Memorize the names and roles of interviewers• Read about their career history on LinkedIn, and add a connection if appropriate

Questions •You will likely be asked if you have questions for them at the end of each interview• Ask intelligent questions that demonstrate your research about the company and the interviewer specifically (their experience, background, etc.)

Standard Questions

Introduction• Prepare a summary and rehearse in advance (1-2

minutes in length)• Add some personal details to stand out

Reason• Be ready to explain why you interested in this job• Be ready to explain why you are a good candidate

(value-add for them)

3 Strengths

• Think of a few areas where you have natural and acquired skillsets

• Have these memorized in advance so that you do not have to hesitate

3 Growth Areas

• Think of a few areas where you could grow or improve, and explain what you’re doing to develop or mitigate

• We are human, and it’s expected and demonstrates self-awareness

Hypothetical & Experience-Based Scenarios

Hypothetical

• Some interviewers ask questions about what car, animal, or fruit you would be if you had a choice, and they want to understand why

• To prepare, think of your core characteristics in advance and simply liken them to the analogy posed at the time of the interview

Experiences

• Experience-based questions examine your responses to real-life scenarios

• Think of 2 major projects that involved a large team (if possible)

• Complete the following table in advance of the interview so that you have a pool of examples in your mind that are ready for reference (expand template)

Attribute Project Name 1 Project Name 2

Start and End Dates of Project

Purpose of Project

Size and Structure of Team

Project Challenges Faced & Resolved

Leadership Role You Played

Interpersonal Conflict You Mitigated and/or Resolved

Transformative Leadership Cycle

Reference Material for Future Leaders

Transformative Leadership Cycle

IDENTIFYIdentify and Describe Current

Praxis

ANALYZEAnalyze Current Praxis to

Understand Influences and Effects

REFLECTReflect upon Culture and

History

CONNECTConnect Your Experiences as a

Reference

DISCERNDiscern New Methods of

Mental Models

TRANSFORMTransform the Status Quo into a

New Praxis

Start Here