Mentor Reflection

During the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to participate as a member of many different types of teams. Whether serving as a member of an implementation team for a learning management system, a contributor for a training department, or serving as a board member for a disaster relief initiative, collaboration was always a critical element of success. As I reflect on these experiences, it becomes clear that my habits and style of work are predictable regardless of the team in which I have participate. Of the nine type of collaborators outlines by Central Desktop, (2014), I am best described as a task master.

Things that have gone well as a task master relate to what I perceive as the efficiency and effectiveness of goal achievement. Central Desktop (2014) described this type of collaborator as one who is organized, mission driven, and has their focus on the details required to be successful. These elements are things are characteristics which have served me well in the past. The vision and organization necessary to accomplish a particular goal or task is critical to team success. When I have had clarity of purpose, I was able to

For instance, in many occasions, my take charge attitude and zealousness for organization have been perceived as an overbearing style of leadership. This sense of micromanagement has had the tendency to stifle creativity. Secondly I realize that despite my best to plan for every contingency, unexpected challenges and obstacles may arise which have not been accounted for. In these circumstances, I have the tendency to get flustered as these new obstacles are not part of the plan which may cause me to second guess myself. Rosen (2013), reminded his readers that a “command-and-control” style of leadership or organizational culture serves to slow collaboration