An Interview
This interview was conducted (where, when and what time – you should provide this information yourself).
- Q: Hello, thank you for agreeing to give us this interview. Let me ask you the first question right away. How did you enter your career field?
- A: I started, like many others, when I entered the university at the Faculty of Psychology. However, I realized very quickly that the institute would not teach me what I wanted to learn. During my third year, I decided that simultaneously with my studies, I should practice. I really enjoyed interacting with successful and motivated people. I conducted coaching sessions and advised the management of the company in which I worked at the time. After a few years later, I began to travel to different cities, conducting training sessions for practicing therapists.
- Q: This is a rather unusual path; I think for many therapists, their practice begins with counseling ordinary people. Tell me, what were some of the biggest challenges?
- A: At some point, I realized that people who sincerely think they can learn something in two days are not exactly the people I want to work with. I was disappointed in what I was doing then. During that period, I had severe conflicts with my parents, and my relationship collapsed. Coping with the overwhelming experience in one period was the most difficult. However, the belief that it would only make me stronger helped me move on.
- Q: Yes, indeed, personal difficulties can prevent you from climbing the career ladder. How important do you think networking is in your profession?
- A: Networking is one of the most critical components of the success of private practice. One of the best, in my opinion, definitions of networking sounds like this: it is building relationships with people aimed at realizing the capabilities of both parties. People who know how to organize networking have access to information and resources that help them solve problems and create opportunities.
- Q: Certainly, networking is essential, especially for therapists, but let us discuss the topic of leadership. What strengths do you believe you possess as a leader?
- A: I think that I have such qualities as a sharp mind, determination, and exuberant energy. I am erudite and self-confident, and therefore I set goals, achieve them, and inspire others to do the same. I also know how to effectively manage my own time and delegate tasks to my subordinates.
- Q: It really sounds like a leader’s strengths! How exactly do you manage to inspire others?
- A: People tend to look at what others are doing rather than listen to what they have to say. Therefore, I would say that you should become someone who is worth following. You have much more experience than you think that you can share with others; therefore, your treasure is your unique wisdom.
- Q: These are wise strategies indeed. What advice would you give to aspiring leaders?
- A: First, admit to yourself that you are not quite ready to lead yet. Only then can you begin to turn your fears into motivation to move on. It is also essential to assess your strengths and weaknesses.
- Q: Sounds simple and effective. Here is the last question for you. How not lose motivation and not burn out halfway through?
- A: The best way to stay motivated is to work on achievable tasks. Too simple tasks are tedious; too tricky duties discourage people. Only those that are on the verge of success and failure are of interest. You also need to record how close you are to the goal regularly: this is incredibly motivating.
Reflection
In this interview, I learned from a leader in my professional field some tips that can help me in my leadership path. Firstly, the career path chosen by … (the name of the interviewee) was not typical. As it becomes clear, to become a therapist, one needs to get a higher education. I was not interested in coaching before I talked to… (the name of the interviewee), but now I think that it is precisely this direction that can develop leadership potential in a specialist. After teaching other people and in a short time, the therapist will need to learn how to perform on stage, manage subordinates, time management skills, and other vital techniques that characterize successful people.
As it turned out during the interview, sometimes the problem of lack of motivation is that people set themselves unattainable or, on the contrary, too simple goals. Anyone who has studied management knows that goals need to be set realistic. This is one of the requirements of the most popular approach to setting SMART goals. This is the view held by many recognized management professionals. Although the name of this method was not mentioned in the interview itself, I think … (the name of the interviewee) meant it when talking about motivation. The ability to correctly build goals will allow me to remain focused for a long time. Therefore, as a leader, I can stay an authoritative figure in the eyes of my subordinates.
The personal effectiveness of the leader is the basis of the productivity of his subordinates. Components of success are time management, planning skills, knowledge of the subject area, the ability to set tasks, and control over employees’ work. I learned what characteristics are essential for a leader. Due to this information, I will understand which character traits I should develop more intensively to become a leader in my professional activity myself.
Having experienced divorce with a loved one, we tend to experience fear of loneliness, guilt for past mistakes in relationships, deep pain from the inability to be close to our partner. We also share similar feelings, perhaps more difficult, when we say our last goodbye to a deceased dear person. Such experiences can lead to career failure, and therefore it is crucial to be able to cope with them. … (the name of the interviewee) mentioned that …(he or she) was helped by the belief that going through difficult ones will only help …(him or her) become stronger. Indeed, the difficulties we have experienced help us become wiser and more resilient.
Due to this interview, I learned that networking is one of the most effective tools for building client relationships in private practice. Building relationships with people both before they seek help and after providing them with services is essential for successful work (Clay, 2017). The value of networking is in the exchange of missing resources between people. Thinking about how you can help others and what benefits to render them allows you to open up new opportunities for yourself to develop relationships. This information will be helpful to me in my development as a leader, as I will know how important it is to get to know and communicate with others.
References
Clay, R. A. (2017). Coping with challenging clients.Monitor on Psychology, 48(7), 55.