Applying Blanchard to Me (opportunity 4)

Application to Self 

*Notice: this is one of my more personal posts so it is quite wordy, boring, and vanilla. With that said..

it had to be done, I did it, and so forward HO I say! 

The situation I will use is when I was a HTM 201 TA during the Fall of 2009.  Keep in mind that throughout my experience, I never considered using the Blanchard model (even though it would have made my life a whole lot easier!). As a 201 TA, I was responsible for the 201 students and my goal was to make sure that: they had reasonable and relevant assignments; they felt confident in how to complete their assignments once they left our small meetings; I wanted to achieve a 90% participation rate in attendance to class and guest lectures, etc; and I wanted my students to excel with their portfolios and music videos.

At the beginning of the process, I was extremely nervous and I had no real idea what I was doing. I tried to be extremely friendly, accommodating, insightful, and available, and I think I did a good job at that. The mismatch occurred in that I generalized all of my students. In terms of this Blanchard model, my assumption was that all of my students had low competency and high commitment when in reality the mix was more moderate-high competency and variable commitment. Throughout the semester my leadership approach was completely directive, which was obviously the wrong style. I would give the assignments, I was semi-clear on instructions, and I would answer questions, but I was very cut and dry. Students continually would email me with clarification questions, asking me for help, and I would usually refer them to blackboard or the worksheet, etc. I should have used the coaching method. By doing this, I would not have come across as so autocratic. I could have individualized my ability to help so that I could identify how to lead the student with an issue, and then find the best way to help them.

On a positive side, at my current work, I am in charge of training all of the new sweepers that come on board. When I first started my current job, people were really cold at first, and I had to gain trust and acceptance before people would open up to me. I am naturally a friendly person, so I struggled with this but I learned as well. I learned that when new employees come around, I would make it a point to be nice, accommodating, and helpful. So now, when I train, I try to be a coach. I am friendly foremost, but I realize that new-hires are incompetent and so they need to be directed as well. I familiarize the new-hire with the hotel and where things are and then I make sure to let them do the required tasks so they physically familiarize themselves with the duties as opposed to watching me do everything and them just standing there (pointless). Of course this is one situation, but coaching has proven to be very successful for me in training at work.

Thank you.