Interview

Interviewing my dad, Lance Buttars, I learned many valuable points about leadership. My dad is the owner of a historic jewelry store that has been operating for more than a hunred years, and he is active in leadership organizations within the community. Watching him as I've grown up, I've noticed his leadership skills as a father, a boss at work, church callings, and other groups.

I first asked what he thought the qualities of a good leader were. He said never being afraid to do anything you ask of anyone else, having integrity, leading by example, recognizing people's abilities, and giving them opportunities to flourish.

He noted that the best leaders in history seem to have surrounded themselves with people that are better at things than they are, rather than just try to make themselves look good.

He also talked about the importance of building a reputation of honesty and fairness. When a customer was accusing an employee of cheating him in prices or lying to him, which happens due to the nature of the jewelry business, she replied that she knew for a fact that my dad had integrity and was fair in his business deals. She was not asked to say anything like this, but just by watching and knowing who he was, she respected him knew his honesty.

Another important mark of a leader my dad discussed, is how they react in difficult situations. If a person handles challenges well under pressure and always remains true to their values, that person will be a more skilled and respected leader.

Leaders should also be good role models. My dad asked me to think of a role model and the reasons I looked up to them. These should be the same kind of qualities leaders strive to posess. A statement that my dad likes to live by is that people may forget what you say or forget what you do, but they will never forget the way you make them feel.

It is also much easier to become a leader with these type of qualities if youhave this kind of role model and try to adopt some of their strengths. Just like if someone does something good against popular sentiment, it's easier for the next person to have courage, it's easier to be a leader if you have an example. That's why it's good to know my dad's views on leadership and what he's done.

I can also apply this concept to myself as a performer. I spend a lot of time listening to and watching other performers. I get a lot of ideas from the wide variety of styles and energy people use, and this helps me be able to see how I want to be. I can learn a lot from performers present and past, just like with leadership.

My dad's other leadership points can also easily be applied to my own situation, as it is always important to have integrity, recognize other people, and being a good example. These things will be very useful now and throughout my life.