Leadership for a Lifetime

By Kathy Moore - A speech based on three questions Leadership Worthington provided to our 2008 Leadership of a Lifetime Award Winner.  

List the top 3 leadership qualities you believe are important and WHY?

The top three leadership qualities that I believe are important are active listening, big picture thinking; and consensus building skills.  A leader is a facilitator.  Shared decision making and ownership by all stakeholders in the outcome are critically important in moving an organization forward.  I believe in a "go slow to go fast" philosophy.  In organizational leadership, much groundwork must be laid to move the group forward toward excellence.  Mission and vision work are critical foundation steps in the strategic planning process.  This phase must not be rushed.  The leader must genuinely, deeply listen to the points of view of the stakeholders and then use consensus building skills to coalesce all points of view into a shared vision and clearly articulated mission.  The leader's capacity to listen with empathy and understanding yet keep a consistent eye on the big picture or the desired outcome is vitally important.  An effective leader begins with the end in mind.

Describe a situation where you have demonstrated one or more of these qualities.

I have demonstrated these qualities in many settings and situations.  Specifically, I have been part of the strategic planning team of Partners for Citizenship and Character(PCC).  We are developing new vision and mission statements and a new action plan that will guide the organization for the next three to five years.  In my work at Slate Hill where I have been the school counselor for 17 years, I have facilitated many planning process during my tenure.  Most recently, I helped our staff finalize our new vision and mission statements that we unveiled at a gala celebration in the spring of 2007.  In my role as school counselor at Slate Hill and Evening Street, I use my listening skills, consensus building skills and my emphasis upon the big picture daily in my mediation and counseling work with the 950 children and families I serve.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your leadership experience(s).

I believe in lead management rather than boss management.  Good leaders use effective communication skills to help others solve problems and make decisions.  Good leadership is not about "I."  Rather, it is about "we" in the very deepest sense.  There is nothing more powerful than leading by example.  When a leader walks her talk, strives to be a person of good character, shuns hidden agendas and maintains a high degree of integrity and authenticity, she earns trust.  At that point, leadership becomes a natural extension of who she is rather than a technique or strategy.

Kathy Hamilton Moore, born and raised in Worthington,
retired in June 2008 after 29 years of service as a teacher and school counselor, Worthington Schools. Kathy was the Executive Director of Leadership Worthington in its charter year (1990), recipient of 2008 LW Leadership for a Lifetime Award, Partners for Citizenship and Character Board member, Dublin-Worthington Rotary Foundation Trustee.

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The Community Spelling BEE

(1st Place Winners - Healthy Worthington Coalition)

The Class of 1993 should be quite proud that their Class project--The Community Spelling BEE-- has stood the test of time.  Very sustainable for 16 years!  Congratulations!
 
Twenty-three teams this year graced the stage at WKHS.  Three new teams joined the event this year--Team Congregation Beth Tikvah, Team Worthington Presbyterian Church, and Team St.John's Episcopal Church.
 
The Ohio Contemporary Chinese School (OCCS) returned with another team of students, and the LW Class of 2008 and 2009 also entered teams.
 
Silver and Bronze Sponsors helped with sponsorship of teams.  Our thanks go to Clark, Schaefer & Hackett Co., Dr. Anthony Lordo DDS, Tilton's Automotive Service, First Place Bank, Bill Alsnauer-State Farm Insurance, Schoedinger Funeral Services, and Allstate Insurance--Kathi Reddy Agent.
 
Other businesses in the Worthington area sponsored teams of adults and high school members.  Worthington Pizza-Primo, Pharmaceutical Horizons, OCLC, WKHS PTO, Hanlin-Rinaldi Construction, Friends of the Worthington Libraries, Worthington-Kiwanis Key Club, Worthington Education Foundation, and Adventure Education Center.
 
Winners this year in the Community Bee were 1st place--Healthy Worthington Coalition 2nd place-OCLC and 3rd place--Friends of the Worthington Libraries.
 
For the 1st time, a Youth Bee was held earlier in the day.  Nine student teams from elementary and middle schools in the district participated and the winner emerging this year was Worthingway Middle School. Our thanks go out to The Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club for donating dictionaries to each student participating.
Adventure Education Center and Super Games was the main sponsor for the Youth BEE.
 
Accent Exhibits provided signage for the BEE.
 
Judges for the event were: Doug Francis-Worthington Police Dept., Marc Schare-Worthington Bd. of Education, and Brian Elder-National City Bank/PNC
 
Monies raised for this yearly event help to fund youth leadership development scholarships for the 8th grade Middle School and High School Leadership programs.  Val Knapp is the coordinator of both programs.
 
J.Liu's Restauarant, Willowbrook Christian Home, The Laurels of Worthington and Norworth, donated food and dessert for the event.  Thank You!