Building Leaders at Every Level at Protiviti

We are deeply invested in the future of our employees at Protiviti. We fully believe that when our employees thrive at an individual level, we thrive together as a team! Supporting our employees as they progress in their careers starts with learning.

Speaking of learning, this week was particularly special. Not only did we host the 2019 U.S. Intern Program in Orlando, FL, but we also had our newly promoted and recently hired Managing Directors present for a leadership development session as well. While the two programs differ in curriculum, both provide the right learning at the right time and help us to build leaders at every level of our firm.

We checked in with some of our participants from both programs and asked an important question:

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What does it mean to be a leader?

answered by the managing directors

“To me, being a leader means building up and serving others.  Our most effective leaders remind us that the best way to inspire others and achieve greatness is to lead by example – and there’s no better example than doing the right thing for your people.”

– Kevin, Chicago

“Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘you can’t light a wet match’? A leader’s primary job is to inspire through example. Depending on the audience and the day – a leader is the influencer, educator, caregiver, or student. The inspiration motivates the team to work together. On the best days, that’s for the win – but just as often, it’s about how to gracefully get back up when you fall and be better for it next time.”

 – Erika, Charlotte

 

“Being a leader means providing others with an opportunity to grow through experience while making it safe for them to learn or make mistakes.  I personally believe a good leader never asks others to do something that they are not willing to do themselves.”

-Erin, Dallas

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What does it mean to be a leader?

answered by the #ProtivitiIntern class 

“I learned what leadership is from my father, a single parent. When I was growing up, my father used to tell me that ‘the world is constantly reaching out to us, not to pull us down, but rather to give us opportunities to pull others up. Real leaders ELEVATE those around them.’ A leader is an individual who positively impacts those around them and leaves those around them better because of their interaction.”

 – Val, New York

 “To me, being a leader means constantly learning from new experiences and adapting to new circumstances, then sharing your knowledge with those around you. It also means lending support and actively listening to team members.”

-Ariana, Chicago

 

To me, leadership is not only knowing when to take charge, but also when to step back and let someone else take the lead. Leadership is about making sure everyone has a voice, feels comfortable sharing ideas, and is an active member of the team.”

-Ellen, Cincinnati

“To be a leader means to see the bigger picture, and often times to put a group of people or a cause above oneself. It doesn’t always mean to be bombastic or gregarious in one’s leadership – many of the best leaders fly under the radar because they’re the ones scanning, listening, absorbing, and acting for the best of others. There’s an inherent selflessness that comes with true leadership, and I believe that to be a leader is to be an anchor, resource, and servant for that which you are leading”

-Samira, Atlanta

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