Maria Shriver’s leadership qualities shine through as a promoter and supporter. Growing up in a political family dedicated to community service, Maria exemplifies her families’ goals of giving back to society. Maria uses her strong family background and journalism strengths to advocate for children, people with disabilities, senior citizens and women.
One turning point in Maria’s life occurred when she became a mother and realized the balance for women in the work force was not ever going to happen for her. Maria questioned how to balance motherhood and journalism. This realization motivated Maria to support ideas like job sharing, working from home and flex hours. A second turning point was when Maria's grandmother died and she asked the network if she could do an hour segment on dealing with death. The network said no, the subject was a downer. Maria took this denial, not as a failure but used it to motivate her to putting her energy into a children’s book, “Where’s Heaven?” (Which sold a million copies.) Another turning point was how Maria dealt with her father’s Alzheimer’s by writing another book “What’s Happening to Grandpa? Maria uses family hardship to educate and teach about subjects that are difficult for families to deal with.
Maria lost her job (she says fired) as a journalist to NBC, when her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor of California. At first, this was upsetting to Maria; she could to be an unbiased journalist. Instead of taking the dismissal of her position as a failure, Maria learned to use her time and strengths more efficiently as a mother and advocate for the several causes she supported. Maria exemplifies her leadership capacities as a supporter and promoter through all the different organizations she’s involved with. Her articulate public speaking and enthusiastic mannerisms support Maria as a leader.
Maria builds relationships and networks through the organizations she’s involved with. Several appearances as the keynote speaker for various organizations Maria’s morals shine through as she promotes service learning and volunteerism. During her interview in 2007 with Google Maria said, “Embrace who you are, just be yourself….everyone struggles with authentic self…. know who you are and expect you will change.” In her fifty’s Maria has an understanding of the coherence of life’s affect on you and how you can use it to help others as well as yourself.
Insight on Leadership
15 years ago
Maria has definitely inherited and built upon the leadership characteristics of her famous family. She hasn't rested on her laurels but instead has chosen to lend her famous name and support to a variety of worthy causes. Although balancing a family and work appear to have been a challenge for her, I believe she has done admirably in both quarters.
ReplyDeleteHer ability to proceed in the face of denial and failure are amazing. True leaders have the capability of taking the negative and turning it into a positive; Maria Shriver has certainly managed to do that. She recognizes change will occur and seems to embrace the various stages of her life.
In this blog post Maria Shriver reminds me of a quote I found in our course text. I feel it applies to both her any Brendan Dawes. Both of these leaders have taken risks and their mistakes have led to visions.
ReplyDelete"Unless you are willing to take risks, you will suffer paralyzing inhibitions, and you will never do what you are capable of doing Mistakes-missteps-are necessary for actualizing your vision, and necessary steps toward success.
Bennis, W. (2009). On becoming a leader (p. 130). New York: Perseus Books.