Attended A Communication Leadership Seminar Yesterday

Attended A Communication Leadership Seminar Yest

I attended a communication leadership seminar yesterday and helped me better understand my communication leadership tendencies. This memo articulates two of my communication leadership strengths and weaknesses to better and understand how to leverage my strengths within the organization.

Strength One: My technical skills are a significant strength, as reflected by my score of 27 out of 30 in the Skills Inventory assessment. Technical skills encompass knowledge and proficiency in a specific area of work or activity. I enjoy following accounting procedures and filling out financial statement forms. During my accounting internship, I studied specific accounting software to provide documentation for work papers, which is complex and demanding. Additionally, I passed two CPA exams last year. These strong accounting technical skills enable me to perform hands-on proficiency in completing assigned tasks efficiently.

Human skills: I scored 28 out of 30, indicating my ability to work effectively with people. I am skilled at discovering others' strengths and helping team members find roles best suited to their abilities, which fosters teamwork and collaboration.

Weakness: My conceptual skills are less developed, scoring only 18 out of 30. Conceptual skills are crucial at higher leadership levels, as they involve the ability to work with abstraction and hypothetical notions to create visions and strategic plans for a team. Because my work experience mostly comprises internships, I find it challenging to think abstractly and formulate strategic visions. Additionally, my score of 49 out of 144 on the Least Preferred Coworker Measure suggests that I am task-motivated. When tasks do not require co-work, I tend to complete them alone and sometimes overlook collaborative opportunities.

Recommended Situations for Leveraging Strengths and Mitigating Weaknesses

To maximize my strengths and mitigate my weaknesses, I believe in applying targeted strategies within the organizational context. Accounting is a specialized field, differing significantly from other jobs. The role of an auditor, for example, requires professional knowledge and proficiency with technical skills. I plan to assist interns in developing new technical skills such as Microsoft Excel and Tableau, allowing them to delve into audit details and improve their competence. This focus on technical skill development alleviates the necessity for strong conceptual skills by emphasizing task-specific knowledge over strategic visioning.

Furthermore, I can help interns identify which accounting tasks align with their strengths, thus leveraging their natural abilities and boosting efficiency. This approach reduces dependency on high-level conceptual understanding, which may not be essential for routine audit work. Instead, emphasizing technical proficiency enhances task completion and productivity. It's important to note that, unlike higher leadership roles, where vision and strategic planning are essential, the internship context prioritizes technical accuracy and procedural compliance.

Application of Assistive Technology Laws and Ethical Frameworks

In the context of organizational development and inclusion, understanding legislation related to disability rights and assistive technology (AT) is critical. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) establish the framework for equitable treatment and access in employment, education, and public accommodations. The ADA, for example, prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment (Title I), ensuring that workplaces provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities (U.S. Department of Justice, 1990).

Similarly, the IDEA guarantees access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of assistive technology in supporting learning and inclusion (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). These laws underscore the significance of integrating AT devices such as speech recognition software, adapted keyboards, and electronic organizers into organizational processes to promote equity. Moreover, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that federal electronic and information technology be accessible to individuals with disabilities, reinforcing the importance of accessible design (U.S. Congress, 1998).

Understanding and applying these legal frameworks ensures organizations foster inclusive environments. For instance, providing AT can assist employees with disabilities in performing their roles effectively, aligning with legal obligations and ethical commitments to diversity and inclusion. Effective integration of assistive technology not only complies with legal standards but also enhances overall organizational productivity by accommodating a broader range of employee needs (Reed & Lahm, 2005).

Conclusion

In summary, my communication leadership profile reveals strengths in technical and human skills, which are vital in executing specialized tasks and fostering teamwork in a professional setting. Conversely, my weaker conceptual skills highlight a need to bolster strategic thinking, especially for higher leadership roles. By focusing on developing technical competencies among interns and leveraging assistive technology in compliance with legal standards, organizations can create an inclusive, efficient, and capable workforce. Emphasizing these areas allows me to contribute effectively to organizational goals while respecting diverse needs and fostering equitable participation.

References

• Reed, P. R., & Lahm, E. A. (2005). A Resource Guide for Teachers and Administrators about Assistive Technology. Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative.
• U.S. Congress. (1990). Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Public Law 101-336.
• U.S. Department of Education. (2004). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Public Law 108-446.
• U.S. Department of Justice. (1990). Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title I – Employment.
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Section 508). 29 U.S.C. § 794d.
• WrightsLaw. (2020). A Guide to Disability Rights Law. WrightsLaw Publishing.
• Family Center on Technology and Disability. (n.d.). Assistive Technology in the Classroom. Federal Resources.
• National Disability Rights Network. (2021). Disability Rights Laws. NDRN Publications.
• American Association of People with Disabilities. (2022). Accessibility and Disability Law. AAPD Reports.
• Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act Amendments of 1998. (20 USC § 2302).