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  • Are you a Leader or an Assistant?

    Are you a Leader or an Assistant?

    A good leader possesses the ability to motivate a group of people to complete a task or reach a goal. They need to know how to inspire others to work toward a common goal. Leadership is more about action then title. Good leaders have social influence, not just power garnered from holding a specific position.

    John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

    A good assistant is an indispensable and invaluable member of the team. Assistants are not less able or important than their bosses. In fact they are often referred to as their bosses “right hand.” Good assistants provide unconditional support whenever needed.

    Everyone has a different skill set and different aspirations. The best way to decide if you are a leader or an assistant is to ask yourself a few questions and take a look at the skill set that is unique to you. Take a look at the qualities listed below, which do you pose more of? Which would you like to pose more of?

    Leadership Qualities:

    • Ability to delegate
    • Good communicator
    • Motivational
    • Confident
    • Ability to read people
    • Trusts intuition
    • Inspirational
    • Positive attitude/ optimism
    • Accountability
    • Focus/ drive
    • Decisiveness
    • Responsible
    • Honest
    • Integrity

    Assistant Qualities:

    • Follows direction well
    • Organized
    • Teamwork
    • Time management
    • Adaptability
    • Willing to do any job big or small
    • Anticipating the needs of others
    • Ability to prioritize
    • Strong listening skills
    • Interpersonal skills
    • High energy
    • Multi-tasking
    • Self-management
    • Problem solving

    Depending on your skills and personality you may choose to be an assistant or a leader. These skills can be applied to your career choices, sports and extracurricular activities and relationships. Of course, you can still possess integrity and be an assistant, and vice versa.

    Some career choices common for people with strong leadership skills are: politics, coaching, managers (of an office, marketing, sales, construction etc.), lawyer, judge, detective, therapist, social worker, public relations, TV producer, motivational speaker, CEO, or school counselor.

    Some good career choices for those with strong assistant skills are: administration (school, office, medical, legal etc.), dental hygienist, executive assistant, paralegal, teacher’s aide, personal assistant, and research assistant or veterinary assistant.

    Sometimes it may seem like leaders get more glory, while assistants are working behind the scenes making sure all the necessary day to day tasks get done on time and on schedule. But it’s important to remember whatever your strengths and regardless of which category you fall into both leaders and assistants are invaluable members of any team.

  • Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Many people dream of someday being on the radio or television. They imagine how exciting life could be if they could be like the stars they see in movies, or at least the people they hear talking on the radio every week. Sometimes, the managers of community radio stations can give them that chance.

    Most radio stations have staff members who look after the technical aspects of the broadcasts, as well as the people who actually interview guests, play music, and give weather and news reports. They also have production managers who make sure that everything is working well, and who deal with hiring and firing people.

    A community radio station is a bit different. Most of the people working at these stations are volunteers who have ideas about what they would like to broadcast but who might have little or no formal training. They might stay for years, or they might try being on radio for a few months and then move on to something else.

    Managers in community radio stations have to make sure that they have enough people to cover all of the timeslots, or they have to find helpers who can do that work. Volunteers tend to come and go, but managers can help ease the process by finding one or two good employees who can help.

    Besides working with the day-to-day running of radio stations, managers have to make sure that the financial and business aspects are in place. In Canada, all radio stations need approval from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission), which also sets guidelines for aspects of broadcasting such as the amount of Canadian content. Managers need to make sure that volunteers know and meet these standards.

    Another task is fundraising. Many community radio stations, especially in colleges and universities, have some funding from sources like student fees, but these fees normally cover only part of the money necessary to keep the station going. Many other people help with finding donations, but managers need to take responsibility for ensuring that enough fundraising happens to keep the station alive.

    Managers for commercial radio stations normally need at least a Bachelor’s degree, and they might earn close to $100,000 per year. At community radio stations, the pay is likely to be much lower, and the educational requirements might not be very high. However, getting a bachelor’s degree is still a good idea for learning about the various topics that hosts and guests might discuss and for working with people in the community.

    Because community radio stations normally run with only a few paid staff, managers might need to work in several different areas, such as hosting shows or conducting training. They need to be flexible and be willing to work at whatever needs to be done.

    Being a community radio station manager can be a lot of fun when the volunteers and staff work well together and find a good way to connect with their audience. However, you must be a well- rounded person that adapts well to change and real time problem solving. If you enjoy working with people and expressing your ideas on the radio, this job might be the one for you!

     Bibliography:

    Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. “Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499.”

    http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-499.htm.

    Community Radio Toolkit. “Staff Roles and Responsibilities.” http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net/the-toolkit-handbook/toolkit-chapter-five/staff-roles-and-responsibilities/.

    Power, Max. “How to Start a Radio Station in Canada.” http://www.ehow.com/how_7918278_start-radio-station-canada.html.

    Study.com. “Radio Station Manager Job Description, Duties and Salary.”

    http://study.com/articles/Radio_Station_Manager_Job_Description_Duties_and_Salary.html.