1. How and when did you dicover your
leadership ability?
My father was a great leader and I learned by watching him.
When I was 14 I had the privilege of working as a Page in the US House of Representatives
for 3 years so was able to observe the county’s political leaders.
2. Your
Definition of Leadership
The ability of a person to instill confidence in a group in such a manner that they in
turn maintain confidence in him achieving a synergetic relationship in carrying out a mission and pursuing desired objectives.
3. Who are the persons that influenced
tyouin the past in your leadership?
My father, James P. Wesberry, more than any other followed by my wife, Lea.
Numerous mentors such as:
o Gen. (r) D. Joe Bartlett, USMC, my first boss when he was Chief Page at the Us House
of Representatives.
o William J. Carter, Managig Partner, Mount & Carter, CPA’s
o John F. Still, Comptroller of Fulton County, Georgia
o Richard H. Headlee, President, US Jaycees
o Peruvian Army General of Division Oscar Vargas Prieto, Comptroller General, Minister
of Defense and Prime Minister of Peru
o Ecuadorian Army Brigadier general
Anibal Solon Espinosa, Comptroller General of Ecuador, President Ecuadoruian Cabcer Society, founder Quito’s modern
Cancer Hospital
o Maurice H. Mould, The World Bank
o Ellsworth H. Morse, Assistant Comptroller General of the US
o Dwight Ink, Assistant Administrator
USAID
o Mark C. Cannon, Executive Assistant to th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court
I counted a total of 65 persons who had greatly influenced my professional career as a
CPA when I received the Interamerican Accounting Association award.
Presently? Only my wife remains in my retirement
5. What are the qualities of a good
leader?
Enthusiasm for the cause
Sincere dedication to the mission or task
Delegation of authority and unyielding support
Ability to criticize constructively without offending and to praise sincerely when merited
Leadership by example
6. What values influenced your leadership?
Honesty, integrity, sincerity, enthusiam
7. Why is it important that a leader
know himself?
He cannot understand others unless he understands himself
8. Why is it important for a leader
to know his subordinates and know how to handle different opersonalities and temperaments ?
Each person is different and must be handled with respect and confidence in them.
9. As a leader what do you do to know
and take advantage of the strengths of your followers or members of your team ?
Talk to each individually, not in a group, show that you confide in their judgement and
action and will Support them when necessary.
10. What part of your life did your family occupy?
It did not occupy enough during my active work,
something that in retirement I regret. The family should be in second place after God in one’s priorities.
11. How would you defuine your style of leadership?
A strong leader who knows where he is going and
what needs to be accomplished. I believe in dealing with individuals and never
used committees, staff meetings or other similar collective devices. They waste time and money and result in more confusion
than support.
12. How do you motivate others persons?
By
being motivated myself, maintaining my own enthusiasm and working harder than anyone else.
13.
As a leader, how important is ethics in business?
It is of supreme importance. Without
it, nothing else matters.
14. From
your experience as a leader, what do you recommend to a person who heads a team of workers?
Be humble but firm. Deal with
individuals, not groups. Do not hold “meetings”. Keep your office
door always open. Have no secrets. Know more than anyone else about what you are doing. Work harder than anyone else. Select
good reliable associates. Do not depend on others to choose staff. Avoid the
bureaucracy. Don’t give in to political correctness or any form of undue pressure from above. Support your staff. Be
sure they know it. Don’t micro manage. Delegate and forget until they finish.
Kella