This is the first installment in our Aspiring Leaders series, in which we highlight the inaugural class of this pilot leadership program.

What are the characteristics of a great leader? That’s the first question each Aspiring Leaders participant must consider and explore. The inaugural class of the pilot program included 18 Palmetto GBA employees interested in learning more about becoming a leader within the company.

Through Aspiring Leaders, a program focused on training Palmetto GBA associates for leadership roles within the company, employees learn more about what is expected of managers, supervisors and other leaders. They also are expected to assess their own work and communication styles, reflecting on how that might affect their potential as a leader.

One of the first tasks for Aspiring Leaders participants is the completion of the Birkman Assessment, a tool that helps individuals identify their personal and professional communication styles based on four archetypes: motivation, self-perception, social perception and mindset. Many of the program participants were familiar with other personality tests that identify personal strengths and communication styles, but they reported that the Birkman Assessment was more in-depth.

“This one was really focused on me, how I work and how I react in a stressful environment,” said Christina McKinney,  now a Medical Reviewer Supervisor who has been at Palmetto GBA nearly two years. “It makes you look at yourself honestly and identify weaknesses and areas to continue to work on. Looking at my communication style objectively has been really important for me.”

Nancy Davis, a Communications Specialist II, was also impressed with the depth of the assessment, including the 25-page personalized report she received.

“This one really did a good job at showing me where I’m happiest and how I express myself differently as a professional,” Davis said. “It was really interesting to see how my professional personality differs from my at-home personality.”

Davis, who has been with Palmetto GBA seven years, already has been able to employ the information she gained from her assessment in her current role as a project leader.

“This has helped me to learn what my style of leadership is and how I interact with my team,” she said.

The information participants receive from the Birkman assessment is reviewed with their assigned mentor to help them understand their results. The assessment also helped employees realize what they need to be successful in their current roles and as a leader at Palmetto GBA.

“After taking the assessment, I realized communication and organization are important to me and that they were crucial to interaction with my teammates and leadership team,” said Stephanie Lesesne, Business Systems Analyst II. “Once I made adjustments based on that new knowledge, I saw improvement in not only interactions with my team but in the outcome of the work.”

Renee Robinson, a Medical Reviewer III, said she was better able to see things from others’ perspectives after taking the assessment and had a better understanding of what it takes to be a leader at Palmetto GBA.

“To be a successful leader, you have to know yourself,” Robinson said. “The Aspiring Leaders program helps you determine what type of leader you would be.”