Aaron Putzer "Destined for Greatness"
February 28, 2023
Today, WHS students and staff were “Destined for Greatness” by being given the opportunity to listen to guest speaker, Aaron Putze from the Iowa Soybean Association. His focus was on leadership and respect. Students and staff participated in a trivia game that included analogies for leadership skills. Each trivia question had an association with leadership. Some examples were, but not limited to the following questions: When was Cherokee incorporated? The answer was 1873. This questions was an analogy for the fact tht leaders are invested in the future. Another interesting true/false question about Hy-Vee sales compared to Delta Airlines. This was an analogy representing how leaders “show up” every day. Winners of the trivia game received gift certificates to Dairy Queen. Aaron also included five things you should remind yourself every day.
1) Make it about people, not things
2) Everyone is going through something.
3) Talk less/listen more
4) Give people the benefit of the doubt
5) Keep it in context
Aaron focused on leadership skills through active listening and what makes a good leader. So, what makes a good leader? Someone who strives to improve and never stops, makes others feel like family, helps others along the way and shows up, by choice! The students also particated in an activity where they had to write “I will be a good teammate.” as many times as they could, using their non-dominiant hand, in 60 seconds. The goal of this activity was to show that leaders adapt. Students who volunteered received wrist bands with positive quotes on them.
Aaron wrapped up the morning by showing an inspirational video about the true story of Jason McElwain, nicknamed J-Mac, who is an American amateur athlete in both basketball and marathon and public speaker with high-functioning autism and challenged everyone to complete one random act of kindness or words of encouragement.
Thank you Aaron Putze for reminding us of what it means to be a leader and to never take your strengths for grated and use them to help others by putting others first.
