Aaron Williams talks about leadership



Aaron Williams offers two important pieces of advice on this that are relevant to leadership in addition to the initial proving ground. "First be prepared to do the grunt work. I've always felt whenever I assigned anybody to do something, 'I've done that myself. It's not like I'm telling you to do something I don't know, how long it's going to take, how hard it is. I've done it.' You know, I've sat down and done the logframe. I've gone in there and negotiated the project agreement with the minister who didn't want to hear it. I've been through all that stuff. So, therefore, I'm not asking you to do something I haven't been willing to do myself. That's number one. A leader needs to have that credibility. I don't want to work for somebody and think, 'They have no idea of what it's going to take to get this job done.'" President Obama named RPCV Aaron Williams the Director of the Peace Corps on July 14, 2009.

Aaron Williams talks about leadership

Working for change

By Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff

Aaron Williams was interviewed the book "Working for Change," a book that focuses on development management positions in international service employment and offers guidance on finding the right mix of service objectives, degree programs, job opportunities and personal lifestyle choices.

[Excerpt]

Before people trust you with responsibility, you have to prove that you can handle it. Aaron Williams offers two important pieces of advice on this that are relevant to leadership in addition to the initial proving ground. "First be prepared to do the grunt work. I've always felt whenever I assigned anybody to do something, 'I've done that myself. It's not like I'm telling you to do something I don't know, how long it's going to take, how hard it is. I've done it.' You know, I've sat down and done the logframe. I've gone in there and negotiated the project agreement with the minister who didn't want to hear it. I've been through all that stuff. So, therefore, I'm not asking you to do something I haven't been willing to do myself. That's number one. A leader needs to have that credibility. I don't want to work for somebody and think, 'They have no idea of what it's going to take to get this job done.'"

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2005; Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams; Peace Corps Directors; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Peace Corps Headquarters; USAID

When this story was posted in July 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Obama names Peace Corps Director President Obama has nominated RPCV Aaron Williams for Peace Corps Director. Williams served as a PCV in the Dominican Republic from 1967 to 1970 and has spent 40 years working in international development . "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," says Senator Chris Dodd. Our congratulations to Williams and thanks to the President for making an excellent choice to lead the Peace Corps.

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

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July 11, 2009: House says Yes, Senate No Senate Funding for Peace Corps Falls Short of Goal 10 Jul House supports $450M Peace Corps Budget 17 Jun Senator Kit Bond says PC is Smart Power 29 Jun Parents Keep Dream Alive for Fallen Zambia PCV 3 Jul PCVs Safe in Honduras after Coup 28 Jun Jahanshah Javid recalls Peace Corps Volunteers in Iran 22 Jun Peace Corps to return to Sierra Leone in 2010 18 Jun Ryan Van Duzer rode bike from Honduras to Boulder 17 Jun Monica Mills Named a Top Grassroots Lobbyist 12 Jun Tiffany Nelson teaches - and learns in China 12 Jun Dr. Roger Brooks spent 35 years with Concord Schools 9 Jun Dr. Catherine Taylor Foster administered Polio vaccine in Nepal 8 Jun Bill Lorah Runs Pre-Collegiate Program in Colorado 7 Jun Brian Carroll writes: An African village adapts 7 Jun Rebekah Martin finds love is not enough 6 Jun Peter Bartholomew helps preserve Korean traditional culture 5 Jun Obama speaks to Islamic World at Cairo University 4 Jun Matt Hepp combines humanitarian and climbing objectives 4 Jun Juana Bordas named 2009 Unique Woman of Colorado 2 Jun Phil Hardberger left his mark on San Antonio 31 May Philip Nix retires as headmaster of Day School 31 May New: More Stories from June and July 2009

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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