Lead On Me When Your Not Strong: March 2012

Now that we're in the Final Countdown until the last days of the quarter, just like the book recommends, we have to reflect on our experience for renewal in the leadership process. This is our way of "taking a balcony perspective" that removes us from the "dance floor" where we are "being pushed and pulled by the flow of events."

How have you been able to apply what you have learned about leadership?

This class has thrown a lot of leadership concepts at us and challenges us to apply them to our lives. One concept that has definitely influenced my daily life is the aspect of leaders and constant change. I never realized how detrimental consistency can be. I am going into business, and realizing that if I resist change, I can fail miserably, was eye-opening. I've always kind of been one to get to the expected goal, call it complete, and forget about it. After our conversation that a leader must be open for change at all times, I realize times during the day when I'm resisting change. I now notice when I am being a blocker for something and try to keep my mind open to other options. Especially in college, as the entire world is moving forward, I must be able to change with it.

Understanding Complex Organizations has helped me comprehend the way the Student Orgs I am in work. In all honesty, I joined a professional business fraternity and have been struggling with it's fit in my life. After reading about the mission statement of groups and realizing the goal of DSP, I noticed that it is a worthy organization, it just isn't going to fill every aspect of leadership I am looking for. I took time to reflect on the group and take it's core values into consideration. I also realized that I can have a say in changing the parts of DSP I don't agree with. I know not to be stubborn or only take my opinion into account, but I ran for exec board this past week to help get my opinions into the organization and hopefully aid in moving it forward to a better future.

How are you more aware of yourself?

The chapter Understanding Yourself has definitely made me more aware of myself. The StrengthsFinder test was probably my favorite part of Leadership 270. I have always known I was a people person, but the test showed in depth that interaction is my strong suit. I love that I got "woo" and realize now when I am using it in my conversations and relationships. I also notice when I am not being a good communicator, or woo-er, or harmonizer. Knowing that I have the potential in me to be great in these aspects, I try my hardest to use them in all my relationships.

I have also become more aware of myself in attitudes toward differences. The chart on page 166 completely amazed me. We don't think of ourselves in steps or places when we act toward others we don't understand. Knowing that we move from repulsion, to pity, to tolerance, to acceptance is only half of the struggle. I always thought being accepting was enough. Acceptance would make the world a better place, but that's not true. Seeing that support, admiration, appreciation, and nurturance are all part of the attitudes has shown me how much farther we have to go. We attend such a diverse college where people hail from all over the world. When I meet someone so very different from me, who I might not even agree with their beliefs, I can still go through these stages to realize that what they bring to the table is 100% different from what I do, and it is 100% necessary as well.

What things do you now see differently? How are you changing?

The term "follower" has completely changed in my mind. It doesn't even seem applicable anymore, unless talking about the game of follow the leader. There are no followers. Even if a "leader" is telling someone what to do, the way in how the follower does it, makes them a leader as well. The fact that leadership is being passed around organizations is something I hadn't really thought of either. Groups are not static. The President of a group doesn't control it, and the members do not just sit an take what is given. For a successful group, leadership exists in all participants and the work they are doing for the group. No matter which organizational structure the group has, talent exists in all its corners, we just have to be willing to give it time and space to find it.

How am I changing? Well, that relational leadership model picture is popping up in my head during the day. From DSP meetings, to my biology lab group, to the girls on my dorm floor, I keep seeing it as we work on our goals. My bio group had an, lets face it, extremely annoying lab a couple weeks ago and we were struggling. I remembered the picture of the model in class though and it almost made me laugh. When we got stuck, I asked what we were trying to achieve and if our process was working for completing the lab on time (somehow, we kept getting held over. Class ends at 8:18 and we always managed to be there until at least 8:30). We started splitting up tasks and actually encouraging each others answers through the night. We took opinions into account and got the lab done ten minutes early. what what. Basically, that little chart is getting to me.

How will you continue your learning about leadership?

Well, I am definitely considering a leadership studies minor. If I decide to do that, I'll be taking more classes plus completing a practicum which will be a continuation of my learning about leadership. Moreover, this summer I will hopefully be attending LeaderShape. I also hope to staff the Ohio Association of Student Councils summer workshop. I went through the Staff In Training program last summer and cannot wait to give to the delegates what I got out of my favorite leadership event throughout high school. I am also considering applying to be a Student Leadership Advocate next year. I was just elected historian of my business fraternity and hope to practice my leadership skills through this position. I am now considered a member of executive board and want to bring the ideas of being empowering, ethical, inclusive, and purposeful to the group.