Leadership:The Overall Look

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

Throughout the course, I’ve come across many different learning aspects that have helped me and my leadership abilities. The book, Exploring Leadership focuses a lot on the relational leadership model and how our leadership actions that we take part in ceases from this model. The model is broken up into five main parts…Ethics, Purposeful, Inclusiveness, Empowering and Process. Out of those five, I have applied the idea of ethics, inclusiveness and purposeful into my daily life as well as towards leadership. I believe that the model helps a person achieve more productivity in leadership roles because it helps define leadership itself….making it easy for others to understand what makes up leadership and how leaders obtain important positional standings based on these fundamentals.  

For example,  an important part of leadership is having a code of ethics. I have realized that if you lead by the values that are truly important to you, you have more success in obtaining followers and authority among others. Ethics is a key part in leadership because it’s a crucial founding to what you believe in or more so, the reason why you are choosing to do what you are doing. I have used this towards leadership to help me set across my goals for a giving project and to let others know what I have in mind for the overall objective of the group. Taking away from the use of the relational model, I have also found that purposeful plays a big part in my actions as a leader. It has helped me understand that every action that is taking place is driven by an overall important goal. Without purposeful, there’s really nothing to work for. I have been able to use the act of “purpose” to help me better understand where I would want to lead a group through my leadership position and what we are striving for. Lastly, they’re inclusiveness. This aspect has helped me to be aware of others and to listen more. I believe that being a leader is having the ability to have an open mind, thus creating better leadership.

How are you more aware of yourself?

That’s actually a good question! By being able to be enrolled in Leadership 270, it has helped me understand what my purpose is when dealing with others and how I can contribute to a setting. By having the opportunity to take a class on leadership, it has helped me understand how leaders are made and what is key in having good leadership. It has driven me to do more for myself and has made me understand the type of person I am more clearly. Leadership 270, has made me more aware of what I should work on and the strengths I possess. Speaking of strengths, taking the strengths test has helped me come to terms with what personality type I have. I can’t quite remember what all of my strengths were, but I recall having harmony at the top of my list. It has made me aware that I am a really humble person who seeks peace versus stirring up issues among others.

Also, with the opportunities that this class has given me, it has made me clearly understand what type of role I possess in the world. This year, I had the honor of being able to attend the Annual Conference on Leadership and Civic Engagement. It was a fun experience and I had a great time going to different activities among the day. By doing group activities and talking to various students that day, it has made me more aware of how I share commonalities among others and how there are others that possess the same qualities as myself. Also, by doing some of the activities, I have come to a realization that I am a huge active listener in certain activities and a active participant in others. It has helped me come to terms with what I feel is comfortable to me and has made me notice that maybe in certain situations I should learn to speak more than just listen. Overall, having the opportunity to take this class has opened a new gateway for me and has pushed me to become more active in leadership/community projects.

                                                             

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

While taking this course, I have had the pleasure of being able to be exposed to many walks of life. Also, by having the opportunity to learn new insight on leadership that I would probably never have the chance to learn. This course has made me see things in a new perspective and has made me more knowledgeable on the given subject. For example, I remember the first day of Leadership 270 and we all had to define what makes a leader or what leadership is in general. It was nice getting the insight of so many other students and to see what others had to say. It has made me think differently by helping me understand that the world is based on the contributions of others and how every act tends to affect individuals globally rather than individually. I also remember a male student that day stating that though we may think that so and so about leadership, our overall understanding is the same….making this concept into a melting pot. That quote has helped me understand that yes, we may define leadership in our own way but we understand the overall purpose and knowledge that is holds.  

With this being said, I feel that I have been changing in many ways. I have become more aware of those around me and I have a wider eye for new experiences/people who may bring more to the table than expected. Taking this class has changed my idea of how to approach an issue and has made me think more clearly towards given situations. I feel that with the chapters we read and the in class activities, the effects that each part has played has made me into more aware person. This class has taught me to be open, aware and insightful to other aspects in life that stray away from my social norm. I am seeing that by being more knowledgeable about leadership, it has made me more of a “go-getter” rather than someone that watches the crowd. I see myself changing by being more involved and willing to help in any way I can…mostly, by helping those I know run an orientation group. I have come to an overall realization that I have changed in a positive way, making me more of a well rounded person.

How will you continue your learning about leadership?

With this class coming to an end, I will definitely try to continue learning about leadership by being involved in services within my community as well as on campus. I actually plan to work within FYE and possibly receive a job within the department. I plan to work with FYE to be able to do the success series for incoming freshmen next year. I have also thought a long time about getting the opportunity to become a tour guide for incoming freshmen and transfer students coming to OSU. I feel that by being able to apply and receive the job opportunity to become a tour guide for OSU will help with broadening my abilities in leadership. Being able to properly speak and lead a group of strangers takes a lot of confidence and I believe it was also strengthen my leadership skills because in a way, you are technically “leading” a group.

Besides job opportunities, I feel that by having the chance with others to work on a group project also strengthens a person’s leadership skills. Group work is a vital foundation in creating and sustaining leadership. Working in groups helps individuals learn their strengths and weaknesses and it’s also another form of engagement for those to venture out of their comfort zone. For instance, I’ve worked on numerous projects this past quarter. After awhile, you learn your groups strengths and what each person can contribute effectively. Working in small groups during leadership class also has helped me with leadership. It made me more open to speak and work with others that I didn’t know very well. Nonetheless, I plan to read books that discusses the importance of leadership and justifies what makes a leader. I believe reading is a great way to help boost leadership but sometimes it’s often overlooked.

Below are high rated leadership books:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0787984922/ref=asc_df_07879849221920882?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=0787984922 

http://www.amazon.com/Developing-Leader-Within-John-Maxwell/dp/0785281126/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

What is your own philosophy of leadership?

Leadership is the principles and values a leader possesses in his/her life that affects the way he/she leads a group of individuals. I believe leadership is based on morals and a set of rules that are deeply ingrained in a person, which in fact, dictates effectively how well an individual can lead a team. Leadership is more intended to be an act of reaching out, versus selfishness for one’s own needs. Leadership is only effective with an individual that is self driven and is able to put him/herself in a powerful position with the help of others supporting the latter to leadership. Also, leadership is a quality that many of us possess regardless is a person’s doubts his/herself. For some, leadership may be a given and “extraverted” trait that is clear amongst others to see. For others, leadership is held in lower social positions, however, leadership is leadership.

Nonetheless, the book speaks about the aspects of leadership and how those aspects are rooted in the way we lead. On page 4 of Exploring Leadership, the author explains that “leadership is a concern of all of us” and “as individuals and groups, we have a responsibility to contribute effectively as members of organizations….”. The author is in fact true. I believe that the concern  of wanting to lead and form leadership for others is a natural drive that humans possess. We strive to help others and to have others follow along our path. To know that you have others looking up to you for advice or looking to seek knowledge from your actions is a great feeling. Also, leadership is something that comes from within, it’s a natural feeling of holding a high standing over others (in a positive way). Overall, leadership is a set of rules and morals that leaders follow in order to effectively lead a group of individuals in a positive direction, thus producing more leaders. The cycle of leadership is never endless, it’s a cycle that gradually continues and moves from one person to the next.

Leadership Quotes

Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
Colin Powell


It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
Nelson Mandela