When I first enrolled in Leadership Dynamics, I was nervous about what I would have to do as a participating student and how much public speaking would occur. Sometimes I’m still nervous when I come to class, but through every exercise and discussion that I’ve been involved in, or even just observed, there has been insight gained about me and others. I was not surprised when I got the results of the DISC personality test, receiving an “S” for an underlined trait of steadiness. I was surprised, however, at how many other people where in the same category as me. Sometimes it looks as if those with dominating personalities are the majority, but, according to the statistics of my class, I am a part of the majority. Through that exercise, I was reassured that my personality has little to do with my success as a leader; it only determines the kind of leader that I am and will be.
Over the past couple of months, as I’ve listened to heavy discussion on intense and relevant topics, I have developed a new desire to learn about other cultures and search out the truth for all matters. Though I have not always been heavily involved in these discussions, I have always been engaged and I enjoy learning from my classmates and my professor. These conversations helped me identify myself as a participative leader who can listen well, who is willing to change and grow in knowledge, and who aims toward a progressive environment in which all voices are heard. I never want to stop learning about the interests, struggles, and hopes of others. This has always been true for me, but after finding out how little I know, I want to fight harder for awareness and understanding in the life I live, so that I can easily share with others.
As I was preparing to be Leader of the Day, I had no idea what I was going to do. I was searching for the perfect activity that would bring my class together and allow for creativity among everyone. I didn’t want them to just listen to me and do what they’re told; I wanted them to contribute in an expressive way. This is something that I, myself, have a difficult time doing, but I thought if I had the ability to make a group of people communicate effectively for 10 minutes, I could definitely talk to, and even challenge anyone in the room.
My first idea was to simply have an encouragement session where everybody has to say something positive or appreciative about another person in the class, but I realized that many of us still know very little about each other, and that it would be something more appropriate for the end of the semester. After looking at many ideas online, I came up with one on my own. It was a cooperative drawing activity which involved careful listening, attention to detail, memory, collaboration, and creativity.
The goal of my activity was to show that no matter who you are, and what skills and abilities you do or don’t possess, you can have a vital part in a big picture by just doing one small thing. Sometimes we’re under pressure, and the details bog us down, but when we do our part and trust the people with whom we work, we can have extreme success in our jobs and lives.
I was amazed at the success of the activity on the first try. Even with any lack of organization on my part, every participant remembered what they needed to, communicated well, and made good use of time. The best part, for me, was that I wasn’t nervous at any time of being in front of people and giving instruction. Being Leader of the Day helped me realize that leadership is not about being perfect, or even having all of the right words (although words are important). It’s much more about acknowledging, challenging, and trusting your team; being able to give them the motivation needed for success.
One of my weaknesses as a leader is my lack of vocalization about my ideas and my attitudes. This goes along with my other weakness of not knowing how to develop my ideas and put them into words that others can understand. I hope that my fear of what others think will someday go away, but right now, I know that I can use this weakness as a way to fully listen to and appreciate other people’s perceptions. It can help me be more careful with my words, and allow me to pay attention to the needs of others.
I also believe that I can have very meaningful and impactful interactions with people on a one-on-one level. If I continue to have success in these conversations with people outside of my circle, I believe I can be more comfortable being interactive on a group level. Another weakness I have is avoiding conflict and not wanting to face it. Leaders of any kind will have to know how to deal with conflict head on, and be willing to rock the boat if something is not right. I want to gain strength in what I believe, so that I can shed light where there’s darkness, and change the atmosphere around me. As I deal with small conflicts throughout my life, I can practice dealing with them in a proactive way. This will help me grow as a leader and a person.
One of my strengths as a leader is my ability to value other people and show an example of empathy as well as demonstrate a heart of service. I believe that acts of servanthood can inspire the same in others, especially when tangible results are seen. I believe that with increase in volume and boldness, I can gain and maintain the attention of a group of people who care about similar issues, but even more so, as I share my story and my values, I have the ability to impact any listener to think deeply about even the simplest things.
My idea of a leader is someone who can inspire, challenge, and lead by example. Every positive leader in my life has been an example to me of love and passion. I want to be the kind of leader that can inspire change while remaining steadfast in love. Throughout this course, even as I’m forced to think on the spot and dig deeper into who I am, I have seen a growth that has helped me get an idea of what I can do in the nonprofit world as a leader. Whether it involves encouraging others to volunteer, or being an advocate for the recipients of fair trade in other countries- no matter what I do, I know that I can make a difference as a steady leader in my community.
