Reflection #10- What have you done to work on your leadership style? What are your plans and goals going forward?
I have realized that regardless of what my LPI results said, I’m really bad at “encouraging the heart.” I just tend to hold people up to very high standards and don’t really think people should be thanked all the time, because it takes away from the value of it. Then again, if I never thank them or say good job, etc. then it’s not doing much good either. So this is one area where I have consciously tried to improve—as I mentioned in class, I often write them down so that it’s almost like a to do list thing. I don’t know if that’s making it meaningless, but whatever works. Another very important lesson that I have learned is to reserve judgment until I know ALL the facts and have heard from every perspective. It’s not like I jumped to conclusions at the very first comment before I took this class, but just that sometimes, reserving judgment helps both the persons involved and you. My plan and future goals in terms of leadership is that I am looking forward to being an RA and using what I have learned in this class to other leadership positions. In the meetings I’ve had so far, I have heard some very creative ideas from many individuals. On that note, I think one of the best resources for a leader is from individuals from within the group. As such, I will capitalize on the ideas provided by the group and hope that helps not only in the planning I have to do as a student leader, but also in the actual skills that I will take with me, beyond my position.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Helping someone...what I did
Think of a time when you have helped someone through a tough time. Was it a good friends or someone you just knew? How did you know what to do/what to say? What would you do differently if the same situation came up again?
One of my friends, let’s call her Taylor for privacy’s sake, was just really spent out during the end of one of the earlier semester. We all know what it’s like at the end, when you’re trying to cram in papers and assignments at the last minute while studying for finals, etc. So one day, while we were all working together, Taylor just put down her pen, closed her computer, and said she was done. She was well aware that her grade in one of her classes depended on the presentation on which she was working, but I guess with everything else that was going on at that point, she had just had enough. I certainly did not want her to ruin her grade so I took her powerpoint notes and made a presentation for her. Of course, I didn’t do every bit, but I did enough to give her an outline that organized her thoughts and made it possible for her to do the least amount of work that would help maintain her grade. How did I know that doing her assignment for her would help? Well, it was a little obvious since that was what she was working on. But, sometimes even if it seems like doing someone else’s work for them is going a too far, that’s really all she needed. I was also really assertive and told her that I wasn’t let her throw away her grade. Seeing how keen I was, it just helped her get back her focus and take it from there. If the same situation came up, I would do something similar. I don’t think for one minute that Taylor is lazy or something like that—everybody needs a break now and then and if I can, I’ll give her that break.
One of my friends, let’s call her Taylor for privacy’s sake, was just really spent out during the end of one of the earlier semester. We all know what it’s like at the end, when you’re trying to cram in papers and assignments at the last minute while studying for finals, etc. So one day, while we were all working together, Taylor just put down her pen, closed her computer, and said she was done. She was well aware that her grade in one of her classes depended on the presentation on which she was working, but I guess with everything else that was going on at that point, she had just had enough. I certainly did not want her to ruin her grade so I took her powerpoint notes and made a presentation for her. Of course, I didn’t do every bit, but I did enough to give her an outline that organized her thoughts and made it possible for her to do the least amount of work that would help maintain her grade. How did I know that doing her assignment for her would help? Well, it was a little obvious since that was what she was working on. But, sometimes even if it seems like doing someone else’s work for them is going a too far, that’s really all she needed. I was also really assertive and told her that I wasn’t let her throw away her grade. Seeing how keen I was, it just helped her get back her focus and take it from there. If the same situation came up, I would do something similar. I don’t think for one minute that Taylor is lazy or something like that—everybody needs a break now and then and if I can, I’ll give her that break.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Advice for young women leaders
-Be honest: be honest with both yourself and the people whom you are leading. Overarching goals are a very difficult to accomplish so be honest about just what you can accomplish so that you are satisfied, so that the people you lead are satisfied when the goals are met, and so that your job doesn’t seem impossible
-Be a go-getter: there are too many people in the world for you to be considered “special” enough to have people falling over you with opportunities. Instead, it is your responsibility to actively seek out the things that you want to do so that you continually expand on your aims and goals.
-Set realistic goals but aim high: remember you have other obligations as well so as I discussed above, don’t set goals you won’t accomplish; at the same time, higher expectations engender increased efficiency so don’t lower your standards regardless of time, other duties, etc.
-Be respectful of everyone: you never know whose help you need when so even if you cannot stand someone, feel free to not like them, but be diplomatic about it
-Be a woman makes you just as able as a man: I’m not a feminist. I’m not a masculinist, if that term even exists. I am a person. I am confident that regardless of my gender, I can clearly articulate my goals in a way such that others can share or diplomatically refute my ideas. I am positive that I can do what I want if I set my mind to it. These are my views and they’ve come in handy so in a nutshell, play to your strengths and improve your weakness would be my closing words.
-Be a go-getter: there are too many people in the world for you to be considered “special” enough to have people falling over you with opportunities. Instead, it is your responsibility to actively seek out the things that you want to do so that you continually expand on your aims and goals.
-Set realistic goals but aim high: remember you have other obligations as well so as I discussed above, don’t set goals you won’t accomplish; at the same time, higher expectations engender increased efficiency so don’t lower your standards regardless of time, other duties, etc.
-Be respectful of everyone: you never know whose help you need when so even if you cannot stand someone, feel free to not like them, but be diplomatic about it
-Be a woman makes you just as able as a man: I’m not a feminist. I’m not a masculinist, if that term even exists. I am a person. I am confident that regardless of my gender, I can clearly articulate my goals in a way such that others can share or diplomatically refute my ideas. I am positive that I can do what I want if I set my mind to it. These are my views and they’ve come in handy so in a nutshell, play to your strengths and improve your weakness would be my closing words.
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