How has my view of leadership changed because of PL?
I always viewed leadership as the person at the forefront telling people what to do. Through what I've learned in my scholars program I now know that there are many different ways to be a leader. I've learned the value of taking a backseat and letting the experts do their work. Sometimes the best leadership is acting from behind the scenes and not taking as active a role. To me leadership is all about knowing what buttons to press with your team members or subordinates. Everybody responds to different leadership styles in different ways, learning how each person, individually, needs to be treated is, to me, leadership.
My Leadership Style
My leadership style is that of an informal and behind the scenes leader. In group setting I see myself as a mix between an encourager and a compromiser. An encourager is the type of person that tries to encourage others to participate and be active in the conversation. I value the importance of everyone having their change to get involved even if they are quieter. I know what it's like to be one of the more quiet people in the group so I think it is imperative to make sure that everyone feels heard. A compromiser is someone that can step in the middle of a dispute and find a solution that works best for all sides involved. tensions have a tendency to run high in group projects but I think one of my strengths is being able to help both sides get a solution they like. I've gained so much knowledge over the past year and a half about leadership and can proudly say I've become a stronger leader.
What assignments from this year facilitated my change in understanding of leadership?
My DACA position paper developed my empathy in leadership. I'd never put myself in the shoes of the "dreamers" that come to the United States, but I really got to read about their struggles and learn about their lives. When it comes to leadership in the public sector it's all about helping people, it is almost impossible to help people without a proper amount of empathy. Given that I want to help people in my career whether it be through law, government, or nonprofits, having empathy is a leadership trait I'll always need.
Doing my leadership philosophy paper was a great opportunity for self-reflection. It made me dig deep and think about who were the greatest leaders I know and what characteristics do they have that I want to exemplify. Writing this paper makes me want to push my leadership even further and become even better than I already am. Now that I see these characteristics I want to have it is easier for me to work on them and make sure I'm being the best leader I can be.
This was my first group presentation coming to college and it taught me the value of taking initiative. I'm normally quiet during group projects but in this case our group got a little behind and I had to step outside my comfort zone to try and get us back on track. Both of my group mates were busy with other classes and doing their best but we still were behind. I decided that I could help them out with their parts of the presentation to get back on track. During group projects people tend to get adversarial and lash out at people not doing their work, in reality they may just be and the project may have slipped their mind. A good leader can help step in when their partner needs it which is exactly what I was able to do.
How have I used an element of leadership from PL in life?
Through PL I've learned the value of listening more than anything else during leadership. This fall I was elected president of my fraternity and so far "listening" has been the most useful skill. In such a diverse organization with brothers from all different kinds of backgrounds, it has been imperative for me to make sure to listen to my members before making decisions. I don't want to be a leader "for them" but a leader "with them." This means that every decision that I make, they have a hand in it as well. We are introducing a new philanthropy event for next fall focused on mental health, and I've been able to use insights from two of the members who work at mental health facilities to create the event. Without listening from people that know more than me and using their opinions, I would only be half the leader I am too. I owe this leadership development to my Scholars Public Leadership class.