Leadership

"Leadership" is the word that used to inspire dread within me. Why then would I choose to become a member of an honors program where leadership is an integral part? It is because I endeavor to push myself: I love to learn, grow, and achieve. I learned in my Honors First Year Experience class that a good leader embraces their strengths and understands their weaknesses. Through the Strengths Finder assessment, I learned that some of my greatest strengths are "learner" and "achiever." My passion for learning and achieving is what makes me a unique leader.

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Through my experience as an English language partner with the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) at MNSU, I used my strengths to inspire. I discovered more about myself as a leader, outside of my strengths. I grew to understand that I value listening: through listening a leader is able to connect with their followers. As a tutor, I listened to my students, which allowed me to form a connection with them. I also listened to their feelings in regards to the lesson: learning is an entirely individual process, and listening to my students allowed me to help them learn to the best of their abilities. I used this skill not only as a tutor, but when I was a summer camp counselor. Followers need to know that their voices are being heard by the leader. When in a group setting, I know that every voice needs to be heard; I have experienced this being a team member in the English Honors Society and the Beacon Newsletter.

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In teams, a sense of community needs to be established. As a summer camp volunteer, I realized the importance of building relationships within the group. During the time I volunteered at camp, I was taking an online course, which meant that I needed to depend on the other helpers to fill my position when I needed to study or take an exam. I established a close bond with the leaders and the helpers by always offering to help and seeking out opportunities to assist. I supported the team by taking responsibility and being a cheerful and uplifting presence on the team.

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In my  Leadership and Interpersonal Communication class, I absorbed the different styles of leadership and learned the interpersonal communication strategies that can aid or hinder leadership. Through the course, I was able to engage in critique of the theories of leadership in class discussions and papers. I not only learned which leadership styles I valued most, but I was able to practice my values as I continued to tutor English. As an English tutor, I noticed that the leadership approaches that I have previously used with students, didn’t work with my new student. While I had been a more democratic—sometimes delegative—leader with my first student, this style did not work with my second: I had to adopt an authoritarian approach in certain sessions for the student to learn. I learned from the experience a very important lesson: leadership is not stagnant, but moving; always adapting with the leader and the followers.  

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