1/23/12

I really like in Chapter One of the Leadership Challenge when they say that leadership is a process. I think that everyone should take that into consideration when trying to become a leader or a person that is seen as a leader. It will not happen overnight and you have to work extremely hard for it. This goes as well for any goal that is worth achieving. The idea that there aren’t just a few men and women that can lead also impressed me. It made me think about what leadership skills I might have and that if I just work hard and put myself out there may succeed as a person and make a difference in the things that I do. In the reading I realized that I need to practice what I preach to let people know that I am sincere in what I do. When you model the way, as said in the book you will be more likely to win people over to your side. A big example of this in my life is my religious beliefs. I was raised in a very religious home and went to church every Sunday. So a lot of my religious and political beliefs are challenged daily and when people ask questions about religion I know how to answer after having heard my grandparents and parents deal with the same situations. Now I am in college and I am struggling to clarify what I actually believe for myself compared to what I was told to believe by my family. This caused me to think out of the box on a lot of issues. I want to see for myself what I truly believe so I am confident when I am questioned by others.

It has been a huge challenge for a few girls and me to start a female rugby club. Being one of the first in the club it has been very difficult to get enough girls to come to practice. Without Michelle, the girl who started it all we would have fizzled out as a club last fall. But she kept pushing us and we have 45 girls signed up this semester. I can see that was a leader that challenged that process. When we ran out of money, she started setting up fundraisers. She is a great example of a leader.  She holds the team together and at the same time gives out all responsibility as well enabling us to act. She does not hold an office in the club giving us more power and keeping us interested and involved all year.

Collin Powell made a good point that related to me as a person. He said good leaders can discipline people and fire people if they are not getting the job done. I am always the person that gives someone too many chances and I am always afraid of stepping on everyone’s toes.

Right now I am Secretary of the Rugby team but I think that the very best time that I was a leader was back in 8^th grade when two schools near us set up a challenge with maps and compasses and puzzles. It was a two day challenge that had us doing different tasks and checking in at check points. We were placed in teams and as the leader I helped push everyone to work quickly and very efficiently. We paired up on some of the problems and divided the work to make everything go faster. I also had two twins in my group and separated them to avoid any conflict. It was a very tiring day but very worth the effort.
Kouzes