Leadership

After reading the excerpt What Every Leader Needs to Know about Followers and having a debate about followership versus leadership, I found it acceptable that everyone should strive to be a leader. Even though it can be tough trying to having various leaders in one area it still can be a learning experience for the followers obtaining to be leaders because they view different ways to approach situations and also learn how to adapt their opinions comfortably with other individuals around them. When I was 17 I found it hard following my parent’s orders because they both had different opinions on certain situations. At the same time I was maturing trying t follow in their footsteps so that I could be just like them by being a leader to my sisters. But due to the confusion of which parent I should follow, I drew the conclusion that I could simply share both of their skills. As I was developing my leadership skills in high school, I viewed certain followers as shared in the reading. For instance, I was very familiar with “Isolates”. In high school isolates were common around because whenever I had to group work in my classes, I always noticed classmates that were completely detached. As explained in the article, Isolates “are scarcely aware of what’s going on around them…they do not care about their leaders and can drag down their group or organization”. This was acted very well in my group. It was always the rebellious students who did not like to cooperate in class and acted devious towards teachers that were isolates. When it was time for group work the isolates would always sit back and watch everyone else take into action of the group project. I disliked very much because they sat back and did try to help with what needed to be complete for our group assessment. As opposite to isolates in my class, there were also the “Diehards”. Even though there were a few isolates in my class, we also had the over achievers or students who wanted to get good grades in class. Diehards were described as “prepared to go down for their cause- whether it’s an individual, idea, or both”. These were the fellows I found myself more acquainted with because they did not sit around and watch things take into action, they were the ones making things get started. Also with the diehards, they supported me and worked just as hard as I did in the group to achieve a good grade on our project. They were a strong asset to the group and the other leading individuals that was in the group. When I was in my group, my classmates who were devoted into getting the work done contributed ideas and solutions to the project that was worthy of completing and accepting a good grade on. Reviewing the excerpt gave me insight that leaders are more dynamic to have to because instead of following individuals into the right direction, we can lead individuals into the right path of success.

Leadership

Being a leader in numerous organizations and extra-curricular activities and role model for my family, I have established my leadership role effectively over the process being. Remaining a leader I enjoy setting an example by positively helping aspiring individuals into change. As expressed in the excerpt, “We view leadership as a relational and ethical process of people together attempting to accomplish positive change”. Standing as a leader, I have to keep the goals and characteristics of a leader in progress because it is up to me to make sure I am positively changing people’s lives and decisions. When I was captain of my high school softball team, I had to make sure that I established a good relationship with my teammates because if a situation occurred where they need my assistance, they had the confidence to come to me because we shared a dominant relationship within each other to make them comfortable around me. I was reminded by the essay that, “that relationships are the focal point of the leadership process”. Numerous times I was encountered with altercations where I had to understand my moral values before I mediated the problem. For example, a few girls on my team were not getting along, so I analyzed the problem that was going on and identified myself by how I was raised and morals I was taught so I could evaluate and solve the problem. By that decision making I was able solve the issue and the girls understood a better outlook on their situation. “Know yourself and others; engage yourself in learning new information as develop the competencies required in your role”. While dealing with other people on the team I had to make sure I knew myself before I started judging and giving other people orders. Also I was confronted with many personalities to where I had to take broaden my horizons by exploring new things. For example, my coach wanted us to take ballet classes so the team could balance better and be lighter on our feet so we could perform better on the field. As explained in the essay, “be open to difference and value other perspectives.” Obligating this quote in my day to day routine on the field helped me be recognized essentially by my teammates and coaches on the team. More on, I am the oldest in my family, and dealing with disagreements with my sisters can be a hassle at times. For example, my sisters love sharing and exchanging shoes within one and another, and when my sisters were not deciding on who wore a certain pair of shoes they both wanted I had to wear I had to practice my listening skills and interpersonal skills. Having a short attention span I had to make myself listen to the ordeal that was happening and not give any special attention for either sister. “Practice listening skills…interpersonal skills” I finally came to a conclusion and solved he issue which led the day with ease for me and them.

Leadership

After reading the article I shared few similarities with article from technical and human skills. After leaning many skills in the excerpt I agreed with what was said about having leadership skills, “Leadership skills can be acquired and leaders can be trained to develop them.” I believe leaders are trained into becoming a leader not born as them. I say this because I was not born with leadership skills, I received them from being told and taught the right way of doing doing things because I am the oldest in my household so I had to set a positive influence to my siblings who looked up to me. More on about leadership skills, I also have excellent technical skills. As defined, “Technical skill is knowledge about and proficiency in a specific type of work or activity”. I had experiences in my life where I demonstrated good technical skills. I modeled technical skills in the kitchen when I make food for friends and family.  I have good technical skills with cooking because I know how to delicious meals without burning the kitchen down or making the food tastes horrible. For example, my friend Jazmine has horrible cooking skills; she never reads the directions on how to cook the foods and her meals do not turn out delightful. While on the other hand I choose to read the directions because I like to make sure everything goes well, and by knowing how to cook a specific dinner by heart now, it is all a master skill to me and I know how to masterly cook a good meal. Continually, I felt the article hit home when they shared another skill for leadership which was Human skill. Human Skill was defined as, “Human Skill is the knowledge about and ability to work with people,” being a leader you must have this quality. As I am a leader in many organizations, I share this skill very well. I was president of my church youth department and I had to deal with many kids my age as well as younger. I always made sure everyone was comfortable around me as well as the other children around them. I am a very sensitive person so I had to make sure no one was discouraged or uncomfortable because I was held accountable for everything went wrong and I would feel disappointed knowing someone was not relaxed under the supervision of me. I always opened up a discussion about how they’re day went just to open them up a little. But as a sad result, I see myself lacking in the skill of conceptual skill. I fear that I do not have the right voice to make something that is a down fall comes up as a big success. I say this because if I cannot persuade people then I feel as if I am a failure. For example, at church when it came time to electing new officers for 2009, it was the most difficult situation I have ever felt myself in. Many of the kids were uncooperative and did not want to elect because they did not want to take the responsibility if they got chosen for any of the selected office that were open. After 30n minutes trying to encourage the kids to vote, they finally gave in only noticing the Pastor came asking how things were going and explaining to him the difficult situation I was dealing with.

Leadership

While reviewing the MBTI worksheet in class Thursday, I was pleased with my results being introverted because all the explanations made clear sense to me. Having introverted sensing as my highest was a joy to me because that is exactly how I am. I always tend to think of past memories that accompany my emotions as today. For example, whenever I hear the word free, I get reminded of my grandfather to when he always said “if it’s for free then it’s for me.” I always laugh to myself whenever I hear that word because my grandfather is a very humorous man who loves anything that is free.  Going through the lesson in class was very wowing to me because I thought this research was phony because I did not know anyone was capable of knowing another person’s mental functions just through a survey. Continually during my amazement time in class I was also brought to the attention that my extraverted feelings were second highest which again seemed right because I always express appropriate concern and appreciation towards people because I am a very caring person. For instance back at home in San Diego I am very known as “Grandma.” I was offered that name due to always being concerned and caring towards others. For example on my cousins 18^th birthday everyone was exited to go out to party with her but my other cousin who caught a stomach flu had to stay in, and instead of me going out with them also, I stayed in with her and helped her get better. Even though this is a name no one wants to be called, I am proud to have such name because whenever someone needs something they could always come to me for assistance and guidance because I have extraverted feelings. Continually, while observing my other functions I noticed my introverted thinking and extraverted intuition were the next highest on my eight mental functions. As said before I was agreeing with everything that was being said on the paper because being an extraverted intuition was absolutely right. I am always creating possibilities for my future. I make goals on a regular to shape my future into something perfect and productive.  For example, I recently chose to put God first as a future goal for myself. Making that as a self-goal was a big step for me because I want my future to be correct by having God by my side. And as I move onto my next function, introverted thinking I see this was correct also. Which meant repeatedly applying system analysis to data to fit them in one’s subjective mental framework. Even though I did not know exactly what this meant, I knew It had to be right only seeing that the past functions were positively correct to my personality. After reviewing the MBTI worksheet, I was highly pleased by the outcome by finding out it was not some phony survey I done in the past, but it was actually a true evaluator to analyze people’s mental functions.