Hello and good day, my name is Andrew Lopez and I would like to start by thanking you for coming or even following me on my way to bring the latest updates on leadership to the web. Throughout my life I have taken on quite a few leadership roles ranging from academics in high school, to a team leader of the varsity football team, to insuring quality patient care on the ambulance as an EMT. I seemed to have a pretty good idea of what leadership meant, but not once did I contemplate on the history, different types, or even the truisms of the quality. Have you ever been put in a leadership position? What do you define leadership as? As a member of the Blue Chip Program at the University of Arizona, it is required that my peers and I give our insights on what it means to become a ‘leader’. Over the course of 4 years (myself being in the first phase, equivalent to the first year), everyone who takes part in this prestigious program will learn ‘inside and out’ what it takes, means, and the history of leadership and leading in general. At this time we will dive into the basic concepts of leadership.
Leadership can be dated as being one of the oldest preoccupations in history (Wren, 49). Dating as far back as the leaders in the Old and New Testaments, leadership defined, was different than it is now. This definition of the term has changed many times over the years. This being said, the reason being was in correlation with the time period and what major people stood out during those years. The commonality between all these people that emerged into leaders was that they all had a well understanding of who they were such as their values, interests, skills, style, and their mission. Which brings us to the sole and beginning definition (so to speak) of leadership and that is:
1. You have to know who you are as a person
Are you the type of leader that will understand your vision and see ‘eye to eye’ with the public or group of people in whom you are trying to outreach to? It is essential that in order to be the leader you want to be, you have to use the best strategy to work effectively with a group of people (PowerPoint, 2). In other words how to communicate, create powerful teams, use everyone’s skills for the better, work with, and know the strengths and weaknesses of your followers. I never thought of these key aspects when I was in the position of leading another person or a group of people. However, I can say now that these rolls which must be played are indeed vital to becoming a successful leader. Though we may make mistakes in life and bestowing upon the responsibility is no easy task, but it’s the mistakes we learn from that make us better leaders for the future to come. In fact, as mentioned earlier, leadership defined nowadays is the relationship between the leaders and followers with the intent towards a common goal and mutual relationship. This means that in today’s society we are becoming more and more equal with each other coming from all different walks of life, but sharing and helping each other more side by side. In the end, everyone has the responsibility to lead, but when it comes down to it, there is no one best way to lead rather follow your heart, mind, and soul….and sure enough others will be there to help and follow you through your journey of life.
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