It is hard to believe that this quarter is almost over! Time has really flown, I'm so happy to have learned so much in what seems like such a short amount of time. Part of Tuckman's model dealt with reflection, and as our group comes to a close I think this blog post is going to be just that - a reflection as to what was accomplished in our sessions and where I plan on taking this information in order to grow.

I feel as if leadership is nothing without practice. You can know all the theories in the book, but you need to know how to use them. Now that I know so much more about the process of leadership and the various theories, I'm excited to be able to apply them to things in my life. I have been able to really see how the groups that I am in function in the sense of the Tuckman model and assessing the leadership positions in the groups I am in. Now that I know what it means to be a good leader, I can see more easily where people's strengths lie and if they are in roles that will help them grow into the best that they can be. I have learned more about myself and the type of roles that I should be looking to take on that fit my leadership style. I've been able to look more closely at opportunities offered to me and go after the ones that are the most fitting and fun for me.

I can't say that I have been in any new roles of leadership since I started this class that I was able to build something from the beginning and really use all the things I have learned, but I think understanding groups has really helped me when it comes to working with other people and in the groups that I am already a member of. At the conference I was able to learn more information to put towards application when the time arises. This may be a silly example, but as an office assistant we are on committees to get things like decorations up for the dorm and knowing a bit more about leadership even improved little things like that where I was able to be a part of a group and make sure bulletin boards got done.

Awareness of self has been a huge factor for me in the class and quarter in general. Strengthsquest and Myers Briggs are both amazing assessments that have helped me to understand myself so much more. The letters "INFJ" and the words "Connectedness, responsibility, developer, belief, and empathy" really have helped in my understanding on who I am as a person and leader. Those things are rooted into me, and now that I know my strengths a bit better the best thing I can do is to work on enhancing them so that I can use them to the best of my ability. I feel like the key to being a good leader isn't so much about trying to be something your not, but to monopolize on the strengths already given to you. At the same time, you have to be aware as to how those strengths can be possible inferences in certain situations too. While a lot of my strengths have to do with relationships, I do have to be aware that I won't be able to please everyone all the time and that I will have to make decisions that may be hard.

I really have been able to see how these things play into my life. I've seen how my personality is shaped upon my strengths. I have also been able to reflect on my past leadership roles and see what has been effective and what hasn't. Awareness really has been something that I have taken from this class, be it for myself or others.

Before coming into this class, I thought there was only a couple ways to be a good leader. There had to be a perfect path someone could go down in order to be a really excellent leader. I wasn't really aware how many theories were out there and that the real battle of being a good leader isn't to follow one of them, but to pick out the points that work with your leadership style, stir them up, and make them your own. I took off my leadership lenses for a moment just to clean them off, and when I put them back on I was able to see in a better light what leadership meant for me and what I wanted to do with the knowledge given to me.

I'm becoming a lot more flexible to leadership styles now. I feel that once you are shown that there are so many different ways to go about something, it is much easier to accept those ways. I'm big on diversity, and that is now starting to include leadership styles too! I feel like it isn't so much about changing our leadership styles after this class but more about enhancing them to become better than we thought they could ever be!

The learning isn't going to stop after this class. Learning on how to be this better person and leader is something that I really am interested in, not because I ever see myself doing this big huge things where I am leading the world, but because I think it is important to know how your a leader so that you can bring that about in others. It is my hope that I am able to take a few more classes on leadership, possibly along the lines of the leadership minor, and I have even thought of the possibility behind the community leadership major that is offered here at Ohio State. I know that whatever I learn in either direction will be useful for whatever I do with my life. I would also really enjoy looking into LeaderShape, I've heard so many amazing things about it and it sounds fantastic.

I also want to get out there and continue to take on roles that will help my practice what it is I have learned. That is just as important as the class room. The things you learn by trial and error are going to stick with you a lot longer! It is my hope to pursue more opportunities in student and residence life. Leadership isn't something that you one day stop learning about. As David Pink said about mastery in Drive, I believe leadership to be an asymptote. You can never really reach 100% accuracy, you are always going to be learning something new!

I'm still building my leadership philosophy. I know now that a good leader and a good manager are two separate things. And, just like the picture says, its a lifestyle. You can be a fantastic leader without being in a position of leadership. Use your strengths. A good leader will be able to see what each person has to bring to the table and makes sure that they are in roles that will make them the best they can be. He or she is aware of the assets that the group has and is able to make a greater impact because of those strengths.

I still believe that a good leader is someone who can inspire leadership in others, someone who can make his followers passionate about what they are doing. Good leaders give direction and inspiration, and they stick by their followers' side through the whole process. A good leader knows that they can't do it on their own, and that their followers are just as important. Do what you do with all your heart. Be the change you want to see, do things with ethics and morals, and always strive to be a better person than you are today - and hold your group to the same standards.