Hello!! This is the last blog for this class (can you believe it?!). It's been a wonderful journey looking deeper into me and leadership! Let's recap now, shall we?

 Back to the beginning of the quarter, I simply thought leadership was black and white. A person was a leader when they stepped up or were voted into a position that requires a leader. Going through the class, I've realized anyone can be a leader in many different situations! There's so many more models than the classic pyramid (you know...with the "leader" on top and "followers" on the bottom. I found out there are webs and upside down pyramids and more! Black and white leadership idea=wrong! Time to add those colors!

"I simply don't live in a tower in the middle of some hidden forest..."

Now I know what you're thinking...how have you "added those colors" or used this new leadership knowledge? In many ways, let me tell ya! First of all, my job (as an office assistant) involves more leadership than I realized. No, there's not an actual head employee or president: we're just all employees. We still are called to be leaders every shift we work. We have to use our knowledge and step up to make the necessary calls to the necessary people. The main objective? Help to keep the residents safe which means some tricky judgement calls sometimes. That's a leadership role. I've also been more involved in voicing out opinions and ideas in the clubs I'm in. Each opinion counts and some actually turn into leadership roles (like prosposing an idea for an event then helping to head the committees to plan it). To sum this all up, the new knowledge I've gained about leadership can be used all the time! I simply don't live in a tower in the middle of some hidden forest...meaning I interact with people everyday! Everyday interactions with co-workers and club members help plan a role too! From what I've learned, in order to lead others, you all have to be on the same page and understand one another which is why this interaction is so great!



           Personally, I've found mysef to be more aware of who I am and my strengths. From the getgo, I knew that I was more of a caring, not really competitive type of a person. I've discovered through different tests that I've taken and the course as a whole, how to work with being more of an emotionally driven person like myself. Using the knowledge I gained from class and the book I had to read (Leading with Soul), I've discovered that this kind of leadership role I play really places others first and makes sure everyone is on the same page. ("I've Got a Dream from Tangled shows how Rapunzel stepped up and helped out discovered their own dreams :))
           Leading with Soul emphasized this point even more because it took an inward look at how people lead. They discussed more of a spiritual side and how leading involves thinking about actions and then doing from within, from feeling and noticing your surroundings. It was a great read and without the class, I probably wouldn't have been exposed to it.
               The things I really see differently are the different ways in which leadership is being applied. In the clubs that I'm currently in, I notice that many of them are not the traditional pyramid with a president on top and so on. Some of the clubs I'm in are like this but I've noticed more and more how much power each individual has in a group. Each member of the club really has the power to go to the president or whoever and ask for proposals and work it out with the e-board on how to get there.
               I've found that the e-board and these higher powers serve as more of a bridge from point A to point B. They control the finances and have the right connections to get you what you need. There work really benefits the individual memebers. I'm changing because I've now realized I have more power in this way...

             How I'll continue to learn about leadership is probably going to be throughout the different clubs and orgs I'm in and will get involved in throughout the future. I also applied to be an RA and so far so good with that, so I really hope I'm able to make it all the way. Leadership I feel can come at you when you least expect it and someone has to stand up. With the skills I've learned in class and applied already, I think I'm prepared to take that role.
              I'm also going to learn alot by what I see other leaders do. Leadership and the different styles of leading evolve so rapidly, that I think everyone needs to pay attention and really become engaged in what their leaders are doing.

             My philosophy of leadership is that it's ever growing and changing. Anyone can be a leader but you have to be willing to take on that important role.  A leader uses compromise and thought to get to an action that can benefit everyone in the most effecient way possible. Leadership deals mostly with its followers. Without them, there is no leading person at all.
              To conclude, leadership and knowing the skills how to successfully lead, is one of those things that any person can carry for the rest of a life. Being a leader means that you know how to successffully deal with others and really make yourself stand out as well.

Thanks for reading! It's been fun :) "So long, farewell!"