I have many experiences with leadership experiences due to my participation in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). In FBLA I had to take a leadership role in a group project that we compete with. While I was the leader I influence others to get the project done and work together as a team. I made sure that we were all on track and that our assign tasks were being completed. When there was an issue I would try to help them and figure out what was happening. I would bring peace when there was arguments.
Leadership has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have always found myself taking on leadership roles, whether it be by volunteering or coordinating different projects for the benefit of my school or community. Taking on leadership positions has allowed me to develop skills in communication, delegation, and managing multiple tasks and deadlines. As a member of National Honor Society and an officer of Student Council, I am presented with various opportunities to show my leadership skills. For example, I have been in charge of planning multiple pep assemblies for my school. Helping coordinate blood and canned food drives, angel trees, as well as organize an abundance of fundraising events has created a sense of reliability
Learning how to be a leader in all types of situations has been one of the most important skills which I have acquired. The most important growth in my leadership skills was through 4-H where I served as President, 1st Vice President, and various other positions. I learned valuable public speaking skills from a lawyer who was teaching a public speaking class and was able to apply this in the various duties I undertook as leader of my club. Now I step into leadership roles with confidence, trusting my ability to work with and lead everyone in the group. When I join the scholars at the Hankamer School of Business, I will be able to fulfill any leadership positions necessary with confidence, whether it be in a small group or large group
My personal experiences of leadership started when I was younger, roughly 7 years old, I was elected the captain of my travel soccer team. At the time I didn’t think much of it, nor did I have any extra duties that I was explicitly told that I needed to perform. Later throughout the season, I started to notice my teammates mimicking my styles and techniques and I highly enjoyed this feeling of being looked up to. I didn 't realize until years after that the recognition and pride I felt was leadership. This privilege of being captain was the first time I had realized that people weren 't necessarily following my actions because I was extraordinarily skilled, but because I provided this role model status with my confidence and encouragement. Some of the most valuable leaderships traits that I acquired and fortified are:
Being involved in everything I do, my leadership skills have developed naturally through experience. I can think creatively and critically and offer advice to others. Through past mistakes and other’s opinions, I have learned to make my failures into successes. Through many organizations and extracurriculars, I have gained many perspectives on various topics. For instance, at BAE Systems, I take part in hands-on learning with other students who are as dedicated as me. This allows me to learn new perspectives in a cooperative environment. We constantly communicate with each other, sharing our ideas on how to solve the task at hand.
Two more important parts of leadership are organization and responsibility. My senior year of high school, I worked with a committee to organize a large fundraiser called “Stuff the Bus”. I helped with every aspect of the project and also served
Leadership skills are vital for success and what better way to acquire them than through
The final example of leadership is being a counselor in training over the summer at camp. My duties’ for being counselor in training was to watch and take care of a group of kids during arts and crafts, and I also needed to feed the children breakfast and lunch. Another part of working as a counselor in training at summer camp taught me how to be a leader. I had always just followed what others did until I started taking the lead. I had to step out of my comfort zone and teach the little kids I was assigned to, there was no one really telling me what to do.
I am a leader when it comes to multiple things. In my choir, I’m the section leader for the baritones. In group projects, I often take charge of planning the project in order to ensure that it gets done in the best way possible. One of the most notable times I took a leadership position was when I volunteered with a group of my NHS peers at the Hot Chocolate Run in downtown Chicago. As more and more people began to finish the race, the lines where we were serving hot chocolate became really hectic and crowded. I decided to take leadership and usher people into different lines, as well as tell everyone to have their tickets ready when they got to the counter, even though I was not told to do that. In doing this, I expedited the process of handing
Being a leader allows you to inspire those around you it allows you to not only grow as a person, but, also allows you to grow as a mentor that can help others become better versions of themselves. An important leadership trait I possess is my emphasis on quality; I’ve never been the type of person that has
In class we defined leadership as using relationships to influence others. Before I came to the Academy I believed that a person could only lead their peers or subordinates. I did not believe that a subordinate could lead their superior. In high school I had many opportunities to develop my leadership with peers and subordinates. I was an officer of National Honor Society, and using that influence and my prior knowledge of NHS activities from the year before I was able to practice my leadership with my peers. I learned how to communicate in a manner to convince them to take action quickly, but not in a way that would seem overbearing or condescending. Furthermore, I was able to be a small group leader for a number of middle school retreats at my parish. In working with sixth grade boys I learned how to deal with insubordination and chaos, and with both of these groups of people I began to understand what was needed in a relationship between a leader and a follower. Our relationship had to be characterized by sincerity and respect. In both of these activities, those that I was leading could have easily stepped back and not paid attention to anything I was asking them to do. I had to convince them that I was absolutely dedicated to what I was trying to do, and that I had their best interest in mind. When leading middle school retreats I had to be a role model and show I valued my relationship with
My leadership journey began at home, as with most things my parents gave me the first exposure. I learned by watching others, including the leaders and team members. The feelings the leaders and team have created for me, which included being yelled at and praised. Then with community organization such as girl scouts, sports team, and employment. During my working experiences I have worked with great leader and very poor ones. I had a supervisor who engaged me to take on more responsibilities in my roles as a teacher. When this supervisor spoke to with me, there was a level of awareness and presents. If a mistake was made, the attitude was of learning. Another supervisor, used an authoritative leadership style. This supervisor used her
Over the course of my career I have had the opportunity to work for dozens of leaders that aided me in the development of my leadership style. As one would easily recognize not all leaders had a constructive impact on my career but rather provided leadership traits to avoid. One person that I have learned a considerable amount from is my father. My father instilled in me the fact that I need to work hard, complete the task at hand, dedicate time to the betterment of my people, and myself and have fun while doing all of this. Another person that introduced considerable leadership influence on me are my grandfathers. My grandfathers lived very different lives; one was a businessman, while the other was a US Army post-WWII veteran, yet they had a uniformed message. That message was continuously grow, be aggressive in studies and work, stay active, and finish what you started. Two additional influencers of leadership are CDR Michael Fredie and MCPO Darrick Dewitt. CDR Fredie is a natural leader, and lives the quote made famous by Theodore Roosevelt, “Speak Softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”. He has the uncanny ability to influence others to work harder through passion and inspiration. Whereas MCPO Dewitt is an authoritative figure that demands respect and continuously inspires his workforce to better themselves in pursuit of bettering the unit, rating, and service.
I have had many leaders I’ve followed over the years. An impactful experience was working for my brother. I was 20 and my brother 21 when I got a job for him as an automotive detailer. Up until that point I never looked at my brother as a leader. Over the year or two my perspective of him changed a lot, and I learned a great deal. These things came naturally to him. One thing I observed is how he consistently held his team accountable. So much so, if a coworker messed up. They would almost be afraid the consequence. On the other hand he also would acknowledge good work which showed respect. Over time I saw how the team progressed. Eventually my brother hardly even needed to be at work.
Having effective leadership not only inspires employees to reach their highest potential, but furthermore it is a good confidence builder. For instance, I live by certain leadership principles of knowing myself and seeking self-improvement, being proficient at my job, making informed decisions, leading by example, motivating my subordinates and keeping my subordinates current on any potential changes. My responsibility is to provide guidance and mentorship to motivate them to be the best they can be.