Resonant vs. Dissonant leader

Resonant leaders can, listen to workers’ negative feelings, and respond empathically and supportively, a crucial skill during chaotic times. In general, resonant leaders build positive work climates, while dissonant leaders are out of synch and, creating disharmony. An example of a resonant leader in a high school students life would be a great team captain. If there was a big game an some of the players were worried that they could not perform well enough to beat the opposing team, who hasn't lost a single play off game in years, a resonant leader should rally the troops and say its not about winning its about playing our hardest and having fun. In fact this is a really situation that occurred this year for Parish's soccer team. Although it wasn't a district game our players still wanted to not lose drastically. Because of the empathy of the captains the team on lost by one point leaving everyone on the field and stands over joyed by the success of the team. A resonate leader can't just listen in my mind they must have an effective voice to comfort those they are listening too.   

my voice thread credo

http://voicethread.com/?#u2403815

Goleman

“No creature can fly with just one wing. Gifted leadership occurs where heart and head – feeling and thought – meet. These are the two wings that allow a leader to soar.”

 Goleman, Primal Leadership

When refering to the quote above I believe it is completely necessary to have a leader that is two winged. If a person only uses there head they might be to in to there activity and not in to loving what they do. But if someone is on a team and is all about enjoying what they do and having fun they may not be as successful in the competitive aspect. The same applies when talking about feeling vs. thought, a great leader cant have one or the other but needs a combination of both. A two winged leader should be leader who is invested in there work (i.e. a hard working employ) but also someone who loves what they do and is hard working. The best example in my life is my step dad. When he moved to Texas he took a job to pay the bills but later he moved companies so that he enjoyed what he did and who he was with. He was able to work harder for this company while having fun.

My Reflection on the Myers Briggs

In class we took the Myers Briggs test. Before we were looked at our results we got to choose which personality time we thought we were based on our discussion so far. I originally thought that I was a ESTJ or Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking, Judging. This person is normally logical, directive, organized and works well with others. After  we look at our results I was surprised to find that I came up as ENFJ or Extraversion, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging. This person is described as warm, supportive, friendly, and work well with others. After seeing the results I was convince that although I did have trait of both I was still an ESTJ. However after we did many of the excursive and I specifically placed myself in the groups I was put in by the test I found that I indeed worked well with these groups. There may be times that I am some of every other type of trait but my natural function is an ENFJ. As I move forward in my journey as a leader I think doing this test will help me look at ways to work with people who fall in to the same categories as me as well as those who don't.

The Me I Always Wanted To Be

When thinking of the “me I would like to be” I came to the conclusion it’s really hard to reflect on ones self like that. I would like to be remembered at least by this point of my life as a hard working, dedicated leader who can teach others in a different way, be patient, understanding, and able to challenge others positively. When thinking about this I also came to the realization that how I would like to be perceived might not always be how I come across. How I think others do perceive me most of the time is a great friend would sticks up for others, is always there, and loves to help… maybe a little too much a times. I value my self on and believe highly in family, friends, and respect for others and myself. If there was one problem around me that I would like to solve it would be when people aren’t treated with respect whether they are in a leadership position or not. Everyone deserves respect until they have proven they no longer deserve it. And if I could find a way to show everyone that, I think it could make a difference especially in a high school setting. As we talked about in class it is harder to say how you actually are now then how you would like to be looked at later on. 

How Has Your view of Leadership Changed?

Over the last weeks in class we have discussed traits of a leader, interviewed some one in our community and looked at whether we believe a leader is born or made. Over all my view of a leader has changed, the traits we discussed in class are very much the traits I think a good leader would need. For instance taking charge, being organized, committed and supportive are all good traits of a leader. One thing that has changed in my mind is whether a leader can be made. Before I would have said no way, people are just born to be leaders and to take charge, its in there DNA. However now I would say something different. For some people it might be nature to be a leader, like me for instance I can’t remember a time when I didn’t at least want to lead. As my mom uses to say I was a little bossy from a young age, but that was just the only way I knew how to lead. For other being a leader is all about nurture, growing up and being taught to lead. This I believe applies to everyone. Anyone who is willing can be taught how to lead. Those who are extraordinary leaders are those I believe who take nature and nurture and combined them to become a great well-rounded leader.  I now can see that with the help of my mom I was able to be formed in to a good leader I did not just show up on the planet ready to be a dance captain or be apart of a leadership group. I have learned from my mom’s mistakes as a leader as well as my own. I believe becoming better as a person and a leader is all about self-reflection and improvement not matter the circumstance or the difficulty. When I look at the people around me, mostly my peers a see a few different kind of people: those who lead, those who poorly lead because they have no “training”, those who should lead but don’t, and those who would rather fallow. At some point in time I believe every person should be given the chance to lead not matter the size of the job. This would be good for everyone to be able to experience how to be a leader. Through these past few weeks my views of leadership have changed but my view on who could be a leader has changed even more. 

Reflection on my interview with Mrs. Lyon

While talking to Mrs. Lyon she came to the conclusion of four main traits she thought she possessed as a leader: she listens, is consistent, has a vision, and is inclusive. Although she possesses these traits Mrs. Lyon believes like many that she was born to lead but had to cultivate her skills with mentors. During her 22 year career she has been able to observe how others lead, find mistakes and learn from it. This is what has brought her to where she is today. Mrs. Lyon believes that being able to continue to lead granted a lot of opportunities, but she does not believe she has had one big successful moment but a collective success. She also thinks it’s a success that people see her as a leader, and one that can be trusted. Like Mrs. Lyon I don’t think that while being a leader there is one defining moment that is ones biggest success but a building of great occurrences that lead to ones over all success. In this process there must be some failure. Mrs. Lyon does not think of her lessons as failures but as that of lessons.  She thinks not speaking up early enough about wanting to lead delayed her path to being a leader. For example she went to her own head of school half way in to career and wanted something more with her career. Her mentor said she has been waiting for her to come but knew when she was ready she would. This caused Mrs. Lyon to have a slow rise instead of being proactive and making it to the top faster. In my eyes I think those that make it to the top to fast are those that crumple and fall the fastest. This is some process in becoming a great leader and that takes time. Mrs. Lyon knows she doesn’t have all the answers but is there to guide conversations. It is not just her upper school, but everyone’s upper school, not just ones ownership, she believes everyone has the right to feel ownership. Mrs. Lyon has taught me that it’s ok to be a late bloomer as a leader but it’s not ok to stand by and not take action when you know you can make a difference. Being a leader is a process to be cherished not mocked, I believe it’s a privilege not a right.