Leadership and Communication

As a leader communication is extremely important and since the lecture and class discussion I realized a couple things that I can work on to improve the way I communicate.

The most prevalent area involves the things I say in less formal settings when I do not feel I am leading anyone. Sometimes on these occasions I find myself saying things which are unbecoming of a leader and which exhibit disrespect for others, and though I am not too terrible, this is definitely an area in which I want to improve. The other thing I need to do is to be more courteous and understanding of others. Although I already knew about and generally followed this principle of communication, I didn't realize that I actually do struggle with this sometimes. Particularly, I noticed that I struggle in situations where my wants conflict with others' wants and I feel that I am right and that I just need to tell them the way things are (which really doesn't work--it's aggressive communication).

Anyways, I found Assertive and Empathetic communication to be best and will apply these two methods as I strive to improve my communication in the two areas explained above.

David

Alrighty. First of all I want to change my leadership role because this past week in my entrepreneurship class we were put into teams to start and run a business, and because I have the most business experience of my teammates and seeing as we'll be doing a lot of working together, it's a perfect place/opportunity for me to apply the things I learn about divine centered leadership. (But don't worry, I'll continue to be a leader in my FHE group, and in all other areas of my life as well; perhaps I'll occasionally write about some FHE stuff too if that's okay.)

Since the lab the person I was able to get to know was my peer mentor. I hadn't yet met her and I guess it's kind of funny that it I picked her for this project because she's technically supposed to get to know me, but I decided to really get to know her as well. Anyways, I met her in the hub, she was really nice, and we ended up talking for 45 minutes about me and my plans, and also about her. I found out that she's the only girl in her family out of four other boys, she goes rabbit hunting/exterminating with them on their farm, and she was recently married. Her major is psychology and she really wants to be a school counselor or a marriage consultant someday. I can't say that I got to know her really well, but I did make an effort.

As far as seeing people as they truly are--sons and daughters of God--I think the more I can do so the better I can lead because knowing who they are will help me love them and will also help me to treat them with respect. Although there are those who do not live as they should, by loving and respecting them for who they truly are, they are changed and lifted up to do the same. I think there's real power in this knowledge.

The way I will apply Divine Centered Leadership to my role in my business team, will be to try to really get to know my teammates and develop a love for them. Also, as leader I feel it will be very important to respect the ideas they have and the effort they put forth and to never demean or discount their work as we learn and do our best together.

What leadership roles do I have now?

-My current leadership roles include being a Big Brother, a Business Owner, a Student, an Assistant Ward Clerk, a Roommate, an FHE member and a Disciple of Christ.

What leadership qualities do I posses?

-As a leader I am good at knowing how people feel and at looking out and caring about those who get overlooked and left out. I am not overbearing in my opinions but rather pay attention to individual's suggestions as well as group consensus. If another person seems to have a situation under control I'm fine with letting them take care of it while I do what I can to comply with and assist them. Oftentimes I try to lead by example.

Of these roles, which will I focus on and apply class principles to?

-I want to be a better leader in my FHE group. Right now it lacks leadership even though we have a Ma and a Pa and though I'd just be a brother leader, or even Pa's assistant, I think the group is perfect for applying the things I learn in class. We meet at the least on a weekly basis and we all just want to be closer and more inclusive of everyone, so it's just going to take leadership to get some of my roommates over to see our sisters more often as well as for planning fun activities and such. I'm excited about it!