As I reflect on the past semester, I have learned that I am extremely grateful for this class. Ohio State can be incredibly daunting, and it is difficult to find classes in which I truly feel that my opinion is heard. This class is one of those classes. Not only was I able to share my opinion on a plethora of relevant issues, I also learned a lot about leadership. I was also able to present my ideas and thought about privilege in a formal presentation which really helped my presentation and overall oratory skills.
The main thing that stands out to me is the variety of leadership models and philosophies there are. Some are outdated, but many can still be applied today in many different settings. The model I tend to subscribe to is the relational leadership model. I believe cultivating relationships with those you are working with and using effective communication is paramount in leadership situations. It is also really important to be as inclusive as possible and to empower those in your group. Focusing on your goals is really important.
I think another incredible beneficial portion of the class was discussing implicit biases, privilege, and targeted groups. It is very important for people to understand the plights of others and to be conscious of the daily struggles of those in target groups. In order to be an effective leader, you need to understand everyone's story. Furthermore, it is impossible to truly understand the systemic issues we face without properly discussing them. Learning about the individual experiences of my peers was also very important in this class. It is also important to come to terms with our own implicit biases to realize how pervasive these ideas are in our society.
Finally, the Strengthsquest evaluation was probably the most beneficial aspect of the course. I was able to realize that my best skills are my communication and empathy skills. This gave me a lot of confidence and also prompted me to continue to hone these attributes. These skills will be helpful in my various leadership positions, and identifying what I am good it will allow me to focus on them when I assume my different leadership roles I also need to work on following through on my deadlines.
Your presentation that was done when we were talking about privilege will always stick with me. You definitely made bold statements in class and I think that is definitely a trait of any good leader. I hope you can further your strengths as a leader in any setting you find your self in, in the near future.
ReplyDeleteNihal, you make a great point about implicit biases and how they affect us in everyday life. Your speech was incredibly eye opening to me as I have never had or seen an encounter like that. As much as people try and believe that events like yours don't occur, they cannot be swept under the rug. Thank you again for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteCome here to say that Nihal you did s very good job on the presentation about privileges. I enjoyed many of your great opinions and really glad you shared it with everyone in class.
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