Myers-Briggs

This week I got back my personality test. Myers-Briggs classified me as ESFP.  Getting classified allows me to better utilize my strengths and be aware of my weaknesses in my leadership role. Myers-Briggs tells me that my best environments are one where I am closely working with others. As I help children develop social and motor skills I am working very closely with them. This allows for me to utilize my strength by working in the correct environment. By helping these children I am also utilizing my strength of performing best when in constant interaction with others. By utilizing my strengths I hope to better serve the children.

Extroversion: Being more focused on outside activity and people. this allows me to better focus on the kids and help them learn and develop.
Sensing: Using my 5 senses and focusing on the here and now allows me to better help the kids by using my senses to see what the kids need help with on a day to day basis.
Feeling: Making my evaluations on person centered concerns. this means that i can see what each child needs and thus help them more.
Perceiving: Dealing with the outer world, by perceiving and means that i like to keep my options open means that  i can bring a creative side to training and realize that there is not just one one of doing something.

Applying situational Leadership and My Book

My leadership style in helping with adaptive aquatics will involve two of the four styles discussed in lecture. The first will be coaching. As I try to help these impaired children develop I will need to coach them. That is what coaching is all about, helping others to develop skills. I hope that I can help the children improve, not only in the facet of swimming but with all their motor skills.

The Second leadership style will be supporting them. As you learn there needs to be a supporter so that you can gain your confidence in what you are doing. As these children- many of whom are venturing outside their comfort zone- lean a new skill it is vital that they receive support in every aspect of their development of new talents.

Book

The book I picked is by Gordon B. Hinckley and is titled standing for something. I picked this book because I love President Hinckley and have read other books by him, all of which have left me feeing happy, so why not read another book by him. From reading this book I hope to grow closer to Christ, which in turn will help me be more Christ like. Christ is a good person to become more like if you are trying to learn how to lead. That is why I picked this book.  

Interview

One of the best leaders I have ever met is my own sister. She is three years older then me and a senior at Brigham Young University, Ever since we were little I have always looked up to her, and it was not until my freshman year of high school that I realized that I was not the only person that looked up to her. She was the student body president and with that responsibility led many charitable activities. She lead very much by being a strong example for what was right, not to receive recognition, but because it was right thing to do. I saw her people follow her not because of her title but because she loved them, and they loved her. The most notable activity that she lead in her tenure was “Beanie’s for Bagdad.” Where she got to get the whole school to bring in their old stuffed animals (mostly Ty’s) and donate them for children in Bagdad. The participation was amazing and the joy of those children is unimaginable.

Through Irene’s example I have learned that if you love your followers they will love you back. I hope that I can demonstrate this love not only in my leadership responsibilities but in every aspect of my life.   

Learning from past and present leaders

This week we had the opportunity to see leaders from the past and present. There were two leaders Gordon B Hinckley and Robert Gabriel Mugabe. One was loved by his followers and the other is feared by his followers. As I sat in the presentation I realized that it honestly all boiled down to one point, if you care about your followers they will love you.

            I realized that this is completely applicable to my leadership role. As I am helping the disabled children I need to foster love for them so I don’t end up like Mugabe! The program is set up so that I will be paired one on one with a child, this allows for the growth of love and trust between us both. I am so excited for my service project to start and to try my best at helping those around me.  

What is Leadership?

Leadership is no easily defined. there are many quotes that define leadership.The best quote i have ever seen was from a poster in my high school,"A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." lets break this quote down.
"A leader knows the way" this means a leader must be competent, they must know where they are leading their people. they have to know the proper methods to motovate their people to "The Goal."
"Goes the way." they will not just pat you on the back and say, "good luck!" they will go with step after step toward the goal. This is where the trust of others is built, they realize that you have the same goal and are willing to work for it. Leaders must be doer's.
"shows the way" by acting as a light to his followers. He brightens the path that the followers must follow.

That is what a leader is.

My Leadership role

For this semester I am going to be participating with the Adaptive Aquatics program through Y serve. This entails devoting one hour a week to helping a 1st through 9th grader who is physically or cognitively disabled learn to swim. I will be paired up one on one and am excited to learn from the kid I am paired with, I know they will teach me so much! I also love the sport of swimming and hope to foster that love in others.

What leadership means to me

Leadership means being able to initiate action.  No action has been met with positive results unless it was lead by a competent leader. Leaders are able to inspire their followers to have confidence and believe in themselves. It is truly a talent, and a wonderful ability to be able to properly lead a group of people. Leadership means being able to,`"walk the walk, not just talk the talk." you have to not only know what is best for those who are following you but also be able to demonstrate it.