Blog #9 Reflections

Over this semester I have learned a lot about different aspects of what it takes to be a great leader.  Throughout this class we took surveys to learn our strengths and weaknesses.  We also wrote up our own philosophy and plan for what leadership is to us.  During our time in class sessions we discussed our experiences in leadership and team situations.

Looking towards the future I see myself using the topics we learned throughout this class.  For example, when we discussed the topic of blog #2 and how the relational leadership model works.  I believe that the model will help me organize and plan out my steps to moving towards running my own business.  Each of the components inclusive, purpose, ethical, empowering, and process work together to reach a common goal.  This model as a whole will continue to help me with problems and goals I could continue to face in my journey.

Along with the model I believe the surveys and discussions upon those surveys in class will help me in the future.  Some of these surveys opened my eyes to strengths that I had not though about before.  For example, the quizzes we took on implicit biases that we may or may not have.  After reviewing my results, I was happy to see that I had little to no bias.  In the career path of becoming a personal trainer having no bias helps especially when working with other people.  Another survey that was recently taken in class called Style Under Stress Test.  This survey gave me the opportunity to see where I could improve on how I deal with stressful situations.  Needless to say that running my own business and being a personal trainer I will face stress situations along the way.

Overall this class has taught me a lot more than I expected going into it.  This semester I was able to learn about the many different aspects and components to becoming a leader.  Throughout this class I have become more aware of the type of leader I want to be and how to achieve it.  I plan to take what I have learned and apply it to all my goals in the future.  Hopefully one day I will be able to pass on my leadership philosophy and plan onto someone else.

Blog #8

When I was in high school I played on a couple of sports teams.  Each of these teams had an impact on my life because of the communities I got involved with.  One of most meaningful communities I joined was the soccer team.  As a team I believe we went through the stages described in Peck’s theory.

The first stage is pseudocommunity in this stage “a group may feel like things are just fine, people seem to be getting along…” (Exploring Leadership, p.299).  During my sophomore year I believe the team went through this stage.  Many of the kids on the team were friends from school and other travel soccer teams.  All of the members on the team got along and there weren’t many issues that arrived.  Mostly because the junior varsity was filled with all sophomore students.

Next stage is the chaos and views that come with many individuals on a team.  The text states “Different people or factions are asserting their perspectives…” (Exploring Leadership, p.300).  During the summer we trained almost every day in the morning at the gym and afternoons on the fields.  As the summer went on many began to voice their ideas and opinions on the future of our team heading into the next season. This caused many to disagree and fight over who would play this position, who’s the captains going to be, and how much playing time.

Then third stage came into effect when as team we realized that all the things we were saying became barriers.  These barriers prevented us from “truly listening and understanding (and being understood)” (Exploring Leadership, p.301).  For instance, the seniors believed that as sophomores we weren’t good enough to be asked to play up in varsity.  These assumptions and thoughts began to bring the sophomores together to prove them wrong.  As a team we ended up going against the varsity players in a scrimmage and beat them.  Those assumptions and barriers were then gone and we became closer as a soccer program.

The final stage is the team came together as a soccer program and no one was left out.  For example, as the summer ended we all had one goal in mind and that was to make it to states.  As a team all the players of junior varsity and varsity helped each other out to better our skills.  When conflicts came about we all handled it as a team and solved the problem.  For instance, when half of the varsity team was seniors and graduated we had to come together and decide who would fill those positions.  These decisions were decided by the general consensus of the team and given to the coach to have the final say.

Overall the stages of Peck’s theory work well when it came to sports teams and my experience.  I believe that after reading the theory it explains how a new team can come together overtime.  It also shows the importance of the overall development it takes to making an efficient community. 

Blog #7

Recently in the news and all over social media we have seen certain groups be the target for their identities.  I personally believe that although it is not a minority or a specific ethnicity that police officers are targeted.  For instance, many social media services have portrayed police officers as harmful to many of those target identities we discussed in class.  When we participated in the activity I was one of the police officers and the way we were told to act was not right.  I believe that many police officers are targeted because of a few who did wrong or broke rules in which they were supposed to follow.  In my everyday life the police are there for our protection and help in case of an emergency.

When it comes to non-target identity I believe being a male fit perfectly.  There are many examples in which males are the non-target identity because of how society sees it.  For instance, men aren’t on the news fighting and protesting for their rights.  Men in majority do not have to worry about many of the things women will face during their life.  To clarify men are usually seen as “the big business owners” and not women.  Being a white male I do recognize that I am part of the non-target identity majority.  I realize that not all men have it easy and don’t fall into the non-target identity.  For example, homosexual males continue to face criticism and problems because of their sexual preference.  I do count myself lucky at times that in some cases I am considered the “majority” and aren’t harmed.

The identities that I discussed both target and non-target coexist in the everyday life we live in today.  I believe that as we grow as a society many will change their way of thinking.  This hopeful thinking could lead to less target identities and a more equal base for all.  One example that came to mind was how the police help with protection for women who are protesting for equal rights.  We also see this help when it comes to the pride parades that are held in NYC.