Fall Final Reflection

It has been such a blessing to be able to work with not only my fellow executive directors and the presidency this semester but also the new volunteers who have come into the office now that school has officially begun. I have gotten the chance to improve so much of my leadership skills as well as interpersonal skills, skills that are acquired and kept for a lifetime.

Some of the things that we do in the office are still the same as what we did during the summer, but there are so many more additions that also have significantly changed the atmosphere of the office experience for me. Something that stood out most to me this semester is the adherence to the honor code and being aware of how I am perceived as an officer as well as a person. I think that one of my biggest struggles this semester is with dress. Though it was hard for me to thoroughly understand it at first and I really did not like being talked to multiple times over strict dress codes, but it has really had a positive impact on me because now I am aware of how others really feel when I don’t do my part in honoring the honor code. Now I want to do my best to represent myself and BYUSA well so that I am setting an example to others and encouraging others to do the same.

Another significant impact I’ve experienced is learning how to work well with different people with different work ethics. At first it was so hard to get all of my program directors going and I had several challenges with the ones who were my friends, which put me in a harder position. But I had so many resources that aided me in overcoming those problems. I learned to put myself in other people’s shoes so I could understand what their mindset was and that helped me better help them with their jobs. All of my program directors are so different. Their work ethics are so different it’s incredible, but because of that it has been such an example for me to learn different ways of approaching situations and problems.

Being a part of BYUSA has also helped me become a lot more confident. I see myself become more mature in the sense that I don’t let little insignificant things bother me. Being a part of a service organization, I am able to put others before myself and that feeling has helped me stop dwelling on myself and my own problems. I am trained to act appropriately according to the appropriate situation, which includes putting my own problems aside when I walk into the office.

It has been such a blessing for me to be a part of BYUSA. I have been able to participate in so many opportunities and so many doors have been opened to me that have changed my life in more ways than one. I have such a passion to strive to be a leader like unto Christ and I believe that I am in the right place to be pursuing that goal. 

Change

1.    1. Please describe a situation where you have watched someone successfully lead an organization through a change.  Identify what went well and how they helped the process succeed.  

I don’t mean to be a kiss up but I think that watching Ryan and Brittanie reinstate some of the old programs that BYUSA has done in the past have been so incredible. Programs like Redefine Service is such a great way to remember what little service can do to help someone. The most significant change I think that has gone amazingly successfully is their initiative to create more volunteer opportunities. I have seen that executed perfectly, we have so many volunteers that it has improved the office atmosphere as well as helped the programs we put on run a ton more smoothly.

2.   Please share the three discovery statements that you wrote down as you completed each of the challenges.  What do those statements help you understand about your abilities to lead change and what insights do they give you on how you can be effective as a leader in a changing environment

I wasn’t here this class, so I wasn’t there to learn about discovery statements and doing the challenges :/

Teamwork/Collaboration

1)     Give an example of a time in your life when you've seen successful teamwork or collaboration in action. What can you learn from that example that you can apply today?

I think the most successful teamwork/collaboration I have seen is from my program directors Leah and Joe. They have pretty different personalities even work ethics but they seem to fit each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Though sometimes I may not be a good leader to them, they know what their tasks and responsibilities are so they will meet up on their own to solve the problem or task. They are really good about working with each other’s schedules and they are respectful of each other’s busy lives. They also show tremendous support for each other. They will stand by their partner no matter what, sometimes one may not have as much knowledge of what is going on but they have faith in their partner that they will fulfill what they are lacking. I learn from their example that I need to have faith in the work ethics of others and that I need to not always want to do everything because I don’t trust other people’s work. Sometimes it’s time to let go.

2)     What challenges do you face with teamwork/collaboration and how can you overcome them?

Sometimes disagreement on ideas can be a challenge because in our team, all of us have very strong and outspoken personalities and so it’s not hard to detect when someone is not pleased with another’s idea. But “agree to disagree” is a great way to overcome this problem, along with compromise can make our differing ideas into an advantage. Another challenge that is nearly fatal in all teams is not understanding their teammates, and not putting ourselves in their shoes. That can be fatal because clashes happen without reason and grudges and tension arise. But a way to overcome this challenge is strong communication and letting others know what’s on your mind without thinking others can read your mind. 

Integrity/Trust

1.       What are some ways you can build integrity and trust with your team?

Trust falls! But more effective ways are that we should not only build relationships as a team but also as friends, because friendship is built on trust. Another way is to be honest, whether when asked on our input on things or when we feel necessary. I feel that being communicative with our team is always a good idea because then everyone will feel included and that creates trust because there are no secrets.

2.       In what ways do you make sure your team is in agreement with a project before moving forward?

Make sure everyone is on the same page!!!!! It is crucial that everyone is kept in the loop and updated on a project’s progress. Even with busy schedules, send them an e-mail, leave a note, set up a time to talk, are all effective ways to make sure everyone is informed.

3.        What are a couple of creative ways you can communicate a new idea to your team?

I always like powerpoint presentations for some reason, I think it’s an organized and effective to project ideas to an audience without any confusion. But also coming up with examples of a new idea and showing the results coming from the new idea could also be a good idea because it gives people an image in their head so they are better able to understand the new idea in the same way you do. 

Technical/Professional Expertise

1)       Share one personal experience where you have seen the Technical/Professional Expertise leadership competency in action.

I don’t think I have really ever experienced the sense of professional expertise and professional leadership until I started BYUSA. I was never really aware of how important being professional in an appropriate setting was to the contribution to the atmosphere and even the work ethics of the people in the atmosphere until after Brother Ward’s lesson on protocol and professionalism. So the most experiences I have had with seeing professionalism in action is within the office, whether it is with the way officers dress or there are protocols that we must follow.  

2)       Share one personal experience where you have applied skills from the Solves Problems and Analyzes Issues leadership competency.

The experience that I can think of is that after the first office social we had, I asked my fellow officers how we could improve and do better next time. I wanted to know what room for improvement we had. I really appreciated the compliments we received, but I took the suggestions seriously and made adjustments for the next social we put on.

3)       How does innovation apply to your specific responsibilities?  How do you show support of innovation in others?

I think being volunteer appreciation means being especially innovative with our ideas for our program. We need to think outside the box to be able to come up with different, fun, and appealing ways to get our volunteers to participate in our programs. It makes me more appreciate of innovation in others. When I see that innovation utilized by others, I can show support by backing them up with their idea, providing constructive criticism, and offering more ideas that could enhance theirs. 

Servant Leadership

1. In your own words, briefly describe the "servant leadership" model we discussed in class.

2.  Identify someone with whom you have been personally acquainted and who exemplifies the concept of servant leadership.  Briefly describe the leadership/life style of this person(s).

My former bishop, Bishop Clason, exemplified that a lot because he always put others before himself. He has a very well off career and he travelled a lot before he was called as bishop but after he received his calling, his travel time reduced significantly and he put his responsibilities as bishop first before anything. He was a family man and he incorporated his family into a lot of the things he did with his calling and all of the youth became close to his family. He always thought of different ways to help the youth improve on our spirituality and I have seen his impact everyone including myself.

3.  Some argue that a servant leader will not have much success in his/her career because they will give too much attention to others and too little consideration of their own professional advancement.  How would you counter this argument?

I disagree because I have witnessed in my life that when I put others before myself, I seem to have even more time for my personal life. When I serve, my mood gets better and I get more motivation to better myself.

Divine Centered Leadership/Motivation

1.     1. Motive is the central element of the Divine centered Leadership Model.  Please describe what motivates you to volunteer as a leader in BYUSA.

My biggest motivation to be a volunteer leader in BYUSA is to see the impact my efforts have on others that I serve. I strive to see that smile on their faces and I genuinely want to help others feel that happiness I feel when I am impacted by BYUSA and the people around me

2. "Each of us might well ask, “In what ways am I shrinking or holding back?” Meek introspection may yield some bold insights! For example, we can tell much by what we have already willingly discarded along the pathway of discipleship."  Describe how you can use this question to help you improve as a leader in terms of the concept of challenging unrighteousness.

When I ask that question to myself, it sometimes scares me to know that I hold back because I am afraid. I am afraid of failure and rejection. But then I tell myself that I should not be afraid because if I come across failure, then try try again, as cliché as that sounds, it works. If I am rejected, then improve then go for it over and over again. Fear not because there are a million ways to become successful.

3.  Describe an experience where you have had to make a sacrifice in a leadership role.  How did this experience help you improve as a leader?

I think that most I have had to sacrifice as a leader is time and energy. But I feel that those two things are what I can contribute most. Though sometimes it is hard on other aspects of my life and my body to give up time and energy but it has helped me learn how to be a leader like unto Christ. He has sacrificed so much for us without any complaint and if I am able to achieve that then I am one more step closer to be like him.