DAVID MCVEIGH
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THREE SEMESTERS REVIEW
Reflection on my Understanding of Leadership
I entered college in the Fall of 2020. It was a difficult time for many people, me included. I lived in a dorm and had my classes held online to limit the spread of Covid-19. I did get to experience living with my peers in the public leadership program. In class, I learned the basics of the practice of being a leader. There were a lot of core concepts that were new to me; I never thought much into the styles of leadership people take. As I took more classes in the curriculum, I learned about the putting the ideas into practice. Lieutenant Colonel Feehan was very impactful to me. Sharing his time in the military allowed him to help shape my views on what it means to be a leader. Being a leader may not mean being in a position of power. Being a leader means able to be someone people can talk to and rely on; it is not about being a manager. It is about being strong in stressful, demanding times and being reliable to those around you.
My Own Leadership Style
I would say my personal leadership style aligns with servant leadership. I want to offer myself and my abilities to the achievement of a cause. To my peers, I want to be perceived as authentic, humble, and kind. To be in a position of power does not mean that one is above another. It simply means being a resource for someone. From my strengthsfinder online test, my number one quality is harmony. As a leader, this means that in a group setting I would try to steer away from conflict. If disagreements arise, I would try to find a middle ground. I want to find the best solution that will appease the most people. Also, I would avoid micromanaging. This can be achieved through delegation of tasks. As a leader, I need to have faith in others and their abilities.
Facilitating my Understanding of Leadership
During our time in the classroom, one of our assignments was to choose a famous person and discuss their ability to be a leader. I chose to discuss Cesar Chavez, the famous Latino civil rights activist in the mid-20th century. His experiences, and his actions to fight systemic racism and injustice, gave me a new view of leadership that I don’t think I will personally experience. Even when he was being fought against by powerful organizations and people, he never chose to relent on his fight for justice.
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Element of Leadership in my Life
I currently have 3 roommates, and I’d say we are very connected. We choose to have dinner together every night and divvy up the chores equally. We are all still in school, but we push each other to stay on top of everything outside of academics. Leadership allows me to take initiative to schedule meals, groceries, and chores well in advance of when they need to be done. I try to keep everything organized. I can only do this with the help of my roommates, who equally stay on top of our apartment.
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