Leadership Philosophy

Mike Saunders

ESHESA 2570

Professor Vanjura

4-21-14

                                                                                                            Define leadership

            If you asked me a few months back to describe to you leadership was I would have gave one a plethora of answers as to what I think it means. Depending on whom you are and what you do for a living leadership can be taken and used in so many different ways. Throughout this class I have learned that leadership can be used in many different ways when describing something. Coming into this class I felt I knew everything about being a leader but I was wrong and realize that within a few classes. I took this class to become a leader but I learned that it takes a lot more to be a leader than just standing in front of people and demanding things.

I would describe a leadership as being a person with strong moral and ethical views and not afraid to put them aside for anything. Leadership is not the job of putting greatness into people, but rather the recognition that greatness already exists. The role of a leader is to provide the grand challenge, create the environment and invest in the individual to inspire that greatness to emerge. That is my philosophy statement. Everyday I feel like I make a challenge for myself, going to class and work in the same day and sometimes not even sleeping due to school work. When I’m doing those things it shows the greatness I can achieve through doing those things.

My philosophy never has really changed. Throughout my years and school I knew that I must keep going or face the consequences of not having a degree. My leadership views has changed but my philosophy has stayed the same because I feel if you want something bad enough you will get it at any cost. This class just taught me the behind the scenes of being a leader and the components that it come with. Maybe somewhere down the road I will be looking to change my philosophy but for now it looks like it is staying the same.

taking this class has really opened new alley ways for me in life. learning techniques to leading and interacting with my peers in ways i have never before. this new learning journey will place me in situations i can handle now and am looking forward to taking many more leadership classes as i attend The Ohio State University.

Comment that stood out on being leader

Michael Saunders

ESHESA 2570

PROFESSOR Vanjura

April 8 2014

                Rachel Starr made a comment a few weeks back about how she wanted to get the general aspects of being a leader. She was talking about how she felt that she had most of the aspects down of being a leader but this that she was taking this class to get a better idea of being  a leader. Her comment really stood out to me because I feel we are in the same boat and want to become leaders with all the knowledge we can. I feel that she came into the class with the same mindset as I did.

                I know what it looks like to be a leader but what goes on behind closed doors is what I really want to get out of this class. Standing up and letting your voice be heard is one thing but when it comes down to putting a plan together that’s a whole other situation in my book. I want to take away from this course the ins and outs to being a leader and not just what people see on the outside. I want them to know that when I lead that I am a great leader and have no flaws in my game plan.

                Martin Luther was a great leader and it showed inside and out. From every speech he has done one can tell that he was never lacking any type of ambition and felt very strong on his words no matter the conversation. And that is what I want to take away from this course. Not only having people believe in my words but me believing deep down inside that my words can stick and make a difference when I am out in the real world.

                Now Rachel’s comment didn’t change or reframe anything at all in my mind. I am still in this course to find out how to be a great leader as I feel she is also. I felt that everyone is in this class for the same reason and that’s how to become a great leader at some point in their lives. So no comment or question has really grabbed by surprise. Rachel’s comment just stuck out because she was the only one who said the exact words I would have said if I raised my hand for the question.

                Now that the course is coming to an end I feel that I have been taught most of the ins and outs of being a leader, and not just a leader a great leader. Nothing comes over night. This course has stayed on track on what I believe a leader is and should do in order to take that leadership role in life. Hopefully after it is all said and done me and Rachel can come away from this course saying that we did learn the things that can make us a very good leader in life, and so far I feel that’s exactly what I’ve been learning.    

Leadership Values

Michael Saunders

Team and org. Leadership

Professor Vanjura

3-20-14

Assignment 2

                  Values are something I feel every leader should have. Those values a leader should hold with then until death. A leader should know themselves inside and out and no matter how difficult the situation is the leader should hold onto their values and ethics. Values I feel are more along the lines of ethics because without ethics one really can’t have a plan and better yet not be a strong believable leader. Your values reflect a collection of experiences over your lifetime beginning with your childhood.

                  Values are critical to leadership for the simple reason that they are basically the back bone to one’s plan. Values play such an important role in our lives, being able to recognize and understand one’s own values set becomes critical very important decision-making. A leader must let the followers know their values from the beginning that way all groups are on the same page.

                  Leaders create the vision, support the strategies, and are the catalyst for developing the individual bench strength to move the organization forward. Those following a leader without any values would just be following the blind and I feel it’s that black and white about it. One wouldn’t follow their gps if the gps company had no values including getting the driver to the destination the most efficient and fastest way. The video with the guy dancing on the hill shows an example of values. His values that day was to have a good time and he attracted so many followers with his values he came with that day. Little did he know that his values of having a great time would end up in a big group dancing around following his dancing.

                  My personal values in life are to be a great leader after college (and hopefully graduate school) and be very successful in any field I go into. Has been my values since I’ve been a child and I don’t see them changing. Being on TV after college would be a great route for me and while following that dream I hope to teach and learn new things along the way. Stand on my own 2 feet with very little help so I can make my core values much stronger as I go on in life.

                  Rather its ethics or values one who are attempting to become a leader should at least have a very strong one of the two (but in my eyes they are the same thing). A great leader must not show weakness and never go back on their values or you may look weak. Being a weak leader in today’s society will get you nowhere but with your leadership spot taken by a much stronger and value efficient leader who won’t go back on his/her words. The ability to communicate appropriately is an essential component for leadership. Confidence, determination and empathy make up a great leader and those who follow will also share these characteristics. 

Leadership

Michael Saunders

ESHESA 2570

Professor Van Jura

3-3-14

Leadership

            At some point in every young person’s life they want to become a leader of some sort. It can be the king and leader of the jungle gym or it can be being the class president in grade school. Me myself I’ve always wanted to become a leader and have people follow me because I felt that I have always had the tools to become a leader. Once I got out into the real world I’ve realized that there are real leaders out there and people really follow their commands. Being a leader can come with great rewards but can also take wear someone who wants to play that position down.

            I registered for this course because I want to later in life become someone that people look up to in a positive way. I want to learn great leadership techniques that I can take out there in the real world and apply them to my everyday life. Being a leader and not a follower can set the weak minded individuals apart from the more dominate go getter types of individuals.

Now I am not saying that everyone who is not a leader is a follower but if the shoe fits then it fits. Some people just don’t have it in them to lead and would rather sit back let someone else take the course. Me on the other hand I want to become a leader in today’s society and that is why I am taking this course today.

I understand leader as being someone who takes charge and without any hesitation can make a very valid decision that can affect others. I understand being a leader comes with great responsibility and the decisions a leader makes can alter the lives of those followers. Differing from a manager or a professor, a leader must be able to stand tall on their feet and take over messy situations when that time comes.

My expectations for this class are to teach me the techniques of being a leader. I feel I have what it takes to be a leader once I get out of college but I am pretty sure that there are more things to learn when trying to become a leader in the real world. My expectations from this course are to teach me what I need to do to become a better leader than I already am. When becoming a leader you have to be firm and strong on your opinions. So I am hoping that by taking this course I will become more confident in my opinions when expressing them out loud and having great confidence in every move I make. Leaders can make mistakes but if I make a mistake I want to be able to live up to that mistake and have a better outcome the next time around.

Becoming a leader to me when I graduate and step into a real life job would set me apart from those who want to be followers. Malcolm x, Dr King, Al Sharpton etc… those are leaders and are/were very good ones. By taking this course I hope it teaches me that confidence they had and take me a very far way in life.