Lindsey Wilson MLSD

In considering the traits approach to leadership, what are some of your traits you consider adding or detracting from your ability to lead? When I first read this question my first instinct was to add persistence as a trait. For me persistence is to push through obstacles to reach a goal.   However, before I selected this trait I wanted a more objective opinion of this so I gave 3 people the Leadership Trait Questionnaire and they scored me at a 4.5 where I gave myself only a 3. Although I know that this is not large enough statistical sample, it actually lead to an aha-moment. I asked one of my co-workers why she scored me with a 4 and she said that she has observed me coming up with ideas that I want to implement, and that I will take the necessary action to make sure that the idea comes to fruition even if issues come up. She said that she didn’t give me a 5 because if I am told no, I don’t always advocate for myself and my idea even though they are good ideas. I...

Think about a leader you have worked for, whom you have influenced. In what ways did you influence the leader? How did the relationship develop? What was one important way in which you were impacted by your relationship with that leader? This question at first was a little tricky for me because I was looking for a major defining moment that I could pinpoint how I influenced a leader I worked for. However, as I reflect further on the meaning of influence I realized that influence usually takes time to develop and may not have a single defining moment of when that influence started or ended. A leader that I influenced was when I worked at the USO. To provide some background I worked with the center supervisor in charge of the USO at the BWI airport. Her name was Midge and she was a retired command sergeant major and former drill sergeant. She was only about 5’1”, but was a force to be reckoned with. On my first day on the job she was very direct in her communication with me and...