Leadership is mold-able to each situation. There is not one type of leader that is above all the rest. This is because there are many different strategies to motivate and delegate people. Each group of followers may prefer a different method of leadership style for them to produce the greatest results. Really the best attribute a leader can have is flexibility. They need to change to the situation and the people that they are instructing.

Something I learned is that a leader does not have to do all the work. They need to listen to the ideas of the group and help get everyone's voice heard. It is important that everyone in the group feels comfortable to share their ideas otherwise the group could miss out on some great advice. It is the leader's job to create this open environment. They need to create inclusion. Not only does this help the current group to be more productive, but it also allows more people to join the group.

Effective leadership is creating a mutual relationship with the followers so that that task is completed using teamwork, in an ethical way. Breaking this statement down you can see that the leader and the follower are just as important roles. Leaders would be nothing if they didn't have followers. Therefore there needs to be respect between the two. If there is no respect between them, then that creates a giant obstacle to finishing the mission. The reason I used the word teamwork in the above statement is because in a team everyone contributes something differently. Each member can have a solo task that is their job to complete. The leader needs to make sure that every member is motivated and feels important within the group. This is different from a manager because a mangers sole job is just to get the job done. Solving the mission in an ethical way is also important because without ethics the group loses creditability. Without credibility anything the group accomplishes will not be acknowledge for the worth it deserves.

My philosophy comes a lot from how I have been treated while in groups. Some experiences were bad and some were good. What I know is that gathering ideas from multiple people and then adding on to them always seems to produce the best results. I also take being ethical very seriously because at the end of the day what is most important is your confidence and your reputation. I do not feel good at all if I feel like I have cut corners or broke rules to achieve what I want.

My attitude about leadership differs from the beginning of the class because now I see that anyone can be a leader. Even people that are more shy and less likely to speak up can make great leaders. Those quiet people can even make better leaders because they have spent the majority of their time listening. It is because they know how to listen that they can hear ideas that have never been done before.

Preparation for group success

During one group project the class was split into two groups and then each team had to solve a word problem. The part that was most interesting to me was how the set up from the beginning of the project played such a crucial in determining the success of each team.
My group set up the table in the middle of everyone and allowed all group members to express their feelings. Each members' ideas were heard and acknowledged. Because of this, everyone continued to contribute throughout the assignment. This was made possible because everyone could see each other and the board we were writing on. The puzzle was eventually solved through much trial/error and teamwork.
It was very interesting to me how the other group said that they set up their table against the wall so only a few people could see the board. The more outspoken voices were the only ones contributing and getting their opinion heard. This effected the rest of the group dynamics. A lot of this team quit partially through because they were uninterested. This group did not complete the assignment and the morale at the end was very low.
Discussing the group set ups really got me thinking about how the tone of a group is set right from the beginning. The group I was not in, sent a very different message then we did by pushing the table against the wall. They basically were saying that only the people that could push themselves to the board were the only voices worth hearing. I'm sure that the people standing in the back gave up quickly since contributing was too difficult.
The decision our group made to take the extra 5 seconds to move the table out from the wall was the first step to success. Making everyone feel accepted is going to benefit the outcome heavily. This needs to be applied in future leadership opportunities. I am going to make sure I take the extra time to make the people around me feel valued and appreciated. Morale is extremely important in obtaining maximum results. I can a test to this from past experiences too.
I think it was Aubrey that mentioned working with different managers at her job with varying authority styles. I can agree with her that working with uplifting and positive managers makes us do our job better. If my supervisor acknowledges me when I walk in the door my mood immediately increases. Setting the tone of the day on a positive note sets up the rest of my day for a good outcome.
Both of these examples are just small steps that do not take much time. It is the little details that end up making the greatest impact. When the environment for ideas is positive and open, people do their best work. I want to always apply this ideology into my life. At the end of the day, most work is meaningless but building relationships can last forever. I never want my reputation to be someone that just cares about the outcome and not the journey.