Week 1:
What went well?
My transition to Thailand and initial meetings went very well. I was able to meet the local team while also learning how to lead our own American team. In partnership with the church, we discussed what would look like and hosted necessary language and culture training for all the students. I was able to help lead students in a new setting and participate in initial childcare work. It was a great introduction week overall to Thailand.
What could have been done differently?
I have already noticed that I lack skills in logistics control and organization. My hope is to better manage my time, resources, and team members through delegation and careful planning. If I’m more diligent in this way, it would be very helpful for my leadership. Logistics allow a vision to come to pass.
What did I learn about myself while working with others?
I learned about how intentional care must be when managing others. To shepherd a group well, I’m not only taking into account different perspectives, but I’m also trying to move the group in one direction. While that is hard, I found I really enjoy leading in that way. I love learning about people and helping guide them to the next step.
What did I learn about leadership?
I learned much about leadership in my first week. Most importantly, as I mentioned above, I learned about group management. This came from attempting to care well for our internal team as we committed to service. It takes effort to more people well enough to address their needs and understand their direction in long-term growth. As a leader, I’m called to step into that arena and walk with those I lead. So while I’m sure I will learn much more about leadership through our other roles, I gleaned much from leading our own team in this introductory week.
What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I hope to focus on honing my skills and utilizing them in humble service to others as we begin more of our formal with this next week.