- How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?
- How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
- What is everyone most excited about engaging in as part of their summer research project?
Please answer these questions by creating a post of your own, and also respond to another student's post. In responding to another student’s post, find a student’s post that you find interesting. Scroll down to the bottom of the entry and hit “Leave a comment”. Leave your reply in the box provided.
Remember: you should post your own responses by Thursday evening. You should respond to another student’s response by Friday evening. I look forward to discussing your reflections when we next meet!
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I discovered that there were multiple new ways you could personally act to be a leader - notably a leader within, in front, or behind. This prompted me to think about ways I can act/support myself or others when working on projects despite my given role. Additionally, thinking about other people's communication styles taught me that being a leader means being more conscious of other people's needs, especially knowing that they might be different from mine. As the leader, making sure all team members feel comfortable and are able to express themselves clearly is crucial in building an effective team.
Through my work in the Justice Lab, I will be doing a lot of independent research in addition to working as a team. Doing this independent research, I plan on applying the 'leader within approach' to help me produce the best work possible. Practicing self authority and acceptance will allow me to keep myself accountable in producing high quality work with integrity.
I am most excited about engaging with government data, particularly concerning incarcerated persons. I feel that most of this information has been hidden from the public and gaining access will reveal new information with the potential to shed light on many difficult truths in the criminal justice system.
How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?
This week has given me a deeper insight into what it means to be a leader, especially the four types of leadership we discussed on Monday. I had not seen these different things all expressed as a facet of leadership; in fact, I previously had seen some of the qualities referred to as “un-leaderlike.” For example, we talked about what it means to lead beside and work well with others, but I think a common misconception about strong leaders is that they are always working alone and making all decisions themselves. However, this is not the case, and it is just as important to value the opinions and desires of others in your leadership. Additionally, I think the idea that everyone must cycle through the different types is really important. When we were discussing the leader behind type, I recognized that as how I usually prefer to lead. However, that does not have to be my only leadership style, and I need to work on improving my skills in various areas to become a more well-rounded leader.
How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
During the summer, I will be working on independent research, and so I think that the leader within style will be very important for me to implement. Though there are many resources and people to help me, I will need to lead myself and be responsible for the work I do, as well as how I do it. Being aware of the values and ideals that are important to me will allow me to stay on top of my research project and guide it in a way that aligns with my goals.
What is everyone most excited about engaging in as part of their summer research project?
This summer, I am excited about working with primary sources, as this is not something I’ve had the opportunity to do in previous research projects. I think that Columbia’s libraries and archives will be a really important and useful resource for me. I’m also excited to incorporate film analysis into a more academic setting, since I’ve only done it as a pastime or with friends. I think it will be really interesting and fun to study things I enjoy in my free time in a more formal way.
Wow! I am interested to learn more and see how you will incorporate film analysis in an academic setting. I really enjoy how multi-media and culturally your project is. Best of luck!
Pamela's workshops and hearing my peers discuss their experiences, struggles, and thoughts on leadership really inspired me to do a lot of self-introspection. I learned that leadership is broad and ever-changing. Good leaders understand this complexity, know the different roles leadership can take form on, and understand when is the right time to step in or out of that role. It helped me observe the ways I act in group settings, such as my communication style, and how to best adapt for groups of diverse types of communication and leadership.
I think that in this stage of my project, the leader within model really stands out to me because I will be spending lots of time doing research on my own, and so I want to be both patient and understanding of myself, but also be accountable and push myself forward.
I am excited about creating my literary review on language experiences in migration. Especially finding sources that draw connections between past migration experiences that explain or contrast today’s wave of asylum seekers in the city.
I really liked the point you made about self-introspection! I also found that the interactive workshops led me to rethink the ways I conduct myself in team work settings.
The workshops and discussions have enlightened me to the fact that leadership manifests itself in a multitude of ways. I really appreciated how Pamela explained the different categories—leader within, leader in front, leader behind, and leader beside—and it made me reflect on how being one type of leader is not necessarily better than the other. Despite being raised ins society that championed a more leader-in-front-style, I have engaged and been in positions that have spanned all the categories, with equal merit.
2. How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
I imagine applying the leader within during my summer on campus. I believe having the confidence to carry out this research and overcome challenges associated with my research is necessary and a part of my initiative to be a leader for myself. I see myself practicing a leader within style by setting and committing to my work schedule, prioritizing the tasks that will help the lab the most, and of course, having the awareness to reach out for help from my mentor when I need it.
3. What is everyone most excited about engaging in as part of their summer research project?
I am really excited to learn more about unsupervised learning on the technology side and interact with mice on the behavioral tasks. I’ve always wanted to engage in animal work, and what better way than to do it with the ubiquitous mouse model!
I totally agree with your point that our society often times pushes the leader in front style over the other styles since it is often more glamorous. I do think that often in highly collaborative fields it is those other types of leadership that actually cause things to get done and to advance.
Question 1)
I thought that the discussion of the different styles of leadership was quite interesting because often times you hear about two types of leaders, one that is more or less just delegating and another that is leading by example, where the first is often labeled as a bad leader. However, I found the discussion of the different types of leadership provided a much more realistic perspective on how leadership actually works, particularly with the leading beside framework. I also thought that thinking about those different styles of leadership in the context of what factors that may motivate leaders was quite interesting, as they both lead into and influence each other.
Question 2)
Since I'm in a scientific lab environment, there are many people who have more relevant experience compared to me, so the styles of leadership that require me to be the main leader such as leader in front may not be the most conducive. However, the styles such as leadership beside and within will be very important since I will need to take initiative on my project but will also need to bounce ideas off of the other people in the lab since they have a greater knowledge base from which to draw.
Question 3)
I really enjoyed being in the lab part-time during the semester because I found the environment was very conducive to me putting out high quality work and being motivated to work hard, so I'm looking forward to having that be full-time. I also really like the people in my lab, so I'm looking forward to integrating more fully into the lab group, since I will be there regularly.
I found really interesting how the models of leader “within” and “beside” work together, especially in a lab setting (as a social science person, myself). Excited to hear more about your experience with these models in the next weeks!
How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?
Over the course of the workshops, I have developed a more comprehensive understanding of what leadership must entail. While the traditional leader is one facet of leadership, it is not the only one, and it must work together with other models for effective leadership in any given situation. Beyond expanding my understanding, the discussions offered new, tangible frameworks that I will use as a leader in my daily life, whether that be utilizing a different communication style or setting aside unhelpful feedback.
How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
When hearing about the four facets of leadership, I quickly recognized my work in my lab requiring a "leader beside" mindset. I am working on a project in collaboration with four other undergraduates, all of whom have a similar level of experience. Thus, we must work together to conduct the project most effectively, without any distinct leader taking charge. This is a mode of leadership that I have never consciously implemented, so I am excited to experience this new level of partnership.
What is everyone most excited about engaging in part of their summer research project?
I am excited to develop a better sense of the day-to-day operations of a wet lab environment.
This sounds great! Your questions on leadership in discussions truly resonated with me as well as expanding my ideas of leadership. I also intend to utilize the tangible frameworks within my life and I am excited to see how you continue to engage within the wet lab environment. Great job Priyanka! :)
From this week, my understanding of leadership has morphed into a more multidimensional concept than my previous conceptualizations. I found myself questioning exactly why leadership matters, and in this intrigue, I contemplated several answers ranging from power dynamics to understanding human interactions to applying "leadership" within my life. Overall, listening to others' perspectives and continuously questioning the construction of leadership has allowed me to begin noticing the way I can lead in various contexts, while also remaining true to my values.
For this summer on campus especially, I will apply "leading within" and "leading beside" for establishing my research and working independently but also accepting the feedback from my faculty mentor, personal librarian, and graduate student mentor. Most likely, I will apply all four ways of leading to encourage fellow Laidlaw scholars in their endeavors and also take initiative within my own.
I am most excited to read psychological studies on forgiveness and attempt to understand the way this manifests within Asian American communities (I will narrow down a specific group later on as well). Through this summer research project, I intend to not only analyze the work around forgiveness but also possibly learn more about how my culture shapes my ability to forgive.
I find your considerations on what the meaning of leadership in very interesting, and I agree that constantly reflecting on how leadership is constructed is essential in understanding how to lead in our lives. Your research on forgiveness in Asian American communities sounds fascinating, and I am excited to see what you discover throughout the summer!
I agree with your sentiments on expanding the definition of leadership to accommodate for a multidimensional understanding. I am excited to hear more about your research on forgiveness within Asian American communities!
I resonate with your reflection on why it is that leadership matters to begin with. We spent a lot of time thinking this past week about the focus placed on leadership in business and politics, and the premium placed on leadership potential in a range of spaces. I'm definitely going to keep thinking about why it is that people need leaders, and in general about the role of leaders in our world.
There is a stereotypical image of a leader that the word is traditionally associated with – a person who always takes charge and visibly directs the direction of the group. However, I think this week's workshops and discussions emphasized how leaderships comes in all forms, such as supporting alongside and with others. The assessments we took on Tuesday to identify our communication styles reminded me that leadership also consists of considering other people's wants and adjusting our methods to match that.
My research this summer will require group work with both other peers and my faculty mentor. Thus, I will apply what I learned in class about communication styles, from drivers to analyticals, to see how to most affectively communicate with them. Many of the projects in the lab I am working on are two-person jobs, so I will also practice methods of leadership to support the group as a whole, working alongside and with others.
I am most excited in mastering the use of the radiation detector in the lab, which will allow me to make measurements of the existence of Cs-137 isotopes in food. I will be able to use this detector to measure radiation levels in produce in the New York area this summer, and transition to making in-situ measurements on Kiribati island next summer.
I agree with your perspectives on leadership, Kate! I think this week definitely challenged our conventional stereotypes of what a leader looks like, and showed us that even you're not placed on this pedestal of "leader", you can still find ways to lead and effect change in groups and communities. I'm also super excited to continue hearing about the things you find in your research!
Kate, that sounds amazing! I am so excited to be in the same research team with you, and I can't wait to see the results of your project about the food radiation detector.
How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?
In Pamela's workshops and group discussions this week, my previous conception of leadership was completely transformed, allowing me to develop a more holistic understanding of what it means to lead. I had previously misunderstood leadership as merely leading from the front, envisioning the leader as the group's spokesperson, the authority figure, the one who commanded respect and trust, and the dominant presence in the room. However, this week has shifted my perspective, highlighting that true leadership emphasizes the act of understanding above all. To have the capacity to lead from the front to begin with, one must lead within oneself and be grounded in one's values first and foremost. It is also crucial for a leader to understand the dynamics of their group and the individuals within it to effectively guide the group toward its collective goals. This means recognizing the right moments to step back and allow others to lead from the front. My viewpoint on leadership has ultimately transformed to emphasize the significance of understanding both inwardly within oneself and the unique qualities of each group member.
How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
As I collaborate with a team this summer aiming to advance the treatment of children with cardiomyopathy, I anticipate employing the leader-from-behind method. Being an undergraduate student, I acknowledge my limited knowledge compared to the physicians on the team, who possess expertise in cardiomyopathy, its genetic causes in children, and its implications. Therefore, my role is to facilitate and provide resources and information to enable these physicians to excel and become ambassadors in their field. My approach to leadership involves empowering the more experienced team members to shine, while consistently asking how I can contribute and assist.
What is everyone most excited about engaging in as part of their summer research project?
In my summer research project, I am fortunate to have the chance to shadow Dr. Teresa Lee as she cares for her patients, many of whom are also included in the comprehensive database I'm developing. This dual approach to research offers me a unique perspective: not only do I gain a deeper understanding of the patients included in my study on a personal level, but I also get to immerse myself in the clinical environment of pediatric cardiology. This hands-on experience complements my research efforts, allowing me to contextualize my findings within the real-world dynamics of patient care and medical practice.
Hi Tatum, I completely agree with your summary of the leadership workshops. I also came in with a handful of preconceptions that I had to re-evaluate. I enjoy how you discuss the duality of leadership, finding footing within yourself and in your environment, your wording highlights how leadership is essentially utilizing empathy. Your area of research is also super interesting! Your passion for helping others is very much in line with what Pamela described in her workshops and I look forward to hearing more about your work this summer!
I was particularly intrigued by our activity on social styles and how they are diverse for everyone! I think it goes to show how leadership can be represented in a multitude of ways and we can all learn, adapt, and collaborate. I also learned about my personality and how to best interact, communicate, and lead others who may also lead differently. Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all kind of approach, but there are many valuable assets and qualities of a person that makes an effective, kind, and respectable leader.
During my time at the Center for Spatial Research, I can imagine myself taking on the "leader beside" approach is some contexts given that I will be working alongside other RAs who will be able to teach me some new tips while also I can provide new perspectives and ideas. I think for our project in particular, we must listen and brainstorm together to troubleshoot errors and make the most out of our time.
I am most excited about learning GIS, producing layers for maps, and engaging in field research to learn the ins and outs of this diverse city that we will be living in for the next 3 years! And of course, learning from YOU guys on the amazing research and findings you discover--this will truly be the best part!
I too look forward to learn from fellow scholars; looking at the diversity of projects, I am eager to learn more about fields I have never been exposed to. I also appreciate your use of the word "kind" to describe a leader as it made me reflect on the way in which utilizing the full spectrum of leadership styles is ideally the kindest approach, both to those around you and yourself. I'm so excited to hear more about your research on the city that I have been regrettably behind in exploring!
Your work with Center for Spatial Research sounds so interesting! I'm excited to see how your use of leader beside approach will contribute to this amazing research. As someone who fits the leadership qualities that you described of, I agree with you on the ideals that leadership is one of multitude not uniform. Thus, we all have the potential to be a leader, and apply it in our desired ways.
I came into our workshops with my idea of leadership. My definition was pretty strict and inflexible. But in our workshops, we discussed how leadership is the opposite, it's something we all have and that we can all use. This was highlighted on our second day of workshops when we learned about the different types of people and how to be conscious of our habits. These lessons helped me understand how anticipating the needs of others is a fundamental part of leadership, and I hope to utilize this lesson in my future academic and professional ventures.
Most of will be done indecently and I will not a have strict quote or timeline to adhere to. Because of this, I will be utilizing the 'leader within approach' as I will have to take control of my actions to reach my research goals.
I am very excited to develop my research skills and learn more about the world of academia None of my family or community are involved in academia and have had few opportunities to pursue research at this level, I am the first person in my father's family to ever go to university. I believe the next few weeks will be challenging for me as I learn and adapt to the many expectations of the Laidlaw program, but I am invigorated by that challenge.
Evangeline, as a First-generation student too, I resonate with your third response! Thank you for sharing--your research and initiative are inspiring! I know your family is so proud of you and all of us are here to support you along the way. Please let me know if I can ever be of any assistance during your research or help out in any way, I always love to connect and exchange ideas. Looking forward to reading about the work you do! :)
This week has really shown me that there is no one form, or one set of strategies to being a leader, and there are many ways that any member of a group can display leadership and advocate for the group's needs. Even within each of type of leader (from the front, behind, and beside), there are a variety of communication strategies and styles a leader can employ and embrace. Our exercise exploring the four different styles of communication was especially enlightening to me, as I believe that leaders should able to inhabit and understand all these different styles to be able to communicate and lead empathetically and effectively.
As a student researcher in a lab with other undergraduates, medical students, PhDs, and postdocs, I am eager to learn to lead beside my peers and supervisors. When evaluating certain lab protocols or setting directions and next steps in our projects, I look forward to embracing opportunities to communicate new ideas and collaborate alongside my peers.
I'm very excited to get more involved in wet-lab work, as well as work on a project from end-to-end.
I'm thrilled to stay connected with you, Sankrith, and share our experiences as we work in a medical setting. I'm particularly curious to explore how our experiences in a lab differ from those in a clinical setting and to exchange the benefits of both environments. Like you, I'm eager to complete a project I initiated and see my research make an impact in the field of medicine. I look forward to hearing all about your journey and wish you the best of luck in the coming weeks!
This week after engaging in fruitful discussions on leadership, something that Laila, a Laidlaw fellow stated stood out to me. Laila noted that we don't just need leaders, rather today we need changemakers. This stood out to me since we learnt in workshops that leaders are all around us. To me, this meant that while we all lead in different ways, the best leaders are those that can listen and be adaptable. Additionally, I learnt that the several ways that people communicate in leadership are not meant to convey tone or antagonisms, rather by understanding these leaders' communication styles we can better understand one another in the workplace and the lab.
I think that leading within will be quite important while doing independent research this summer at the Justice Lab. I plan to try to be proactive and inquisitive within my research team as I learn about and engage in justice policy research this summer.
I am most excited to what starting the justice system from the beginning really looks like, I wonder what community thought is on this reinvention of the system.
Shreya, I totally agree with your point about leading within being really important during our research projects. When I thought about it, I considered things like staying focused and being responsible, so I find it really interesting that you mention being inquisitive as well. I think that's one of the most important things we must remember to be while conducting research, but it can be forgotten when we focus too much on the logistics or structure of a project. I think curiosity as a leadership skill in general is a really interesting idea and something I’d like to explore more!
The workshops that I attended this week broadened my understanding of the meaning behind the word “leadership”. Prior to participating in the events, the key component of being a leader for me was the ability to control the process and assign the projects/tasks to people as effectively as possible so that the project is done in the fastest way. However, I realized that the most important is the ability to understand and feel people, because it is about people who are taking part in the project, not the project itself.
“Leader beside” concept seemed the most natural for me when I am working in a lab with other people. Everyone is playing a crucial role in the project, and it is impossible to rank the tasks that different people are performing since they are all needed to achieve the ultimate goal.
My research is on the consequences of nuclear weapon testing on the Pacific Islands. I am most excited to work in a real laboratory setting as well as collaborate with my group mates on different projects. Such a study has never been conducted before. Thus, we feel a huge responsibility, but along with that comes the understanding of the importance of our research for the people who live on the islands.
"Leading beside" is often an understated kind of leadership. I appreciate that you acknowledge the importance of it in the lab setting that you will be entering. It is especially important when we consider that leadership is partially about setting an example. One does not need to be at the reigns of the operation to set an example. In utilizing "leadership beside," one (such as yourself) can demonstrate exemplary conduct in the collaborative laboratory setting. It is not always the most flashy form of leadership, but a team cannot function without good teammates.
Initially, my perspective of leadership was monotonous, and can only be applied to those who were more driven than others. However, I've come to appreciate the values and significance of democratic and communal based leadership, as I realized there are many roles individuals can take up that includes leadership roles. I am a leader due to my ability to handle situations efficiently and by being able to contribute in a group, not by my ability to accomplish a task on my own.
This summer, I will be working at the Justice Lab. I will be conducting both independent and group research, in order to address and begin brainstorming solutions to systemic inequalities in our justice system. Thus, I will be utilizing the leadership within approach model in order to create accountability and innovation of my own work and efforts. I also will be utilizing the leader in front approach, to be able to articulate my opinions and concerns of the US justice system, while gaining new knowledge from other peers at the university and Columbia Justice Lab who are committed to solving this pressing issue.
I am mainly anticipating the collection of primary sources for my research. Both the Justice lab and my independent research requires the use of primary sources such as interviews, data, and archival work in order to draw conclusions. I'm excited to pursue this work, and build my knowledge on how to conduct research using primary sources.
I have learned that leadership entails an openness to criticism. In order for one to lead, one must be willing to accept the praise and concerns of those who one is working with. Though this feedback is important for leadership, it is most certainly not the end-all-be-all. The feedback that one receives as a leader is equally a reflection of those who are providing it. It is important insofar as one chooses to account for the evaluations of others; however, it should not be the sole foundation for the value that one places on oneself as a leader.
I think that the most applicable form of leadership for my summer work is leadership within. An important part of my project is to keep myself accountable for the work that I need to complete. As my work is mostly self-guided, I must maintain faith in my ability to learn and grow as an individual working in the discipline of philosophy. Once I am able to develop myself as a leader within, I can become a greater contributor to the community of people who work on philosophy.
I am excited to edify myself. The kind of laborious, meticulous reading that I will be completing as part of my project is a task that I consider imperative for the development of my intellectual character. Developing this character also allows me to better understand the tradition that I am entering, one that has been around for millennia. Few undergraduates are as fortunate as I am to work on a project that resembles the work of a philosopher, so I relish the early taste of work that I will hopefully be a part of my everyday life in the future.
Pamela's workshops and discussions on leadership allowed me to understand that leadership comes in many forms, such as leader within, in front, beside, and behind. These different aspects of leadership broadened my understanding of the concept itself, and allowed me to embrace leadership in different ways, pertaining to different environments/circumstances. Furthermore, the workshop on communication styles was illuminating as I learned my own, as well as how communication interplays with leadership.
I can see myself leading within as I cultivate leadership within myself. I can also imagine applying leadership behind as I support graduate students with their research projects at the Living Lab.
I love the way that you phrased how the society today tend to identify and favor 'natural leaders' and give them more responsibilities and praise, as if it's granted. I totally have the same feeling and I'm glad to see someone who felt the same! I agree that it's important to focus on the often overlooked people on the team, as they might be applying different types of leadership too. Good luck with your research!
How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?
The workshops made me understand the diversity of leaders and leadership structures. It is only when a team has a mix of drivers, expressives, analyticals, and amiables for its leadership types, then the project progress will most likely be balanced and the team relationship be healthy. Also, I'm surprised by some of the facts that Pamela told us, such as how women often think if they put in the effort then they'll be seen or recognized, when in fact most of the time people just overlook them. The "inner critic", of cultural factors that influence our ranking of priorities, is also an interesting fact to learn that makes me rethink how our motivations can be biased, hence making me trying to become more understanding of others in my team too.
How might you imagine applying one of the four ways of leading during your summer on campus?
I will apply both 'leader within' and 'leader from behind' in my project. The 'leader within' approach is important for self-motivation and independent research, such as spending more time during weekends to catch up on work left behind from the week, or reading and researching additional articles around my topic and share it with everyone else in my lab. The 'leader from behind' approach can look like supporting PhD candidates or post-docs to conduct their projects, as they're already familiar with the lab set-up and have more experience and knowledge with the project.
What is everyone most excited about engaging in as part of their summer research project?
I'm excited about working in a lab for the first time, especially being trained to handle lab equipments properly. I've never worked in a chemical/biological lab, and it's great to start this with growing phytoplankton cultures.
The workshops and discussions changed my view of leadership due to the integration of personality traits and how that determines different leadership styles. Throughout high school, I was taught that leaders are the ones who speak up all the time and take immediate initiative. During the leadership seminars, I learned that is not the case and that there are many different leadership styles. I learned that I'm an expressive leader which means I tend to speak up more, but that does not mean that my peers who take a backseat for certain aspects are not leaders as well.
This summer I have applied the leader-within style due to the independent nature of my research. I've had to hold myself accountable and also catch up with myself periodically to make sure that I was on track and comfortable with what I was working on.
The most exciting part of the summer for me has been reading primary sources that I've read throughout my research project related to Haiti. I am Haitian so this project is really close to my culture. I have been able to read sourced in Haitian-Creole and use that in my academic work which has been very eye-opening. I feel fulfilled because I can incorporate my culture into my academic work.