1. How have the workshops and discussions on leadership this week changed your understanding of what leadership means?

Much in line with what we learned this week, I have always felt that leadership is a behavior, not a title. With that said, I never considered the web of different motivations and interpersonal styles that can exist within a single team. In fact, much of this week’s leadership workshop shifted my focus toward awareness, namely by helping me recognize my own inclinations and motivations as a leader while also understanding those inner drivers that exist in those around me. What I found especially interesting was the description of hygiene factors, or reasons why people might leave a group (if these factors are absent) but not sufficient incentives to stay (if these factors are present). These include salary, peer-relationships, and status. Alternatively, motivating factors such as achievement and growth opportunities can actively encourage and uplift. I was able to see that leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all affair, and instead requires adaptation and intentional action that keeps the goal in mind while also meeting the needs and desires of the group. 

    2. How might you imagine applying one model of leadership during your Laidlaw summer on campus—either within the Laidlaw cohort or beyond this community? While we often associate leadership and leaders with seniority, how might leadership be modeled among individuals who are among the youngest people on campus (i.e. you!)?

Ultimately, a huge takeaway is that we can all be leaders in our respective roles, whatever that may look like. One way I can be a competent leader (even without the title) is through my involvement in clubs such as Project Tutors, where I operate as a tutor rather than a coordinator. Without the formal title, my daily interactions and work as a teaching assistant are my opportunities to lead. In my mind, by being reliable, prepared, and engaged each time, I can help inspire confidence in the classroom. At the same time, I must make an effort to be aware of the interpersonal factors that may be driving each student, to better adapt to their needs and meet them where they are. While this position is certainly different from leadership in the corporate sense, being young or less-experienced and being a leader are not at odds. So long as one is open to growth, aware of their limitations, and willing to show up regardless, I think a freshman can have just as much leadership quality as a senior. 

Photo: Hell Gate Bridge, Astoria Park, Queens NY