This week began with a thought-provoking talk by Nabeela Kajee on inclusivity and authenticity in leadership which prompted us to think about our own core leadership values and how these can be placed at the core of our own pursuit of leadership. For me, values that came to mind were integrity, empathy and authenticity; I believe it is important to lead in a way that is exemplary to others, allows for strong interpersonal relationships, and with a grit to learn from role models wherever possible without swaying from your own personal morals and values. This is, by no means, easy - in trying to develop these further, I aim to practise establishing a better sense of what I stand for and how I can best protect this whilst maintaining strong and open connections with those around me.
Over the past few days, I have been working with my group to start piecing together our report's first draft; I took lead on writing up the literature review which was recommended by our impact advisor last week, compiling a varied range of secondary sources to highlight gaps in existing research and how this can shape our project. Now, it is time to focus our attention on the analysis of the data itself - though we have begun a more descriptive analysis of the plots/figures produced, I aim to think more critically about what the pilots' results could represent as my group members start writing and applying the code. The week ended with an enjoyable social, which I found to be a good way to decompress!
Looking ahead to next week, I am excited to start working on our project's poster. As deadlines for draft submissions approach, I am cautious that we may be running slightly behind schedule - it'll be important for us to delegate tasks and work efficiently, and I look forward to the discussions that arise from our results and analysis.
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Muskaan,
This is another valuable reflection that demonstrates both self-awareness and a clear sense of your contribution to the project. I particularly enjoyed your reflections on integrity, empathy and authenticity as leadership values. Your recognition that remaining true to your principles while continuing to learn from others requires conscious effort shows a mature understanding of leadership as an ongoing process of development rather than a fixed set of qualities.
It was also encouraging to read about the leadership you have shown within your project by taking responsibility for drafting the literature review. Identifying gaps in the existing research and using those gaps to shape your project's direction is an important research skill, and it is clear that you are taking ownership of a significant part of the report.
I was especially pleased to see your recognition that the next stage of the project involves moving beyond producing figures towards interpreting what they actually mean. Your comment about wanting to think more critically about the pilot results reflects an important transition from data analysis to research interpretation. Producing graphs is only the beginning; understanding the story the data tells is where much of the value of research lies.
Your awareness that the team may be slightly behind schedule also demonstrates good project awareness. Recognising potential risks early and responding through clear delegation and collaborative working is an important aspect of effective leadership, particularly as deadlines approach.