Blog Post 3: Relationships: There is no I in Leadership, well you know what I mean....

"Leadership is a relationship." This was a great way to open up the text, it managed to place into perspective a new outlook on leadership for those individuals who presumed leadership to be something of an individual effort. Leadership is in many ways, a relationship, it incorporates a cohesive bond between those who lead and those who choose to be followers, and furthermore the concepts behind leadership support relationship building, and are tied heavily with the concepts of building connections. For those who chose to follow, there is clearly the needed establishment of trust, "a prerequisite to getting anything done," and what better way to build trust than by creating a relationship. Leadership is personal, "we don't lead our lives in solitary confinement. We lead our lives out in the open. We lead our lives in the company of others, and that is where we leave our legacy. It's the quality of our legacy that  most determines whether our legacy will be ephemeral or lasting." There are personal connections made from interactions with leaders or being a leader, you are either impacting someones life or you are having your life changed by some essence of a leader, how much more personal could it get? Being a leader is being assured that you will develop a personal connection with individuals, because without such connection, are you a leader? It is important to recognize in consideration of relationships that, "people will like us in direct proportion to how we make them feel," as a leader you are liked and judged based on your ability to create connections and comfort for those you lead, build a cohort.

"Focus on the Purpose and not the Person." I used to have the hardest time with this. It was a challenge for me because I was always one to evaluate a person so quickly and if to me, who am I to judge, they were not a commendable person, I shamefully threw away their possibility in my mind. I eventually grew and now have a story approach, where I look into every individuals story, what makes them who they are, what makes them tick, and with that story I still go string in believing that every person deserves an opportunity. People saw I deserved a shot.


My story; my bringing up was rough, abusive and just not entirely happy. I wish more than anything that things were different that my life was a little more, I suppose, smile evoking than it was, but those were not the cards I was dealt and I work with it. I share this because I have a very challenging time with the ideas of family and friends and thus relationships are strained in my life. However, I do my best and I feel as though I have created some powerful relationships with people along tat way that have both helped me grow as a leader and in the aspects of relationship building.

"To make a meaningful difference we each have to make our own meaningful choices. If leaders steal from others the opportunities to make such choices, they steal a bit of the legacy those others might have created. People can't make their own mark if someone else is holding their hand all the time. At some point you have to let go of that hand and leave others to write their own histories." 

A successful leader, creates personal connections that lead to relationships which promotes the willingness to be lead when necessary, ending in the ability of a leader to let go and watch a possible new leader be born.

Significance

A Leader’s Legacy Part 1 Significance

            Significance means the quality of being significant or having a meaning. The book talks about how everyone is significant in what they do. You don’t have to have a position to be significant you just have to be a part of something. In our organization we have all different kinds of leaders, from the quite to the really outspoken ones. All of these leaders are what make up our organization and Greek Life. They are the ones that take part in the activities that we do and they are the ones that have the officer positions. These people are the most significant people that we have in Greek Life.

     

       I went to the New England Greek Leadership Summit this past Saturday. One of the sessions I went to was about how to deal with difficult people. In this session we talked about ways to address the people who are most difficult in the organization. When I read this section of the book about how everyone being important I had to think about that is one thing that everyone needs to think about. There are people in the organizations that may feel like they are not important. It could be because they don’t have a position or they are just shy. Every person is a leader and every person is significant. If they are just reminded about the fact they are significant in the organizations they could get some confidence and be willing to take part in more things for Greek Life. 

A Leader's Legacy
Part 1: Significance

        Since reading part 1in A Leader's Legacy, Significance, I have noticed many of these leadership qualities discussed in myself, and the people I surround myself with everyday. It is amazing recognizing these qualities the book discusses in myself and others because it makes me feel like I am surrounded by others who only want to see me succeed, while at the same time, I only want to see them succeed. I see significance relating to my own life every day, through myself and others, and the experiences we go through together. After reading part my, I have not only gained a better understanding of what makes a legendary leader, but a greater appreciating for those leaders in my life.

The Legends Legacy Part I: Significance

I will Dance for All to See

Upon Reading Part One of The Legends Legacy titled "significance," I was moved by the conceptual notion that, "passionate leaders are willing to suffer." The journey that all of us take, commonly referred to as life, requires a knowledge of the battlefield, a perception of the world around us. My perception and understanding has always been: live to help others, very rarely exhibiting any focus on myself. I prefer it that way. In this lifestyle I have been privy to the sacrifices correlated with it, the ability to suffer and yet carry on with the concept that you have done something great. Sacrifices can come in terms of sleep, friendships, family connections, academics; regardless I carry on. The prime example I can offer up to this would be one of my experiences at Orientation;

This summer I was an Orientation Leader and one night after a long Day 1 of session there was a knock at my door around midnight, I went and opened it and a student whom was not one of my students stood there. I said hello and asked if everything was alright, and his response was that he needed someone to talk to, without hesitation I beckoned him in the room and we sat and he expressed to me that I seemed like an OL he could approach and talk to, therefore we had a conversation. He spilled his life story, he let everything out, held nothing back, how he wasn't sure how college would fit in the mix of all the "mess" he had for a life. Needless to say, with some heart ache and empathy, alongside some courage the conversation propelled and was long, not ending till about 3 am, when I had to be awake for 7. I sacrificed, and why? Significance. When he left my room, he turned and said to me, "I hope that I can be as great you someday Alec. Thank-you for tonight." My response, "You already are."

That student now has two jobs on campus, keeps his grades up, has some new best friends and is considering going Greek, and what did i do? I listened and gave a little advice. I suffered a little through exhaustion, and emotionally on a personal level; however I got to watch him grow.

"..like dancing naked on a table." What? Leadership isn't about perfection, but the ability to admit vulnerability and weakness and yet still manage to lead in the end. I am not perfect, by any means, I make many mistakes and I have my weaknesses; however, I do not let my weaknesses define me. I let my progress and my abilities define me while keeping my hindrances in mind. The world needs to understand, that people are not perfect, we as people do not know how to be, but we work with it. I am willing to stand on that table naked and dance, dance for all the world to see, why? Not in the hopes of comedic value or to provoke laughter, but in the hopes that someone gets on that table and dances too.

I can go the Distance, I have the ability. I have lead, I have organized and facilitated, I have "inspired," at the end of the day is it enough? I hope to grasp from GLAD the concepts behind my true potential, what can I do? What I can do for others. Hopefully, someday I will be able to ask with confidence, opposed to hesitation, will I have a Legacy? Did I make a difference?


"We'll all be remembered for something. The question is, for what?"

Part I of A Leader's Legacy, "Significance"

     As I went through reading this portion of the how-to-leader guide by Kouzes and Posner, I tried to jot down all of the points that really stood out to me. Of course, one of the main points would be (as beautifully expressed in the title) "legacy".

     While being a leader on campus or within my community, I had never consciously considered legacy before. It's not as if I didn't aim towards making a difference in whatever way that I could, but I had never had a name for what I was doing. I've taken various leadership courses in the past and of course they mention that leading is a sacrifice, and that (to condense some of the points of this section) a leader is only as good at the team they are leading, however, thinking that a leader should consider their legacy is novel to me. 

     I have been a member of, and then leader for, the Boy Scouts of America (the co-ed portion called Venture Crew in particular) for a number of years now, and two summers ago I was lucky enough to be on the staff for the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course. The idea that the best leader is one who teaches played a major role in the course. There were particular exercises where the presenter of a particular session would take the teams (or patrols) outside and use the Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable (EDGE) method of teaching to introduce new skills to a scout. These exercises allowed me to realize that such concepts as expressed in A Leader's Legacy: "The purpose of leaders is to mobilize others to serve a purpose" (Kouzes & Posner 17), were really crucial to being a good leader. Not only did I get more enthusiastic scouts when I was enthusiastic about the material I was teaching, but being able to explain a new task to them, show it, and then enable them to perform on their own made it infinitely easier for them to remember the skill later. 

But I digress.

     Until the thought of legacy was brought up in this book, I had not consciously thought of what my legacy will be when I leave BSU or when I move on from being a collegiate member of my Greek organization. What will I be leaving behind? How will others think of me when I'm gone? What can I do now that could improve my organization or my "legacy" on campus as my time here comes to a close? All of these thoughts have been swarming around in my mind since reading Part I: Significance. And hopefully I will find an answer (or at least where to start looking for one) to at least one of these questions by the time GLAD is done. 

• BIG thought of the section: I want to do something that "matters"

• Favorite Quote: "[It's not] how big a campfire you built but how well you kept others warm, how well you illuminated the night to make them feel safe, and how beautiful you left the campsite for those who would come after you to build the next fire" (Kouzes & Posner 19).

Introduction

Hello! My name is Emily Leahy, I am a sophomore English major, and a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. I also am a member of the Bridgewater Video and Film association as well as a committee member of the Be Positive Foundation. In what free time I have have I like to spend time with my friends and sisters,  eat ice-cream and nap (like this oh-so-cute puppy I've placed below). I joined GLAD because I enjoy being as involved as possible and I want to gain the leadership skills to make a difference in my organizations. It's just a plus that I've met a group of pretty cool people along the way! :) I cant wait to see what is to come in the next few weeks!

Hey Friends!
My name is Gage Gillis. I am a sophomore, studying accounting and finance. On top of that, I am also a member of Phi Kappa Theta. This summer I was lucky enough to have been selected as an Orientation Leader where I spent the month of July welcoming the new students to BSU. I am excited to be a part of GLAD and use what I learn here to better myself and others in Greek Life, at BSU, and in every day life.
I was instantly interested in joining GLAD because I could see how important it is. I saw it as an opportunity to better my future, as well as the future of others. I know what I learn here will only improve myself, and I hope that some day, I can help others reach their full potential!
I am looking forward to this experience and applying what I learn to my every day life!

Hola fellow Greeks!

Hi all,

My name is Gabriel Rodriguez and I am a sophomore majoring in Computer Science. I am a member of Phi Kappa Theta and hold the Brotherhood Chair position. I like to make programs, build computers, play sports & video games. Weird.

 I am excited to be a part of GLAD for many reasons, but the number one reason is being able to get to know other Greeks from our community. Secondly, as I am holding a leadership position in my fraternity already, this program will help me become a better Greek leader,and help me progress in my development as an individual.

GLAD is extremely important because it is helping make leaders in our Greek community who then can help their fraternity/sorority progress and take steps to become better overall. Not only does this program help in the Greek community, but it also allows us to take these skills and apply them to real life jobs, where we can be comfortable and confident in leading any group we have an opportunity to. Being a leader is a tall task, but this program will help us all get to where we want to be.

Also, as I said before, HOPEFULLY MB and I will become best friends by the end of this program.

Excited to see what I can learn from you all,
Gabriel Rodriguez

Introduction

Hello everyone!

My name is Jeannine Leach and I'm a senior here at BSU. I am the Risk Management Chair of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. I'm an English Major with a Writing Concentration and Psychology minor. I enjoy singing, reading, theater, and I love to go hiking and camping.

My interest in GLAD stems from a deep seeded interest in leadership development. I love to go to conferences and listen to others' points-of-view that I wouldn't normally get an opportunity to hear. As I'm getting closer to graduating, and thinking of my life after University, I consider how I can learn more/utilize the skills I've already gained through being an RA as well as through Greek Life to help me in my future career.

I cannot wait to see more fully what GLAD has to offer!

I am glad to be in GLAD! Are you?

Well Howdy Y'all,

I hope everyone's Tuesday went swimmingly.

"All men have limits. They learn what they are and learn not to exceed them. I ignore mine" 

So I am a sophomore English Major with a huge dream of a career in Student Affairs, where I call the lovely Bridgewater State my home, the birds are always chirping even when all it does is rain (but i digress), where Greeks litter the campus, creating a lively and energetic community, a truly remarkable place.

I am a dedicated brother of Phi Kappa Theta, my family. I joined Greek life in an effort to find that family, a group that I felt for once in my life, I belonged. Phi Kapp has certainly changed my life in ways that I will never be able to fully thank all of my brothers for.

I gained a family; not only in Brothers, but in my family tree, Matt as my Big and Tyler as my Twin (best twin ever), along with the worlds greatest nephew Gabe! Wooh Go Family!

Why did I decide to take part in GLAD?
                  Welp. I want to grow, I want to continue to progress as an individual and as a member of a group. I hope that in the future I can use my skills in leadership, communication, organization, and facilitation supported by Greek Leadership and Development, to potentially gain an E-Board position in my brotherhood. I see incredible things happening everyday in Phi Kappa Theta that change my perspective and world, and I want to continue to be a part of that and help keep the wheels rolling.

The question now arises, why is there a quote at the beginning of my blog? I feel that quote in a way is the summation of me as a person. In one sense because it is a quote from Batman and I feel like to compare myself to the man in the cape who gallivants around at night and is popularly referred to as a superhero and more appropriately because I have yet to discover a limit. Don't think I haven't pushed, I suppose I prefer this lifestyle, the superhero who never established limits, but has a pretty cool cape.

All in all I am pretty stoked for this experience and I look forward to getting better acquainted with both the members of my GLAD class and Mama Greek.
See you all Tomorrow Evening!

Thanks Again for the Opportunity,
Mama Greek and Baby Flakes

GLAD Introduction

Hi, my name is Emma Manning and I am a sophomore here at BSU. I am studying Elementary Education and history and I am the Panhel delegate for my sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. Things I like include my dog, coffee, giraffes and that’s about it.

I am participating in GLAD because I am very interested in working and learning more within Greek life. Working on Panhel is an awesome experience that has made me want to reach out to work with more Greeks, and the fact that I can do that and continue to develop my leadership skills is a great opportunity. I am always looking for ways to better myself and gain more skills.  My organization has done so much for me I want to do the same in return by doing the best I can with my position. I am excited to get started! 

Introduction

Hey my name is Audrey Dors. I am a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. I'm a sophomore and history with a minor in secondary education. I am the director of scholarship for Panhellenic.

I am going through the GLAD program because I love leadership programs. I have taken some in the past and I know that each one that you go to is different. You can always learn new and interesting things that go into becoming a leader. It is a continuous process. I am also interested in doing this program because I have a leadership position in the Greek community and would love to learn more skills that I would be able to apply to my position.

GLAD Introduction

Hi everyone,
My name is Ian Goulding and I am a member of kappa delta phi here at BSU. I am a sophomore psychology major and I serve as philanthropy chair as well as Chaplin/historian my fraternity. In my fee time I enjoy spending time with my friends and skiing.

I am interested in participating in GLAD because I think it will be an important and valuable experience in the development of my leadership abilities both within Greek life and in my professional life.I hope that the lessons learned and information gained in this program will make me a better leader both within my fraternity and beyond!

I am looking forward to hearing from all of our presenters and can't wait to get started!!

Greetings fellow bloggers..I'm Tyler

Hey Folks,

My name is Tyler Hargis and I am a senior majoring in Public Administration with a double minor in Communications and Civic Engagement. I am part of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and many other groups on campus. I am from Dedham, MA and I like to stop to have conversations with strangers more specifically the elderly.

My interest in GLAD develops from the notion that you constantly are learning and improving oneself. I have attended many leadership opportunity's and each of them has taught me something different whether small or large. As an individual you never know everything and you never stop growing. I'm excited to work with a fellow group of greets to engage in discussion and interpreting what leadership means to us both at whole and individually.

Can’t wait to share more!

GLAD Introductions

Hey everyone!

My name is Dave Tice and I am a Sophomore Criminal Justice major and a part of Sigma Pi Fraternity. I'm from Lincoln RI and my favorite number is 52 for no reason whatsoever.

My main interest in GLAD comes from being able to meet and work with the other Greek Organizations. I love and am involved in my own organization but haven't really had the chance to work along the other Organizations yet so I am really excited for this opportunity.

The main reason that I think GLAD is important is that while there are so many Leadership seminars and programs for college students out there, the percent of Greek based/specific programs is small. So I think that any opportunity to learn about leadership specifically tuned into Greek Life is incredible and shouldn't be passed up.

Excited to get started with everyone!
-Dave

Introductions

Hello everyone, my name is Steven Thompson, I was born in Scituate, MA and I am a junior here at BSU with a major in General Management.

What interests me about the GLAD program is learning about different leadership skills and how to use them effectively, whether it be here at BSU with Greek Life, or in my future career. Also meeting more people that are members of other Greek Life organizations on campus.

I think GLAD will be important because of the benefits you get by learning more about what leadership is and how to improve your leadership skills/qualities by reading the assigned material and discussions when we meet.

Another season of GLAD! Fall 2013

Tonight marks the beginning of another stellar group in Greek Leadership and Development. Throughout the past 6 years GLAD has been altered to add new elements but the core principles remain the same, GLAD is an opportunity to develop leadership and life skills to benefit fraternity and sorority members in the BSU Greek community and beyond. I'm really looking forward to this years group and some of the new presenters added to our series. I hope you'll read along and follow the leadership stories of some of BSU's up and coming leaders.

Go Bears!

~Maribeth