NSHMHighSchoolConferenceFashionShow

This process was good for me. I am a firm believer in that to learn fully you have to practice what you are learning. To this affect, I need to be constantly utilizing the theories and practices I am taught in our courses. The leadership shadow was helpful because I was able to observe someone else put leadership practices into the work place but doing the leadership experience is really where I learned.

 I was thrown into this event with little guidance, which was good and bad. As a 1/8 Print, I really like structure and rules. Nevertheless, since I didn’t have that here it was a lesson in using my strengths in a different way than I am used to. I had to be more “go with the flow.” It was not at all an easy task but I think in the end it worked out. I need to keep in mind that not everyone is as structured and rigid in his or her thinking and actions as I am. Being flexible is important as a leader, especially if I end up going into event planning.  Another lesson I learned through this process was to be open minded. When I first saw “close-minded” listed on my shadow traits I was convinced that it was wrong. I am completely open minded. If you want to legalize marijuana, go ahead. If a gay couple wants to get married, I have no issue. But I now realize that it has less to do with the view on society and more on my openness to others ideas.  While going over the plan on where to walk during the show, one of the models had a different idea and pre-HTM Christine would have shot her down. But post-HTM Christine wasn’t so quick to judge because it wasn’t my idea. It ended up turning into a better event because of this idea and I just confirmed my realization that although its really surprising, I’m not always right. 

Another lesson I kind of learned but is still a work in progress is to find the middle ground between strict and authoritative and a pushover. One of the models was not keeping in contact a few weeks before the event and my first instinct was to be rude and bossy and really show them that it wasn’t acceptable. However, I kept my cool and decided to come at the situation a different way that would hopefully be more effective in not only changing their behavior but also not loosing the respect of the model.  I asked them to meet up in person up for coffee and it ended up they were having personal issues. I struggle with being too firm but at the same time I don't want to be seen as a weak leader for letting stuff go. It is a fine line and I think that the more practice I have in leadership the easier it will be able to navigate.  

Another lesson I learned was for time management. Of course everyone has a hectic schedule since most of the volunteers, including me, work and go to school full time. So some parts of the process were rushed and could have gone much smoother. The event definitely snuck up on me and I believe the people under me could tell that. Overall that just lessened the quality of my leadership and is definitely something I still need to approve upon.

My leadership philosophy has changed a little bit during this course. Before I believed that just telling and giving proper explanation to the people I’m leading was the proper way to lead and get things done. With the introduction of using vision and mission statements during the course, I now realize how important it is to have people understand why you are doing what you are doing and believe in the work. I used this theory while working on my leadership experience and I think it helped get everyone on board and take the whole event more seriously.