Before entering college, I viewed a leader as someone who held a leadership position. I thought a leader was someone who was the captain of a team or president of an organization. Since being in the Honors Program, I have learned that being a leader does not mean holding the highest position. In my experience, people lead in different ways, and everyone possesses their own leadership styles. I have found that I vary in the way I lead based on situation and group dynamic.

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Through my involvement in Student Ambassadors, I’ve been able to grow my leadership value of flexibility in that tour routes and dialogues are never the same. Although I consider myself to be a very structured person, I’ve made a conscious effort to stay flexible to a change of plans or new ideas in the groups I’m involved in. I have utilized this valuable leadership skill as the Secretary of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) in that board members are constantly coming up with new ideas which I welcome. Not only do I vary the way I lead in a single situation, but I also vary the way I lead from group to group.

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During my experience as a Primary Student Researcher, I found myself taking control of the project when it was not necessary. By being aware of this leadership flaw, I was able to divide tasks with my research partner. Through this experience, I formed a leadership theory that tasks are completed more efficiently when the leader of a group divides tasks so that group members feel they are needed. In such cases, I need to take a step back as a leader where in other cases I need to take a more active role as a leader. In my HONR 401 and 499 courses, I needed to step up as leader. My group wasn’t motivated to complete their work, and, in these situations, I find it necessary to direct the flow of work and conversation. This helped me form a leadership philosophy for working in groups: when equal collaboration is not possible, it may be necessary to guide the group towards equal contribution to the workload.

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While I have been involved in groups that need motivation to contribute, I have also been involved in groups in which everyone contributes naturally. As the ASCE Secretary, I have observed how well our board works together. We can complete team goals as one unit because every member of our team is open to new ideas and is willing to help cover duties for each other. Everyone is committed to the society so my leadership role in ASCE is a lot less demanding than it was in HONR 401 and 499.

In my future career as a civil engineer, it will be crucial that I adjust leadership styles according to the group I am working in. It is also important that I stay flexible and am aware of leadership weaknesses to improve. Lastly, I know how to lead motivated and unmotivated groups which gives me confidence to utilize my leadership skills in the workforce.