Individual Leadership Essay

a high self-esteem and good communication skills, both vital tools needed by every leader. Other strengths I possess include the degree I am about to obtain and impressive analytical skills that support my decision making process positively even in uncomfortable situations.

As a leader however, I need much more than these personal skills to show others the way. A leader needs to be a good summarizer, capable of breaking down the whole story into bits of facts that aid in making decisions. Another area I strive in is listening to everyone's opinions before making decisions. In the rare occasion where I don't get feedback from the people around me, I take up the chance to evaluate the situation on my own, solving the problem based on the facts gathered. These are just some of the basic strengths I possess both as an individual and as an aspiring leader, and they have been a huge boost to the way I help the group.

Weaknesses

Every leader has his or her weaknesses, and whether they affect your personal life or the lives of the people around you, they need to be fixed. Weaknesses need to be noticed as early as possible and dealt with effectively, which is why understanding my weaknesses is such a big step not just for me, but also for the group I intend to lead. Considering that I am not so great at handling my stress levels, making decisions on behalf of others could prove to be a challenge. Choosing what’s best for the group also means that I might stress up my own personal life as well, which means I need to improve on stress

management.

Some other weaknesses I see in me include my short attention span and procrastination. These are weaknesses that may impact the choices I make for the group since I need to pay attention to the grievances aired by the members of the group. Improving on my own self-esteem and confidence levels could go a long way in tackling these weaknesses. I plan to take less time thinking about the opinions people have about me and use that time to listen to what the group members have to say about their challenges.

Opportunities

Every opportunity granted to me is a chance to listen to what problems the group needs to fix. These opportunities will improve not only my leadership skills but also my social skills, meaning I will gain experience vital to any leader. I have been offered the chance to study and work concurrently, I therefore have a bigger group on which I can test my leadership skills. The employment opportunity given to me is a chance to test these skills I learn in the working environment. Leading my colleagues is a totally different experience than leading my classmates, this opens up doors to gaining vital experience from work that I could apply to my class time and vice versa.
I am required to step out of my comfort zone to be an effective leader to every member of the group, regardless of the situation I am in. In the environments I will be in, I will ensure that every member is an active participant leading to the positive growth of the group. Encouraging participation from the members might be a challenge at first but if I can

express the positive impact of participation, then the group members will feel more relaxed in expressing their ideas.

Threats

Not only do I need to cater for the needs of the group, I am also required to challenge myself and earn a living. These are very tasking situations and even though I earn the much needed exposure, being employed without pay is challenging. The group needs a leader who is financially capable and has the time to listen to what the group has to say. Since my employment does not offer a salary, I am required to find income from other sources, which takes up a lot of time. These problems threaten to derail the efforts I have made so far in being an effective leader.

Industry Assessment

Currently, I receive a lot of support from not just my significant other, but also my coworkers. The time and effort they have put into improving my leadership skills show that they believe in me being a proactive leader. This support is in the opinions they hold about me as well as the effort they put into helping me practice. A friend I have in my Social Work class for example will give me honest feedback on areas I excelled in as well as the areas I needed to improve on. The generous support I get helps me build the ideal skill-set needed for this task.

Personal Vision and Mission Statements

It is my vision that the group I lead will work as a team, and each member recognized and commended for their active participation in the growth of the group. The success of the group will be just as important to me

as my own individual success.
It is my mission to ensure the group creates a lasting bond formed by my people oriented leadership. I wish to see a group will be based on trust and honest opinions.

Conclusion

Based on all the experience I have gained this far, being a leader is not an easy job, it however has its rewards. Topping the list of rewards is having people who push you to be a better person in all areas of your life. I have become a better person both morally and socially, and this responsibility helps those around me. I have become an inter-personal problem solver and even though I will generally avoid conflicts arising among the members of the group, I am still responsible for their actions. It is required of me to set the standards for everyone, this despite the fact that I do not like sharing my own personal thoughts.

Leadership is not so easy, but the group needs an energizer as well as a coordinator, these are two areas I excel in and would welcome any opportunity to improve on them. I am tasked with being the one who starts any process within the group, and find ways to analyze problems the group faces from a logical standpoint. These are essential tools in my arsenal and growing as a leader means accepting responsibility for the group's failures. I may not consider myself a great leader, but if the group sees I fit the role, then I will take up the challenge.