Image Source: http://www.alexaignaczak.com/self-reflection
My name is William Kenyon, and I am a servant leader. The term servant leader, first coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, is defined by leadership traits focused on service to others (Greenleaf, 1970, as cited in Ellis, 2019). As a servant leader, I seek to help people to the best of my ability regardless of the need. I desire to teach or inspire others to grow, and give others the capacity to be confident in any and every aspect of their lives where possible.
As a person, I have many strengths that empower my servant leadership style. I am well-organized, I am timely, I am accountable, and I hold others accountable which serves me well when working towards a goal. Empathy and integrity are two of my strongest virtues, and I seek connections with others when interacting. Empathy helps me build trust, and earning and giving trust are bonds I consider to be sacred. According to Cessna (2019), trust is the cornerstone to leadership. Without trust, a leader is not.
No one is perfect, however. For as many strengths as I have, I surely have just as many weaknesses. An important trait to leadership is the realization that no one is infallible. It is important for a leader to understand and be confident with personal flaws and weaknesses (Sime, 2019). One area of significant growth I have made during the MSOL program, is accepting that I am not infallible, and learning that failure is not to be feared.
One year ago, when I began the MSOL program, I worried often about my weaknesses and shortcomings. Now, I am confident in not just what I can do and do well, but also what I cannot do or what I struggle to perform. I used to worry about leaving bad impressions if I had a shortcoming. Now, I feel it is very important to highlight shortcomings when necessary, so I do not misrepresent myself. It is important to be authentic, in all facets of life.
Despite having grown confidence in my shortcomings, I still feel butterflies in my stomach when I make an error or mistake in the workplace. I used to feel that making a mistake was a complete judge of my character and competence, and that trust in me would be compromised as a result. But we all make errors or mistakes, and making errors or mistakes are part of the human experience. I use self-talk to dispel negative thoughts as best I can. And as a leader, I work hard to ensure that those around me are not afraid of making mistakes either. Good leaders create a culture where failure is not something to be feared, but instead, a growth opportunity.
I have grown a lot sure, but growth is a life experience that does not stop or end; there are places I still need and want to grow. I am an introvert, I feel I struggle with small talk or group settings. I have made – and continue to make – strides since I began this program so I can be more comfortable with my introversion in public settings. A person never learns to swim without getting in the water, so it is important we leave our comfort zones from time to time.
Another weakness of mine is simply working too hard, and not smart. I feel I have made great strides in improving upon this weakness, but it is still a weakness that requires a lot of thought and personal reflection when I decision-make. There is a little bird named Lisa Manley that often sits on my shoulder when I ask myself the question “Am I working smart, or hard?”. Working hard without being smart can lead to monumental time mismanagement (L. Manley, personal communication, 2019), and time is one of the most precious resources in life, as time is finite and non-refundable.
Too much of a good thing can turn into a not-so-good thing. Sometimes leaders overrely on personal strengths. I am very action-orientated and goal-driven, two more strengths I possess. While excellent traits in a vacuum, an overreliance can lead to disaster. I tend to dive into a task far too quickly and passionately. This not only causes me to overextend myself if I am not careful, but as aforementioned, it can lead to serious time mismanagement. If I have an idea and jump right in, I can spend needless hours on a task when I should have looked critically at the situation before acting. As a leader, I need to keep myself in check, and do my best to not overuse these traits.
References
Cessna, G. (2019). A foundation for leadership. Smart Business Pittsburgh, 6. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.goodwin.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mfi&AN=140330709&site=eds-live&scope=site
Ellis, P. (2019). What it means to be a servant leader. Wounds UK, 15(5), 76–77. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.goodwin.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=139417132&site=eds-live&scope=site
Sime, C. (2019). Could a little vulnerability be the key to better leadership? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/carleysime/2019/03/27/could-a-little-vulnerability-be-the-key-to-better-leadership/