Developing the Self
This year has probably been one of the hardest years I’ve ever had to face. I juggled 18 credits, 3 jobs, and attempted to have a social life as well. There have been many hiccups along the way, and I still continue to make mistakes, but it was the in the LEAD Office that I found a safe space and a space where I could grow and learn from my mistakes. Now that I am on the journey towards graduation, I can’t help but credit my development to the LEAD team, and to finding my inner self and developing through it. Sometimes it takes bumps in the road to get to where you want to be in life, and it’s the obstacles that make you stronger.
Developing the self is an important key to leadership. It essentially means that you are dedicated to learning more about yourself, and improving the essential things already rooted. For me, development is important, because it is how we foster growth within ourselves, and in turn, foster growth within others. Furthermore, it also means applying new skills and knowledge to add value to my performance, which adds value to my team.
It wasn’t until attending the first LEAD Retreat in August that I truly understood the value of being apart of a team, and continuing to develop so that you can be an asset to the team. It was also the first time that I was introduced to the idea of well-being, and the impact that it has on a person this is part of a whole.
Being in the role of Leadership Consultant has allowed me to grow in the competency of developing the self. When I first came into this role, I did not understand how time consuming it would be. I thought it would be work inside of the office, but not necessarily outside of the office. My outlook quickly changed when I realized that my peers and members of my team were all dedicated to growth and development. I have seen my developmental style change throughout this journey.
Before accepting the role of Leadership Consultant, I had always thought that development was deeply rooted in meditation and setting aside time for yourself. Immediately after becoming a Leadership Consultant, I received a promotion at my other jobs. This quickly taught me about life and how to compartmentalize certain things in order to keep some piece of mind. This has been the biggest obstacle for me in my developmental journey, but as I continue to grow and develop, I continue to learn from myself and others. Knowing your limits and boundaries is a huge part of developing the self. You must know when to stop, and when to keep going. This is something that I am still learning and only hope to continue developing in.
I am dedicated to creating a more organized environment for myself, and gaining back the idea of well-being that was lost in life’s shuffle. I want to be the best me that I can be, so that I can be the best me for someone else.