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Leadership is not something only leaders can possess. Practicing the three steps below can help better one’s sense of leadership.

1.	Find your definition of conscious self and of leadership. “Knowing yourself makes you more effective in working with others. It gives you insight into how your behavior affects them positively or negatively. It affords you a better understanding of yourself as a stimulus for influencing others” [1, p 299]. Research found out that developing self-awareness is a critical aspect of learning to see oneself as a leader. “Self-awareness affected this process along five dimensions: (1) deepening self-awareness; (2) building self-confidence; (3) establishing interpersonal efficacy; (4) applying new skills; and (5) expanding motivation” [1, P 302]. There are many different kinds of strength that leaders have but one person rarely possesses all of them. In order to develop your own unique leadership style, you need to find your own special strength and make it shine. In order to be more conscious of yourself, look into these four specific areas: (1) values and principles; (2) personal style; (3) talents, skills, and specialized knowledge; and (4) aspirations and dreams. [1, p 305] After reflecting on your own, ask friends and families what strength do they think you have. When you are done thinking and asking, rank your strengths and focus on one or two that you’d like to further develop and then merge your strength into your definition of leadership.

2.	Develop congruency and authenticity when interacting with people. After you have a definition of your own leadership, you want to practice approaching it by interacting with team members. It is very important to hold congruent thoughts and actions and to be authentic with your team members. Being congruent “requires that people challenge themselves to do the right thing even when it is not convenient. It may mean standing up to one’s own friends, risking popularity, or putting oneself in serious danger of feeling foolish” [2, p 342] You will need courage to be congruent.

3.	Understand groups and team members’ needs. In order to be a leader of a group, one must understand the process a group must go through to function well. There are four stages: (1) forming; (2) storming; (3) norming; (4) performing; and possibly (5) dissolution if the group is temporary. In the stage of forming, the leader should be “inclusive and empowering” [3, p 171] to seek diverse members who can bring talents to the group. During the stage of storming, the leader should be “ethical and open” [3, p 171] because group members need to identify common purposes and targets during storming, and a leader should ensure diverse opinions are heard and avoid conflicts. When a group is norming, the leader should “be fair with processes and practice collaboration” [3, p 171]. This is the time when responsibilities and expectations are clarified. Finally, after every body is on the same page, the group can perform their tasks. Leaders should organize to “celebrate accomplishments and find renewal in relationships” [3, 171] and also engage members to revisit purposes and rebuilt commitment if needed. Besides mechanical procedures, it is also critical for a leader to understand team members’ needs, which could range from money, praises, to trust, hope, stability and compassion from leaders. [4, p 82]

References

[1] Fincher, J. (n.d.). Consciousness of self. In S. Komives (Ed.), Leadership for a Better WorldRetrieved from https://ay13.moodle.umn.edu/pluginfile.php/547463/mod_resource/content/1/consciousness of self.pdf

[2] Shalka, T. (n.d.). Congruence. In S. Komives (Ed.),Leadership for a Better WorldRetrieved from https://ay13.moodle.umn.edu/pluginfile.php/547640/mod_resource/content/1/congruence.pdf

[3] Interacting in teams and groups. In S. Komives, N. Lucas & T. McMahon (Eds.), For College Students Who Wants to Make a DifferenceRetrieved from https://rd.lib.umn.edu/reservesViewer.php?reserve=4054

[4] Understanding why people follow. In B. Conchie (Ed.),Strengths-Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People FollowRetrieved from https://ay13.moodle.umn.edu/pluginfile.php/546384/mod_resource/content/1/Strengths Based Leadership Part 3 Understanding Why People Follow.pdf