Self-Reflective Report—Leadership Portfolio
Wednesday 23 July 2013 remains one of the darkest days in my life. I was one of the people who never thought that I could keep a journal entry. I perceived this as nonsense and something that does not really hold water. I could tell myself that I was not the only one. This justification was to short lived before I came to realize that I was doing a disfavor to myself. My aspirations in life were to be a leader who would be respected and cherished but what I did not know is that I needed to do something. Let me first admit that I have gained a lot in developing my skills in keeping journals. I can now say that I have learned a lot in my endeavors to keep journals on various issues that affect our day-to-day lives. As a people, we face challenges; some of the challenges are better dealt with through our experiences. This has been one of my benefits and my experiences since I began keeping journals. I remember I could not answer simple questions pertaining qualities of a good leader and a mentor. My thinking scope that was restricted now it has widened and I believe that my dream of becoming a future leader is underway. I will never forget this Wednesday. I wake up with the news that hundreds of people have been massacred in our neighboring village. An unknown group of young men who were yet to be identified butchered these innocent people. Among those dead was my closest colleague in school. The previous evening was to be my last time to see him again. I could not withstand this as tears rolled on my cheeks without restraint. This was too much for me and I felt the world was not fair at all. Many questions lingered in my mind and I asked myself what I could do to help the society. Such killings demonstrate lapse in the leadership system. One thing I did know is that individuals who planned the attack had vested interests. The problem turned into a journey to seek for justice and leadership. Even though I am young, I defied all challenges, yes I was on the top of the game engaging with the local leaders to find amicable solutions to the problem. I only came to realize what one believes in is what he achieves. Mentoring young people proved to be a success to me. I only realized that it was a vision that I aspired to achieve when I realized that I was dreaming. This dream actually taught me that leadership and mentorship are instrumental to cohesion in our society. Lapses in societal norms and values emanates from failed leadership.
The last entry relates to a topic that we discussed in classroom. During my free time as I perused through one of the popular newsletters, I came across an interesting cartoon, which reminded me about the things that we experienced through during our youth. During those times, we could in-group go swimming and in the process ended up losing our clothes to thieves. The episode was humiliating, as we had to look for other alternatives to cover our bodies to avoid the shame. Going back home was also very difficult decision because of the remedy that awaited us. Having been raised by authoritative parents, it was a very tough moment for us. The carton compares the changing lifestyles and the ways children are treated. Things have changed and the way children are raised up today is different from the previous years. Parents’ way of solving problem was harsher and the mostly used approach was corporal punishment. This has changed nowadays as most parents use negotiation in problem solving. These styles of raising children have elicited debate among various stakeholders as some agitate for authoritativeness while others agitate for democratic means. In my view, I feel both styles are important if only are used well with the intention of shaping and enabling the child to grow up upholding to ethical values.
Last week, I was privileged to be part of the delegation that was convened to discus on various issues of leadership and governance. This convention enlightened me and allowed me to experience and to understand different leaders and their leadership styles. Prior to this seminar, I had faulted many of the leaders for the styles and their approach of leadership, which I felt, was abysmal. A leader is someone who is able to provide direction and guidance to the rest of the people (Bandura, 1990). Therefore, one aspect or attribute of a leader is decision making. At the conference we attended, attributes and characteristics of world famous leaders crossed my mind. The world has heard many different kinds of leaders each exhibiting specific characteristics. The one famous leader was Adolf Hitler. Hitler exhibited characteristics of a dictator or authoritative leader. His leadership style went well with those who valued status quo and was as well hated by many. Another leader is Barack Obama. His leadership qualities are manifested in his eloquence in expressing ideas in prioritizing respect of humanity. He has given every person freedom of expression and space to engage in activities they do wish so long as they conform to spirit of democracy and respect to humanity. Consequently, the aspect of whether leadership in inborn or nurtured and whether power really corrupts came into limelight. With leaders such as Hitler it is true that indeed power can corrupt. Furthermore, leadership is something that in nurtured even though some aspects of inheritance may be involved. The environment and exposure opens an individual mind and this contributes to his or her transformation into a leader.
As manifested from the previous entry, leadership and mentorship is something that happens in our lives at different levels. At family level, there must be proper leadership to help children to grow up appreciating other people and holding to certain values that the society expects them. Parents have the responsibility of ensuring that this happens. Furthermore, evils and the positive things that happen in our society have connection with the way the leadership is structured and organized. As the central, decision-making organ, a leader must be able to exhibit attributes that are acceptable and bring transformation in the society. People like Hitler and other prominent leaders of the past-portrayed different leadership styles that destroyed and buit the society (Nikolova, 2010). It is therefore, prudent that every person who aspires to be leader on any level to understand that people that are led are more important than him or her and his or her role is to champion their agenda to ensure that they live well and achieve their goals and aims in their lives.
References
Bandura, A. (1990). Selective Activation and Disengagement of Moral Control, Journal of Social Issues, 46(1: 27-46.
Nikolova, N. (2010). Leadership theory, University of Technology Sydney.
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