Research Questions Discussion.
#1
While I actually do not understand whether the world is a better place courtesy of me and because I live in it, I can positively confirm that as an individual, I have always tried to inspire all the individuals I have met with, especially youngsters. My approach has solely relied on telling the youngsters I interact with on the need to conserve the environment since the generations to come will have no place if we do not care for our planet. I believe, through this approach, the young generation can have a positive approach towards our planet, thus make conscious decisions of making the world even a much better place. As a person who subscribes to the saying, “be the change you want to see in the world,” I believe, to some extent, I have made the world a better place.
In addition to my above-mentioned efforts, I have contributed to the Dream Outreach by providing financial aid resources and support services to the underserved populations that cannot access the resources. Hundreds of students from poor neighborhoods cannot access college due to two distinct reasons; the lack of financial resources and the lack of relevant information that can enable them to join colleges. Through carrying workshops with these specific groups of individuals, scholarship resources and application assistance can be offered to them hence enable them to join their dream colleges. Connecting the underserved population to achieving their personal dreams is not only a personal fulfillment, but it gives me happiness to see how slowly by slowly, we are fixing the world where some populations are unjustly suffering due to lack of access to vital resources.
#2
I have always appreciated the need for hard work and ethics in order to succeed in life. However, one big mistake that I have grown up with is the problem of conforming to other people’s ideas as opposed to following my passion. It is for this reason that I recently wrote an email to a certain online writer whom I follow on Twitter to appreciate him on how he made me see the light to follow my passion and interests as opposed to following the wave. This online writer, three years ago, wrote an article and shared a link on Twitter detailing the importance of following your passion. At first, I ignored it, but when I later saw an email which the writer forwarded to me, I decided to read it in detail. It is upon finishing the reading that I noticed that I had been making decisions on the basis of what makes me happy and monetarily successful. I made a decision based on what society and my own fear of failure. Doing so is a big mistake as it overshadows what could be your true passion for following what the society and personal fear deem as hopeful pursuits. While the fear and pressure of societal expectations have dictated most of my life, this online writer changed my life. A life of not following one’s passion is one that is wasted and is filled with regrets and a fear of the future. Life is itself short and has never been perfectly safe, it is either you take risks to become successful or wait for life to take risks for you hence living with regrets that you would have otherwise avoided.
#3
Timeout from the dance floor, in my perspective, is the best leadership theory that one needs to adopt. The times of setting a plan as a leader and letting things unfold by themselves are long gone based on the dynamic nature of how businesses operate nowadays (Bayraktar 12). I clearly agree with the fact when on the dance floor, the dancer may think he or she is doing the best, and the spectators are enjoying it. However, when one retreats to the balcony and looks at the dance floor, he or she may see how some dancers are missing steps and some spectators even leaving the room despite the music getting louder (Heifetz & Linsky 10). This theory gives important leadership lessons that I can copy from my end as a leader. Being in a leadership position, it does not mean that I should be stuck to the comforts of being at the helm but make constant strolls between being a leader and looking my leadership from the perspective of who I lead (Northouse 43). Doing so will enable me to understand my flaws hence come up with ways in which I can correct the flaws.
In that perspective, when I am in a position of leadership, it is my hope that I will strive to understand my success points or the areas that make me be a good leader. Then I will literary move away from being the leader and view how each decision or plan I have made affects me as a person being led or how the decisions promote success for the future. Doing so helps reveal some areas that may need improvement hence make me emerge as a leader who makes the organization I lead immune from any threats that may lead to its downfall as far as leadership is concerned.
References
Bayraktar, Secil. “Leadership on and off the Dance Floor: “Six Levels of Connection” Framework.” Organizational Dynamics (2019): 100746.
Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. Adaptive Leadership: The Heifetz Collection (3 Items). Harvard Business Review Press, 2014.
Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. “A survival guide for leaders.” Harvard business review 80.6 (2002): 65-74.
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications, 2018.