MSLD 641 Module 2- Am I a Resonant Leader

For this week’s module, we had the opportunity to complete a brief self-reflection exercise to see whether we have demonstrated or lacked any resonant leadership skills and mindset. As Boyatzis (2012) mentioned in the video, although coming up with strategies, visions, or goals are essential, it’s the relationship between the leader and people that help drives organizations to success. Ever since I started working in my current job as an academic advisor, I’ve followed mostly with resonant leadership. While I have picked up many things from long-time employees at my organization, most of what I do is inspired based on my own personal experience as a student. Just like my students currently do, I also got help from my advisors. With a large campus and a long line of other students outside my advisor’s office, advisement was often rushed to ensure everyone got the help they needed. My overall feedback on my past experiences were satisfactory, but I was wishing some more time and more personalized responses and resources. Now an advisor myself, I can my goal for students is to give them what I was unable to get several years back.

After completing the short exercise, seeing my results were not that surprising. The first question of the exercise asked whether I am inspirational and how I inspire people. While I don’t find myself to be highly inspirational, I do have goals to inspire students to help them feel hopeful: specifically during challenging situations. As a student advisor, my goal is to help student succeed. As we all have personal situations pop up here and then, this could lead to some difficulties academically. A few years back for example, I had a student fresh out of high school fail his first class. He was clearly upset and was likely worried about how the remaining classes would be like. My approach to this situation adds up to the remaining questions of the exercise. Upon hearing the student’s situation, I clearly saw myself: as I also failed the same class he took. While I knew the course very difficult, I also considered the stressful shift from high school to college and feelings of embarrassment and disappointment that I felt in the past.

With my past experiences in mind, I first approached the student to let him know that he’s not alone and that it happens to anyone. To express my understanding of his situation, I shared my personal experience with the class and occasionally made a few funny remarks for good laughs. To inspire and make him feel more hopeful about the future, I let him know that taking the same course the second time was a lot easier: allowing me to successfully pass the class and eventually get the degree. In the end, I gave him recommendations and some resources to help him overcome the problem. In the end, the student was able to pass the class and is now close to completing his degree. When advisement is successful, I personally believe that this enhances the relationship I already have with students. As a result, communication becomes more frequent and students have better trust in me to provide advisement in the future.

Reference:

Boyatzis, R. (2012). Dr. Richard Boyatzis- Resonant Leadership- UNC Kenan-Flager [Video file]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxjNu6kSpKc&feature=youtu.be&list=PLC5BF495EE698766F