Let's get this party started. A number of people and experiences have shaped how I view leadership and what it means to me.
First: My parents. Two great people who made it a priority to raise their children well. Disrespect and unruliness were not tolerated in my family, and good manners were expected at all times. Respect and good manners are two basic criteria of not only leadership, but simply being a good person. I consider myself very fortunate to have learned their importance early on, as those qualities have served me well throughout my life.
Second: High school football. Playing varsity football in my hometown is not for the feint of heart. Our coach was a taskmaster, stressing hard work, discipline, and integrity. As a football player, there was no place for slacking off on in practice or in the classroom. Some of the days on the practice field were the most exhausting of my life, but they taught me I could always dig a little deeper when the chips were down. The memories of my times as a football player remind me how important hard work and discipline are to success in all situations in life. Nearly all the great leaders I've met have a tremendous work ethic, and exhibit strong willpower when others may fold.
Third: College and Student Organizations. My idea of leadership has taken off since I arrived at Ohio State, going many different directions. The following are the two primary ways I observe leadership at OSU:
1.) Individuals as role-models - I look to other leaders all the time for guidance and tips on how to be a more effective leader. There are so many incredible people at Ohio State, I consider myself extremely lucky to be surrounded by such a group. While students and faculty have certainly rubbed off on me, the man whose words most resonate are President Gee's. I am first amazed by his schedule: up at 4:30 AM, workout, news, breakfast, into work by 8:30, done at 11 PM, rinse, repeat. How he keeps it up is beyond me, but it shows that you must continually strive even when you've reached the pinnacle of success.
Secondly, Dr. Gee says that humor is a must for any leader, and he certainly backs up that statement. I doubt most 66-year old university presidents have his sense of humor, and I also doubt most are as highly-regarded as he is. Gee says you cannot take yourself too seriously, and must always be ready with a joke to lighten the mood. I agree he is correct, but this somewhat conflicts with the notion that leadership is learned, not born. There are many aspects of leadership that you can work on, but humor and charisma don't quite fall into that category (at least in my opinion). I'm interested to see if we tackle this in the coming months.
2.) Experiences - By far the most effective way to learn anything, not just leadership. There is nothing more satisfying that trying, failing, and getting it right the next time. This to me is the great benefit of college, and especially student organizations. Students are set in near-real life situations, but without the pressure of real-life responsibilities. Say you have a big idea for a fundraiser for one of your clubs, but it ends up losing money. Not the end of the world by any stretch, and no major problems would come from the blunder. If the same thing happened in a job, however, you could get demoted, or even worse, fired. College is designed for students to take chances and learn without worrying about the implications of professional life. So why not take a chance at being a leader? Bite off a bit more than you can chew and see what happens. The results are usually pleasantly surprising.
